When you meet someone, the first thing you notice about them is their face. Their facial expression will enable you to know the mood the person is in and influence your interactions with them. Therefore, beauty and even symmetry is crucial in making a first impression, and you wouldn't want someone to mistake you for appearing mad, sad, older than you are because of a few wrinkles on your face.

Botox is a recommended treatment if you want to get rid of wrinkles and fine lines on your face. It is the most common of all aesthetic/cosmetic procedures in the US with over 1.5 million injections annually. Botox isn't just a great way to reduce fine lines and wrinkles, it is used to reduce chronic headaches, eye twitching, lazy eye, and more. In fact almost 50% of people who use Botox use it for non cosmetic uses. 

What Is Botox?

Botox is a neuromodulator that restricts signals to the muscles, which is why is can help in removing fines lines as well as other medical uses. It is therapeutic, relaxing cosmetic product, part of one of the most popular anti-aging treatments in the world.

What Does It Do?

Administering this treatment results in the smoothening of facial skin in the case of cosmetic use, while in medical related use the outcome varies. Though in all cases it is acting against the signals sent to your muscles to force them to contract. 

How Does It Work?

It has to be administered correctly and conservatively by a qualified practitioner. Botox is delivered carefully by injecting it into the facial muscles. It then relaxes the facial muscles and reduces the continuous muscle motions that result in wrinkles.

After the treatment, your face will be smoother and you will appear younger. When administered properly, one Botox treatment can last for many months before going for another.

Do I make a good candidate for Botox Treatment?

With cosmetics, it is normal for one to worry about its results. Given it has the potential to influence your looks, you must first be at least 18 years of age to undergo this treatment.

For you to qualify as a candidate, one must be physically healthy too. We suggest checking with your doctor that you have none of the neuromuscular diseases such as myasthenia or multiple sclerosis. In case you are pregnant or nursing, we strongly advise you against going for this treatment.

When Should I Use This Treatment?

We recommend that you visit your doctor to give you the go-ahead. When you are safe to go per the doctor's orders, the following cases can warrant this kind of treatment:

• If you have moderate to several facial wrinkles
• If they locate the wrinkles on your forehead, on or around your neck and around or between your eyes, these are locations that Botox treats
• If you have realistic chances for improvement after the treatment

What Other Issues Can This Treatment Be Used For?

Apart from smoothening the face from lines and wrinkles caused by facial muscle movement, other benefits are:

• People with large masseter muscles can have their lower face slimmed
• Sometimes, they can use Botox in the treatment of severe migraines
• It can also treat excessive sweating of the hands and armpits

How much does Botox cost?

The cost of Botox treatments are usually quoted and spoken about in units. Depending on if it is your first treatment of Botox or a refresher Botox visit the amount of units needed varies. Your first treatment is typically between 40-60 units while follow up visits in the 20-40 range. The price per unit is quite typically between $12-$14 per unit, before any promotional pricing which is typical depending on the practice and time of year. With that said, a patient's first visit for a Botox treatment using my averages above would be $650 while a refresher visit $390 again without discounts. 

Conclusion

Botox is a fantastic and relatively affordable cosmetic treatment, which is very safe. If you want a smoother and younger look, free from wrinkles and lines on your face, then Botox is a treatment you should consider. 

It is recommended that you visit your doctor for more medical advice or consult a professional in cosmetic surgery.