Botox has become one of the most widely known facial injections available for cosmetic use, and for good reason! The neurotoxin has been proven time and time again to minimize and eliminate unwanted signs of aging caused by the contraction and movement of different muscles over many years. If you’re curious about Botox but unsure of exactly how you could use it, this quick guide could be your answer.

What is Botox?

Botox is a drug that is created from the bacterium called botulinum toxin. It’s a neurotoxin, which means it can temporarily paralyze muscles for a number of reasons. It’s used medically to relieve conditions like overactive bladders and sweat glands, but it’s also wildly popular in the cosmetic field to remove wrinkles and fine lines.

More than six million Botox treatments are administered on a yearly basis, if that indicates just how well the procedure works. When Botox is injected into the skin, it prevents nerve cell signals from reaching the designated muscles, and this essentially leaves the muscles paralyzed.

Botox for Wrinkles

The lines between the brows, around the eyes, and on the forehead can all be eliminated with Botox. Since the muscles become paralyzed, they can no longer contract. After enough time has passed, the skin is able to relax and smooth out. It’s also popular to receive Botox in addition to a dermal filler to help the dermal filler last longer as a result of minimal muscle movement.

Botox for Eye Spasms

Eye spasms, formally known as blepharospasm, can be treated with Botox to alleviate and completely eliminate abnormal spasms of the eyelids. Botox has actually been approved for this form of treatment since 1989, and 90 percent of patients show improvement within only two days. Treatment is recommended every three months since the previous injection gradually wears off.

Botox for Crossed Eyes

Botox is also very valuable for treating strabismus, also known as crossed eyes. It was actually promoted for this purpose in the early 1980s, when an eye doctor discovered it could help children and adults alike who have one eye looking inward or outward. Strabismus can cause vision loss, trouble with depth perception, and even double vision, so Botox is a very important tool to achieve normal vision by relaxing the muscles that malfunction to cause strabismus.