OVERVIEW:
Are you experiencing unwanted wrinkles or excessive sweating? A botulinum toxin therapy session with us might be just what you need. Here’s everything you need to know about botulinum toxin therapy and its use in dermatology.
What is Botulinum Toxin Therapy?
Botulinum toxin therapy, or Botox for short, is a cosmetic dermatology treatment that’s used to treat wrinkles and frown lines by targeting and paralyzing facial muscles.
Botox injections are carefully placed by your dermatologist and result in smoother skin and an overall more youthful appearance.
What are the Uses of Botulinum Toxin Therapy?
Available for treatment as injectables, botulinum toxin therapy injections are made up of neurotoxins produced by the clostridium botulinum bacteria. While botulinum toxin therapy is most commonly used in cosmetic dermatology, there are other uses for it as well.
Botulinum toxin therapy has been used to successfully treat:
- excessive sweating
- chronic migraines
- severe muscle contractions
How does Botulinum Toxin Therapy Work?
The U.S. National Library of Medicine explains that botox injections work by blocking nerves or paralyzing muscles in the area they are injected into. As a result, the injected muscles are able to relax and soften and can no longer contract.
In the case of its cosmetic facial usage, this leads to a decrease in the presence of wrinkles and fine lines giving your skin a rejuvenated, youthful appearance.
What to Expect During a Botulinum Toxin Therapy Treatment Session
If you’ve never had a botulinum toxin therapy treatment session, you might be wondering what to expect.
A licensed dermatologist will begin with a complete medical evaluation, including your prior history and current symptoms. From there, it’s possible that tests may be run to help rule out other skin conditions or illnesses.
During the botulinum toxin therapy session, a trained healthcare professional such as a dermatologist will administer Botox injections directly to the area of concern. Botulinum toxin therapy is a quick procedure that’s minimally invasive and results in minimal discomfort.
Most patients who have received botulinum toxin therapy can return to their regular activities after leaving the doctor’s office. Dermatologists generally recommend remaining upright for at least 4 hours after the injections and avoiding strenuous exercise for 24 hours after treatment.
The frequency of treatment will depend on the individual patient. Typically, patients receive treatment every three to six months to maintain the benefits provided by botulinum toxin therapy.
Botulinum toxin therapy is an effective and safe therapy for the treatment of fine lines and wrinkles. It is also commonly used in dermatology to treat excessive sweating.
