How Safe is Botox®?

When you hear words like “botulinum toxin,” you might wonder if this is something you want to inject into your face. If it reassures you at all, Botox® has been approved for medical use since 1989 and for cosmetic use since 2002. The low risk of side effects helps make Botox® a worldwide favorite. Botox® is safe and effective in smoothing out frown lines, forehead wrinkles, and crow’s feet. In the hands of an experienced injector, Botox® is exceptionally safe, and the risks are very minimal. 

What is Botox®?

Botox® uses botulinum toxin, which is produced by a bacteria called Clostridium botulinum. If you think you’ve heard that word before, botulism is a type of food poisoning that happens if you eat this toxin in food. Injected into the face in tiny, purified quantities, Botox® will not have these effects. Botox® works by interrupting the conversation between facial nerves and muscles, letting lines and wrinkles relax. Dr. Cobinnah and her trained medical staff have specialized training in Botox® injections. This is what you want if you’re going to let someone inject something into your forehead or around your eyes. 

How Does Botox® Work?

Botox® targets facial muscles in areas where they cause wrinkles in the skin. These areas include the horizontal lines across your forehead, the vertical lines (sometimes called the “11’s”) between the brows, and crow’s feet around the eyes. The toxin attaches to the targeted facial nerve and stops it from releasing the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. This neurotransmitter causes muscles to contract, so blocking its activity lets the muscle relax and stop pulling on the skin. Because Botox® can pinpoint only the problem muscle and no others, you will keep all your regular facial expressions. 

How Safe is Botox®?

The initial FDA approval for Botox® was to treat two eye problems: eye spasms and crossed eyes. If a product’s list of uses includes nerves that move the eye, you can expect that it went through some rigorous testing. To become approved for cosmetic use, it went through more testing. Doctors now use Botox® to treat excess sweating, migraines, and overactive bladder, among other conditions. It’s hard to find a product more versatile than Botox®, and its excellent safety record makes that possible. 

How Old Should You Be to Get Botox®?

You might think of Botox® as a product for getting rid of expression lines and wrinkles. It does that very effectively. However, it can also protect you from developing those lines and wrinkles in the first place. More and more young people get Botox® to prevent expression lines by silencing the culprit muscles. No pulling on the muscles means you can delay or avoid those lines and wrinkles. The demographic for people getting Botox® now includes young people looking for preventative solutions to aging. 

How Much is Botox®?

If you are located in a metropolitan area, the cost of your Botox® will be different than for someone in a smaller town. Experienced providers with a good reputation may charge more, but if it’s being injected into your face, this is probably not a good time to bargain-hunt. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons reports that the average cost for Botox® and similar products is $466. If you need more or less Botox® than average, this will affect your price. Some providers charge by the unit. The best way to determine how much Botox® you need and how much you can expect to pay is to schedule a consultation with our team. 

How Much Botox® Will I Need?

The manufacturer of Botox® notes that most people will need five injections to treat the forehead or brow area. Crow’s feet get three injections around the outside of each eye for a total of six. This usually comes out to between ten and thirty units of Botox®. Each injection targets a specific nerve and leaves the surrounding ones unaffected, making sure you keep your regular facial expressions instead of that dreaded “overdone” look. 

How Long Does Botox® Last?

You can expect Botox® results to last four to six months, especially if you have treatment regularly. You can have maintenance treatments to keep your facial muscles relaxed and avoid seeing those lines and wrinkles again. Botox® causes no long-term changes to the nerves or muscles, so when it wears off, your muscle activity will return to normal. If you dislike your Botox® results, you can rest assured that they will disappear. See our specials and memberships for maintenance treatment options if you like your results. 

What is Getting Botox® Like?

At Essential Med Aesthetics, you will have Botox® injected in our office’s quiet, welcoming environment. People call Botox® a “lunchtime procedure” because you can come in on your lunch break and go back to work with no downtime. The injections can feel a bit uncomfortable, but they only take a few minutes. If you have concerns about discomfort, let us know during your consultation. 

What Results Will I See With Botox®?

You will start to see results from Botox® within a few days, although maximum results can take about ten days to develop. The targeted muscles will stop pulling on the skin, and you will notice the treated areas start to become smoother and more relaxed. People might see that you look younger, and they might stop telling you that you need to get more sleep. As an added benefit, when your Botox® is working, your lines and wrinkles won’t worsen. 

Is There Any Downtime With Botox®?

You may see some bruising, redness, or sensitivity after your Botox® treatment. This will go away within a few days. Other possible effects include a headache or flu-like symptoms. You might experience a rare side effect with a drooping corner of the eye or mouth. This is temporary and will go back to normal. 

Am I a Good Candidate for Botox®?

If you want to prevent or remove expression lines, you may be a good candidate for Botox®. It’s safe for almost everyone. However, it’s not recommended if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a neuromuscular condition. During your consultation, make sure to discuss any health problems you have and if you’ve ever had a reaction to Botox® or any botulinum product. 

Take the Next Step

If you have further questions about Botox®, please call us at (210) 568-7555 or complete our online contact form, and one of our trusted staff members will reach out to you. Essential Med Aesthetics is located in San Antonio, Texas.