The Truth About Botox and It’s Side Effects

Have you heard about Botox? Nowadays, you hear about botox shots all the time. Makes you wonder isn't it? What exactly is Botox and how does it really work? The general view of Botox is a miracle injection that supposedly solve your age problems. Some people are fanatical about it, some think it's a big joke. There's also opinions that said that if you get Botox-ed, you will lose the ability to express feelings on your face. Let's dig out more about Botox and find out the truth behind it.

Botox is extracted from Botulinum toxin. Back when it's discovered, it's intended to be a medication for neurological disorders. Things progressed, and in 1989 that FDA approved Botox as a treatment for eye muscle disorders and wrinkles. Skip to the year 2000, FDA approved it's usage for cervical dystonia medication (terrible neck and shoulder contractions). Somewhere along the line of test and studies, they found out that using Botox lessen the frown line in the face. That triggers a big development of it. Now it's one of the most progressive division in the cosmetic industry.

Now to know how Botox work, let's review how wrinkles develop in our face. Each time we use our facial muscles, this generate wrinkles. Now, given time and lack of skin elasticity as you age, this facial muscle contractions will eventually leave a permanent mark in our face. When Botox is injected to the wrinkle area it paralyse the facial muscles so you can't really use them. This is why after a botox shot people lose some ability to use the muscles, hence making them look like a statue. With 4-5 months of effect, the lack of usage of that muscle can soften the wrinkles it formed. Unfortunately, our body is really adaptive, so after 4-5 months, it develops a new muscle usage configuration and you have to get another shot.

While some maybe okay with it, Botox is expensive. The average price for one injection is about $300. With larger surface area and how much wrinkles that you want to remove, it can cost up to $900 or even $1500 per shot. Very expensive.

Is it completely safe? Of course not. There're risks. Because it's a toxin, you can jeopardize your health if it spreads in your body. But of course, that's if you're allergic to it's ingredients.