Botox: Is It Right For You?

Feb 20
11:37

2011

Anna Woodward

Anna Woodward

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This article provides a look at what Botox is and who constitutes a good candidate for its use. The possible side effects and cost are also discussed.

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Are you a good candidate for Botox injections? Unlike most cosmetic procedures,Botox: Is It Right For You? Articles it's not limited to any one age or gender group, and has managed to maintain its hold as one of the most popular cosmetic procedures since the late 1990's when it was introduced as a solution to eradicate frown lines around the brow. 

Botox itself is actually a strong poison, and its use for other reasons beyond cosmetic and medical procedures actually dates back to the 1880's when it was initially used for sausage production. Over the ensuing years the product's uses have expanded and slowly evolved to include treatment for patients with crossed eyes. 

Today of course, Botox is used to treat a variety of medical conditions such as excessive underarm sweating, chronic migraines and muscle spasms, and it is still used to successfully treat cross eyes. In addition to the many medical uses, it has also gained famed for its cosmetic benefits. It can successfully erase the signs of fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes, forehead and mouth, and in some cases erase up to 15 years off of a person's face. The results are not long lasting – anywhere from four to eight months – and depend on the patient and independent variables that cannot be controlled such as genetic disposition.

As with any medical treatment there are some risk associated with its use, including pain and bruising at the injection site, redness, itching, temporary muscle weakness and headaches. Most of these more minor side effects are temporary and go away quickly. Other side effects that are more serious and can require immediate medical attention include vision problems, trouble speaking or swallowing, trouble breathing, loss of bladder or muscle weakness in other areas of the body.

On the positive side though, Botox has proven safe in over 200 studies conducted over the course of the past twenty years with over one million patients utilizing it. As a result, the risk of anything major going wrong is minimal. Still, it is best to be as cautious as possible when receiving any kind of cosmetic treatment and follow the supervising doctor's instructions as closely as possible.

To help your odds of having the procedure done correctly and safely however, you should only have these injections performed by a licensed and qualified medical professional. You should also be prepared to discuss your medial history and any known allergies with your doctor to ensure good candidacy. Patients with known drug allergies need to be evaluated by a physician to ensure that there will be no allergic reactions from an injection. You should also be prepared to discuss your expectations with your doctor beforehand to make sure they are realistic.

Finally the cost for Botox should not be a surprise you discover at the end of your visit. Injections can be quite expensive, and because they are cosmetic in nature, they are not covered by insurance. The average cost for an injection runs from $369 to $510, and the national average per injection was $382.