Highlighting Botox
OP. DR. YUNUS DOĞAN
All about Botox
The world of plastic surgery is full of procedures, methods and techniques to help you realize your best self. Booty too small? Monetize your assets with a Brazilian butt lift (BBL.) Have your breasts headed south for the winter (and fall, spring and summer?) Lug those jugs back north with a breast lift and possibly some breast implants.What if you only want a little help and not a full-on surgical treatment? There’s a popular “tweakment” you’ve probably heard of called Botox. Like other types of plastic surgery that straddle the line of aesthetic and reconstructive, Botox actually has benefits spanning from refinement to real-life function.
This article is the fourteenth in a series highlighting some of the most popular plastic surgery procedures. In the Highlighting series, we tell you ALL the alternative names of the surgery so you learn the medical terminology as well as develop a little street cred with slang terms. We share a little history of the procedure and describe the general process. We mention possible complications and give you an idea of the typical recovery time.
Also known as/similar or related names are:
Blepharospasm, botulinum toxin, hyperhidrosis, spasticity, strabismusFirst recorded
We’ll skip over the history of the basic yet deadly substance itself and any animal trials that may or may not have happened because we have a soft spot for our furry friends. (If you want to read more about early trials, check out this article by the National Library of Medicine.) But sticking needles into humans on a trial basis? Let’s discuss!The American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first approved human clinical trials for clostridium botulinum in 1979, 15 years after its capability of inducing paralysis was first discovered. As Penn Medicine News says, Botox is derived from the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. When ingested accidentally, this bacterium is the most potent toxin we know of. It causes paralysis by blocking nerve endings from absorbing certain molecules they need to work properly.
California’s Dr. Alan Scott believed this unique characteristic would benefit patients afflicted with blepharospasm (spasms of the eyelids/uncontrollable blinking) and strabismus, or crossed eyes. Injected directly into the eye muscle, Botox relaxes it and helps the eyes become aligned for a period of time. Fellow Californian Dr. Dennis Honeychurch joined Dr. Scott in 1983 and helped him market Botox a year later after some grassroots research and development.
In addition to correcting the above-mentioned ailments, Botox is also currently being used to treat excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis,) intestinal irregularities, migraines, muscle spasms (spasticity) and overactive bladder. While it hasn’t been approved by the FDA yet, Botox is currently in development to treat depression, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders and various gynecological conditions.
General process
You lie back in the chair. Your doctor approaches your target areas with a syringe of the perfectly measured amount of Botox. Stab, stab, stab and done! The Botox has been introduced to your tensed body parts in need of a little relaxation. Soon you’ll be comfortably numb and feeling so pretty, you could just grin from ear to ear. If your facial muscles are responding at this time.What could go wrong?
Complications that may occur include:- Pain, bruising and skin discoloration around the injection site - usually temporary, this is your body’s natural reaction to accidental blood vessel damage during the injection.
- Headaches - ironically, the same Botox used to treat migraines in some patients can cause temporary, light headaches in others.
- Forehead side effects - droopy eyelids and raised eyebrows sometimes occur but are temporary.
What could go right?
Botox rocks because you can:- Open your eyes to this bright, sunshiny day! Your migraines are gone.
- Settle in for a good night’s sleep with a relaxed overactive bladder.
- Gaze into that mirror and soak up your youthful appearance.
Recovery time
Depending on the location of your injection site(s,) you may not be able to lie down for 2-4 hours after the procedure. Remaining upright helps the Botox stay in the intended body parts. Many professionals suggest not rubbing or massaging the affected area for 24 hours. Your medical professional will give you specific aftercare advice.You may notice the effects of your injections 1-3 days after your treatment. Results may last up to 4 months but you may need to follow up with additional injections.
The last stitch
If you’re not sure if Botox is right for you, talk to your doctor. You do have other options, including different fillers or fat injections. Grab a glass of water and read this comparison of the filler options available. Dermal fillers and fat injections are good options for fillers, but they lack the paralyzing effect that Botox has.Botox should only be administered by a board certified medical professional. Period. Even though you’re not using general anesthesia for this outpatient procedure, you still want the person on the other end of the syringe to be competent and qualified. Hope you followed our advice to pick the right surgeon!
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