Understanding Cosmetic Botox Injections
“Botox Cosmetic is the world’s number one non-surgical cosmetic treatment because it’s safe, predictable, and very effective.” - Kamal Alhallak, Ph.D. in Pharmacy
Botox has become part of our everyday language. Very few people don’t know about Botox Cosmetic when celebrities, news people, and politicians all get their wrinkles eliminated in seconds by a physician or physician’s assistant.
Knowing how Botox works and the side effects will let you decide if Botox is right for you.
What is Botox Cosmetic?
Botox is made from the botulinum toxin. While this toxin in its full force is dangerous, it has many positive applications. In short, it temporarily paralyzes muscles to help prevent wrinkles and various medical conditions.
The first approved uses for Botox date back to 1989 when it was approved for uncontrollable muscle spasms. In 2002, it was approved for cosmetic use on “frown lines”, those little lines between your eyebrows that make you look angry or tired.
Botox is now used for a couple more medical conditions aside from muscle spasms. It’s also effective against severe underarm sweating and some other “off label” uses that have become an accepted practice but aren’t necessarily approved.
Similarly, Botox is used on more places on the face other than frown lines. It’s used for crow’s feet, smoker’s lines around the mouth, and marionette lines at the corner of the lips.
“Botox Cosmetic is made from botulinum toxin type A,” said Dr. Kamal Alhallak, Doctorate in Pharmacy. “That's mixed with human albumin, gotten from human blood plasma, and salt (sodium chloride).
“Botox Cosmetic has proven to be very safe and effective for almost everyone. At Albany Laser and Cosmetic Center, it’s easily one of our most popular treatments to rejuvenate one’s face and to look younger.”
What Botox is not
It’s important to know a few things about Botox:
- It’s not permanent. The effects wear off over time, and a new round of injections will be needed.
- It’s not a filler. Unlike injectable fillers, like Juvederm, Botox doesn’t plump the skin.
- Botox is used primarily in the upper face, whereas fillers are more appropriate in other areas.
Who can’t use Botox?
While Botox Cosmetic is safe for nearly everyone, there are some people for whom it’s not a good idea.
Tell your doctor or physician's assistant if you:
Are allergic to Botox or Botox Cosmetic
Have a skin infection in the area that’s being worked on
Have ALS, Lambert-Eaton syndrome or other diseases that affect your muscles or nerves
Have had facial surgery
Have muscle weakness
Have bleeding problems
Have difficulty swallowing
Have breathing problems, including asthma or COPD
Have drooping eyelids or weakness in forehead muscles
“It only takes about 10 minutes for the Botox injections,” Dr. Alhallak said. “Maximum effect takes about two weeks, so I always tell my patients to plan ahead if they have an event that they want to look their best for.”
As a Doctor of Pharmacy, Dr. Alhallak pays special attention to the cases where Botox can have the maximum effect. In some cases, where wrinkles are caused by relaxed muscles, fillers, not Botox, are the answer.
How Painful is Botox?
It’s not really. It’s a simple injection. The area is often numbed, either with a topical anesthetic or simply with an ice pack.
After the anesthetic wears off, there might be some slight discomfort, but it’s usually very mild and goes away in a few hours.
What are the side effects?
For the most part, the side effects are minor and rare, but there are some that have been reported.
- Injection site pain
- Slight swelling
- Rash
- Asthma
- Dizziness and fainting
- Dry mouth
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Neck pain
If you’ve had an injection and you’re having a hard time breathing or a significant rash has developed, you need to seek medical attention immediately.
Does Botox make my face numb?
No. It shouldn’t. Botox is not an anesthetic. If does paralyze the muscles, but it shouldn’t result in numbness. If the numbness persists for a couple of days, you should call your physician.
How long does Botox last?
In most cases, it lasts three to four months, but that can be affected by a number of factors.
Diet, smoking, age, how well you care for your skin, and how much sun you get can all have an effect on how long the Botox lasts and how good the effects are. The better you take care of yourself, the more likely you are to get great results that will last longer.
Are Filler and Botox the same??
No, In summary, Botox freezes muscles to soften wrinkles caused by facial while fillers use hyaluronic acid and other substances to plump areas with lost volume. If you still don't understand, here is a detailed explanation.
Can I combine it with Juvederm?
Yes, we combine it with Dermal Fillers on the same appointment, especially if the wrinkles are deep. In actuality, some deep wrinkles occur if you don't treat the frown lines on time. As a result, they become pronounced and deep. So you may need both Botox and fillers to correct them. Dr. Alhallak (PhD in Pharmacy) combines Fillers and Botox during skin tightening and wrinkles removal treatments.
Getting Botox safely
“The most important factor in getting safe and effective Botox injections is to choose a practitioner who is very experienced,” said Kamal Alhallak, Doctor of Pharmacy. “Be certain that the person that you get your injections from is experienced and well-trained. This isn’t something you want to have done, except under the guidance of a doctor who knows what they’re doing.”
Be sure to tell your practitioner about any illnesses you have, any medications or herbal remedies you take, and even if you use illicit drugs. You don’t want to find out that your harmless herbal pills are causing you issues with your Botox.
Most importantly, tell your practitioner everything, even if you think it might be minor. Drugs and even vitamins and minerals interact in ways that you might not expect.
Most common areas for Botox in Edmonton
Forehead lines
Indeed, smiling relieves stress, and it's a beautiful facial expression. But when you smile, it shows deep lines and these lines appear around the eyes. Do you know that 26 muscles must work together to give a simple smile? These muscles also cause frown lines. Yes, some muscles work to produce a smile; we can help you to provide a line-free smile.
Frown Lines
Over time, lines or creases develop on the forehead. These lines bring as small and tiny, but they grow deep eventually. We call these lines "timelines." Thanks to Botox, you can relax the frontalis muscle and lessen its activity. In essence, Botox helps softness forehead lines. That makes us look older.
Smile lines
Smile lines are also called crow’s feet. There are over 26 muscles that work to form our smile. Botulinum toxin injection or Dysport softens some muscles around your eye and mouth to remove smile lines effectively.
After treatment
If you have any side effects, contact your practitioner right away. Let them know so that they can help you decide if there’s anything you need to do.
If you’re having a hard time breathing or are experiencing significant problems, call for emergency medical assistance.
“The most important thing to know is that Botox Cosmetic is very effective and very safe,” said Dr. Kamal Alhallak. His Ph.D. in Pharmacy makes him especially well-versed in side effects and interactions. “In about 10 or 15 minutes, I can help you look and feel much younger.”
Free consultation
Yes, the best way to know if you're a good candidate is to come in for a free consultation with Dr. Kamal (Ph.D. in Pharmacy) at Albany laser and cosmetic center (The best cosmetic center in Edmonton) Dr. Kamal has Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a genuine passion for his work. Also, he strives to help people in Edmonton reach their aesthetic goals. If you want to learn more about BOTOX, contact us today to schedule a free consultation.