A beginner's guide to botox; its cosmetic and medical uses

Over the years, the beauty and the cosmetic market has become flooded with different kinds of treatments and skin care products that help you look a certain way. Be it looking young, getting rid of fine lines or other age-related signs, name it and you'll find a solution for it. 

Various effective methods can help you achieve a youthful look. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), botox, fillers, threads, radiofrequency, etc., are some treatments available. However, some myths and misconceptions are associated with these treatments. Through a series of articles, we will discuss the pros and cons of such options.

What is botox 

Botox (botulinum toxin) is a toxin that relaxes unwanted muscular action temporarily (four to six months). It helps in skin correction and also treats some medical conditions. If done right by an experienced dermatologist-cum-aestheticism, botox can be a window to flawless skin. For example, frown lines can make someone look grumpy, forehead lines can make you look tired and older, lines around the eyes give an aged appearance, and drooping of lip corners can make someone look sad and haggard. Botox can help you get rid of all these problems.

How it works

A small amount of botox will be injected into the affected area. This causes muscle cells to contract and become less stiff. The primary cosmetic use of botox is to reduce facial wrinkles. But, with advancements in technology and changes in lifestyle, there are several uses of botox today (these will be discussed in future articles).

Uses of botox 

Smoothen unwanted lines and wrinkles 

Control acne breakouts 

Temporary facelift

Soften jawline and chin (Nefertiti lift) 

Lip lift or lip flip 

Smoothen décolletage 

Control excessive sweating on the face, nose, and underarms 

Reduce scalp sweating

Aid hair growth 

Medical purposes

Hyperhidrosis or excessive underarm sweating

Eyelid spasm

Crossed eyes

Migraine

To treat overactive bladder due to a neurological disorder

Upper limb spasticity

(Dr Usha Beloskar is the Medical Director, Sskin Savvy Advanced Aesthetics)