BOTOX® Injection
 Botox® injection or Botulinum toxin injection is most commonly known for its successful use in cosmetic therapies. Initially, Botox was approved to treat strabismus (crossed eyes), blepharospasm (spasm of the eyelids) and cervical dystonia (muscle contractions in the neck). Added to the list of indications is FDA approval for relaxing frown lines in the area between the eyes on the forehead (glabella). BOTOX® injections reduce facial lines and wrinkles formed from the aging process and by hyperfunctional muscles. It can also be used to treat excessive sweating.
BOTOX® is a purified protein toxin produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Although BOTOX® is a toxin, there have been no serious side effects reported. This is because it is used in extremely small amounts for medical treatments and does not spread throughout the body.
Procedure
The area to be injected is cleansed thoroughly. A topical anesthetic cream is applied and the BOTOX® material is injected into the area with a fine needle. When BOTOX® is injected into a muscle, it blocks the conduction of nerve impulses to that area and as a result, the muscle weakens. As the muscle weakens, the skin overlying the muscle relaxes and the wrinkles in the skin gradually soften and often disappear.
The conditions which are contraindicated for the use of BOTOX® injections include:
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
- Previous history of reaction to the toxin
- Neurological diseases ( myasthenia gravis, Eaton-Lambert syndrome, neuropathies)
- Age -below 12 years
- Injecting into the sites of infection or inflammation
- Use of medications such as aminoglycoside antibiotics (may increase effect of botulinum toxin), chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine (may reduce effect), and blood thinning agents, warfarin or aspirin (may result in bruising)
Adverse Effects
Although Botox is well accepted, it is associated with certain adverse effects such as redness, bruising, infection, and pain at the injection site. Dizziness, difficulty in swallowing, headache and muscle weakness may also occur when this medication is injected into muscles. Double vision, drooping or swollen eyelid, dry eyes, reduced blinking, and increased sensitivity to light may also occur.
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