Ah, the Spa, Part II

One of the most common treatments you hear of people getting done at a medical spa or dermatologist’s office is Botox. Some swear by the wrinkle-reducing results, and others joke about how it freezes any facial expressions. Let’s break down how Botox works and if it can truly freeze your face.

Botox is short for botulinum toxin A. That’s right, botulinum like botulism and toxin. Botox is indeed related to botulism, a form of food poisoning. Botulism has many serious side effects, including paralysis. And that’s where Botox comes in. Botulinum toxin A (Botox) is one of seven toxins (A through G) in botulism. Although whole-body paralysis is clearly a serious and unwanted medical problem, paralyzing face muscles can stop wrinkles. Botox prevents the signals that would tell your face muscles to contract from doing their job, effectively eliminating wrinkles.

Botox can eliminate wrinkles around the eyes, forehead, between the eyebrows, and even the arch under your eyebrow. It is also used to prevent muscle spasms, treat migraine headaches, and eliminate excessive sweating.

Of course, Botox is not permanent. Most people need injections every three to eight months. Botox is a quick, outpatient procedure. Patients can even get Botox injections over their lunch breaks.

The ease and effectiveness of Botox has made it the most popular cosmetic surgery procedure in the U.S. But what about those rumors of not being able to move your face? Be sure to choose a good doctor to perform your Botox, and you will most likely not feel side effects. If you have a good doctor performing your Botox, you should not have any problem with your face “freezing,” although you may not have the exact same range of expression you had before Botox.

For youth seekers, Botox may be the least invasive and safest way to create younger looking skin. As with any procedure, be sure you find a good doctor to perform Botox. You don’t want to be wearing your poker face all the time.