Why Botox Treatments Are Safer Than You Think

For the last two decades, many people have enjoyed the different benefits of Botox injections, including the ability to reduce wrinkles.

Botox is derived from a protein produced by bacteria, and is safe when administered in small, diluted amounts. This treatment works by blocking the transmission of signals between your nerve endings and muscles, causing muscle contractions to reduce, and ultimately, relaxing the wrinkles and softening and smoothing them out.

So, how safe is Botox treatment?

Botox injections are very safe when administered by an experienced doctor. This treatment has been studied by scientists for over a century. In the U.S., the FDA first approved Botox for the treatment of muscle spasms in 1989; 13 years later, after many clinical trials, it was approved for use in cosmetic procedures.

Although Botox has been associated with a number of side effects, including drooling or crooked smile, headache or flu-like symptoms, pain and swelling at the injection site, and eye dryness or excessive tearing, it has gone through a lot of formal testing, which is why it is currently being used to treat a multitude of problems, from migraines to severe underarm sweating to unusual neck pain.

There is a remarkable record of over two decades of documented Botox safety, comprising over 2,000 clinical research papers that acknowledge the safety of Botox. Moreover, the treatment has been approved in about 80 countries across the globe.

Other reasons to consider Botox

Besides its safety, Botox is preferred to other newer but similar treatment because it is highly effective, easier, cheaper, and faster than invasive surgery.

Botox is arguably the most frequently performed cosmetic procedure in the world by plastic surgeons and dermatologists. In fact, it is the most popular cosmetic treatment with real results and a noticeable difference.

Compared to surgical cosmetic procedures, Botox is only slightly uncomfortable; can be administered in minutes so you won’t need to take time away from your family or off work; and it easily fits in your budget. The effect may seem immediate, but this is just an optical illusion due to the pumping effect of the injection. The first “actual” results are noticeable within 24 to 48 hours.

Botox works by blocking neurotransmitters to inhibit muscles. But within two to six months, this effect diminishes and the new neurotransmitters made by the body start circulating in your body again. So, you need to get new injections on a regular basis to maintain your youthful looks.