Botox: Understanding Why This Procedure Remains Popular To This Day

Over time, the shame surrounding cosmetic procedures has faded away. While people once hid their cosmetic procedures and tried to act as if everything was “natural”, we now acknowledge that there is no reason to be embarrassed about having cosmetic procedures done. Perhaps one of the first commonly known types of cosmetic procedures is the Botox injection. Botox injections may have seemed scary at first, but now we know that they’re rather simple to administer and minimally painful. However, a new type of misconception has come about surrounding this procedure, specifically the idea that it causes the “frozen face” effect. People hesitate over getting Botox injections, turning to more recent trends like dermal fillers, which in the past have been confused with Botox.

While there are plenty of advantages to getting dermal filler injections, Botox injections are definitely preferable under certain circumstances, and offer specific benefits. There are many benefits a Botox injection can offer that you just can’t get from facial fillers. With that being said, let’s look into the different advantages of getting Botox, and demystify some of the confusion surrounding this procedure.

Is Botox A Filler?

Botox has often been confused with filler. You’ll often hear people refer to celebrities with over-inflated lips as having “Botox lips”, when in fact it’s highly unlikely that Botox was involved in achieving those results. Botox does not achieve results by filling loose skin or smoothing out wrinkles through filling. It is a drug that actually achieves results through the reaction that it triggers. Botox weakens or paralyzes muscles in the surrounding area to which it is injected. Technically, it is a neurotoxin, which may initially cause some anxiety in recipients. However, as it is refined and the quantities in which it is administered means that the drug has minimal effects and is quite safe. Botox is temporary, and wears off after three to twelve months depending on how much is administered and where it is applied. Botox must be injected, but the pain is temporary and extremely minimal. While dermal fillers are now one of the top five minimally invasive procedures people undergo each year, Botox is still quite popular due to the fact that it not only minimizes the appearance of existing wrinkles, but helps prevent wrinkles or slow their development.

How Can Botox Be Applied Cosmetically?

If over-applied or applied to the wrong locations, Botox can create a somewhat frozen effect, which is why it’s important to work with an expert when having Botox injections administered. Typically, Botox is used to lessen the appearance of frown lines, wrinkles around the corners of the eyes (sometimes referred to as crow’s feet), forehead lines, lines at the corners of the mouth, and uneven skin on the chin. As Botox relaxes the muscles in these areas, the skin softens and these wrinkles are either less noticeable or completely gone. The interesting thing about Botox, compared to other types of cosmetic procedures, is that it can be applied to much more than just cosmetic issues.

How Can Botox Be Applied To Other Medical Issues?

Like any drug, Botox has many possible uses. Botox has often been used to help treat chronic migraines, which can occur due to tension in the muscles around the forehead. However, it can also be used to treat eyelid spasms, calming the overactive muscles that cause the problem. Crossed eyes have been treated with Botox, as has excessive sweating. Cervical dystonia, a neurological movement disorder, can be treated through Botox. The quick effects of this drug mean that people can quickly alleviate their symptoms. With that being said, it’s important to remember that no matter what Botox is being used to treat, it’s temporary and has to be redone over time.

The lack of permanence involved in Botox is actually considered by many advantages of the procedure. If you don’t love Botox, it will wear off. But there’s a reason why so many people love this procedure. It’s easy to apply and quick to react, and it’s no wonder that it’s been able to stand the test of time.