Botox Cosmetic is one of the most popular treatments in the cosmetic industry. In 2015, Botox Cosmetic ranked number one on the list of most-performed non-surgical cosmetic treatments for both the male and female population in the United States. Although the usage of Botox injections for treating medical conditions was approved by the FDA back in 1989, its utility for cosmetic purposes did not receive approval until the year 2002.

What Is Botox Cosmetic?

Botox is a generic term for onabotulinumtoxinA, or botulinum toxin type A, which is a protein obtained from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.

Though the aforementioned bacterium and its protein are toxic when injected in its natural form, scientists have found ways of utilizing it safely and effectively for human advantage. Botox injections feature the processed and purified version of the botulinum toxin type A, which is harmless when injected in limited amounts.

The Botox compound used for cosmetic procedures is developed with the active ingredient botulinum toxin type A, sodium chloride, and a protein extracted from human plasma known as human albumin.

How Is Botox Cosmetic Used?

Botox Cosmetic is an effective cosmetic procedure for the treatment of dynamic lines, which appear only when you move your facial muscles. Botox injections help smooth out shallow age lines and wrinkles that might make a person look angry, tired, sad, or older than they really are.

Medical practitioners often utilize Botox for a variety of wrinkles. This injection can be used to treat crow’s feet near the sides of the eyes, horizontal forehead lines, vertical neck bands, chin wrinkles, smoker’s lines around the lips, vertical lines between the eyebrows, and more.

Botox injections are administered in a short and convenient procedure. The dosage, site, and quantity of Botox injections to be given to a particular patient are decided using factors such as the patient’s overall health, requirements, and body response to the treatment. A majority of the people are able to see visible results within a couple of days after the therapy.

The Difference Between Botox Cosmetic and Facial Fillers

The basic distinguishing factor between Botox Cosmetic and facial fillers is the wrinkle issues they address have different underlying causes.

The Botox treatment is used for temporarily eliminating dynamic lines and wrinkles that have resulted from overactivity of the facial muscles. Botox Cosmetic achieves the desired result by blocking and inhibiting the release of chemicals responsible for facial muscle contraction, resulting in relaxed muscles.

Another kind of wrinkle arises as a result of breakage or weakening of the collagen in the skin tissues due to factors such as aging. These moderate to harsh wrinkles require a different kind of treatment: the injection of facial fillers. Facial fillers restore lost volume in various ways in order to ease away the targeted wrinkles.

Arrange a Consultation with Dr. Rai

If you would like to learn more about Botox Cosmetic and the differences between it and other injectable treatments, it’s best to arrange a consultation. To schedule an appointment with board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Rai, contact our office today.