botox injections, are they safe?

nickelslots · Joined: 20 Jul 2005 Posts: 5

i have heard several stories about botox. some people say that if u have the injections, u eventually look emotionless :shock: b/c ur eyebrows do not move!!!!! is anyone familier with this procedure???? any more pros and cons????

Thanks!!!!!!

Susan0001 · Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Posts: 23

Make sure that you find a practitioner who has done ALOT of Botox. You can check the Botox website and find people in your area. Call the office and ask the receptionist how many injections the person that they want to schedule with how many they have done. If I was you, I would get it done at a plastic surgeons office. The doc may do it, or the nurse--sometimes the nurses are better than the doctors. Tell the person that is doing it that you do not want to look frozen. It is better to start with smaller amounts and go back for a touch up. In any case, I would not let them do more than 25 units on the 1st visit and that would include in between your eyes and your forehead. Start there and then assess the improvement over the next week or so.

In my opinion, the best part of Botox is that you can get a mini brow lift if it is injected properly. The slight raising of the lateral portion of the eyebrows makes a HUGE difference resulting in a more alert, less droopy upper eyelid appearance. You might have to go up to 30 units if you want this area done as well. I would also ask when you make the appointment if they do the Botox browlift.

hth

nickelslots · Joined: 20 Jul 2005 Posts: 5

Thank you for the advice! I am going to look into that. Here's to no wrinkles!!!!!!!! :lol:

Lauren · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1

I love it and would want to encourage anyone who is interested.
My experience with it has been great, and I have been getting injections since 1996

marsto911 · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 122

Hi,

Botox is one of my favorite "drugs." It gave me anti-aging in the form of wrinkle reduction like nothing else (without surgery) could do.

I give Btx. Placement of Btx is the important thing, and then the amount. With Btx there are guidelines for where to put it. People use very different techniques, which I do not think is bad, unless it is placed in incorrect places.

Once in a while, even with correct placement, a person could get a droopy eye if the Btx is put too low on the forehead. The side effects usually last a short time (few weeks).

With cosmetic procedures, a lot of people think there are no side effects. With ANY procedure or ANY product there are potential side effects. Each person needs to weigh what they are willing to gamble.

I love Btx and can't live without out.

Marilyn

katelynn · Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 9

How much roughly for 1-time injection?

marsto911 · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 122

Hi,

There are usually 2 different pricing methods. One is per unit one is per area.

Btx per unit is usually around 9-12 dollars each unit. Most people need about 20-25 units to start. Sometimes maintenace is less, depending on the effect you want. Between $ 200-350 is about average.

Per area, it is often $ 200-400.

These prices are estimates in the Los Angeles area.

M

Lucy · Joined: 22 Apr 2006 Posts: 25

I've been having my Botox for years and no one has ever noticed it because it has been done by an excellent doctor and it looks very natural.

propylene_glycol · Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 34 Location: Colgate, WI

Do you know what Botox actually is? It is Botulinum Toxin Type A. That's where they get the name Bo-Tox. I don't need it yet though. I am only 18. I think it is interesting. The toxin comes from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Its the same stuff that causes Botulism. It impares or blocks the neurotransmitter Acetylcholine which is necessary for muscle movement. Botox stops your facial muscles from functioning which, in turn, gets rid of wrinkles! It's really interesting!

Mike · Joined: 29 Sep 2006 Posts: 121

I inject a lot of Botox. I will be happy to give you some more details.

Botox is the trademarked brand name that belongs to Allergan. Allergan is one of several companies that sell Botulinum Toxin type A. Botulinum Toxin comes in forms A-G. Only A and B are used cosmetically. Allergan is (at the moment) the only company in the US that can legally sell Botulinum Toxin Type A for medical or cosmetic use. (MyoBloc is the brand name for type B, and is shorter acting...rarely used) Part of the reason that Botox brand Botulinum Toxin Type A is so expensive, is that Allergan spends a great deal of time and money to make sure that each vial has EXACTLY 100 units of Botulinum Toxin Type A (also, there is no competition in the US, so they can charge whatever they want). A few years ago, some doctors bought Botulinum Toxin Type A from a lab that was using the Botulinum Toxin type A for research purposes. Those vials had approximately 1,000,000 units per vial! The vials were cheap, because there was no need to measure the exact quantity. What the doctors did, was buy the cheap vials, dilute it, and then use it on people. Highly illegal, very dangerous, and just plain wrong...but they were able to charge the same amount as doctors that bought Botox, so they made lots of money. One of the doctors, forgot to dilute his injection (or he did not dilute it enough). It takes about 50 units to do a woman's upper face. It takes about 3500 units to give you a 50% chance of killing an adult human. This doctor injected himself, his girlfriend and 2 patients with as much as 1 million units! Amazingly enough, the patients did not die, but they were paralyzed from head to toe for about 6 months. The long term paralysis casused a lot of medical problems. NONE OF THEM got the disease Botulism. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE to get Botulism from BOTOX. Only live bacteria that generate botulinum toxin can cause the disease. Botox has been used for about 20 years for all sorts of medical problems, including migraines, cerebral palsy, painful muscle spasms, etc. It is a very safe drug when used properly. It takes some skill to properly inject the Botox to get a desired cosmetic effect. Allergan posts a list of docs sorted by zipcode that have had at least some experience and training.

propylene_glycol · Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 34 Location: Colgate, WI

Awesome info! I think botox could lead to even more things in the medical world. I know they already think that it can help some neuological and muscular disorders. Yes, Botox is not the disease, but it is the toxin which is a major part of the disease. But hey, that does not mean that Botox should not be used! I think its pretty cool! I've never heard of someone having problems with it, unless maybe if you get too many injections too close together. Plus, it is only in a certain area of your face, not your whole body. The disease is throughout your whole body which can cause paralysis. Botox is just your face! It's totally fine and totally cool!

Mike · Joined: 29 Sep 2006 Posts: 121

Soon, there will be other vendors of cosmetic Botulinum Toxin Type A in the US, and that may make the price come down. We shall see!

Mike
epilution.com

propylene_glycol · Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 34 Location: Colgate, WI

WHEW! That price! i sure hope you are right!

Guest

It's pretty gross knowing what botox REALLY is. It's a DEAD bacteria that is injected into your face which your body has an "allergic reaction" to in order for it to give you that "tightened" look. So your face swells up. WHO wants to do THAT and PAY for it TOO!? It's AMAZING to me what people do to LOOK beautiful. I am 33 years young and aging just like everyone else. I've chosen to go about anti-aging in a NATURAL GOD given way by HEALING my body from the INSIDE-OUT. I found a way to ACCELERATE the ANTI-AGING process and it is a serious science that WORKS. Of course, drink plenty of water and get plenty of sleep, that's number 1. Botox is BAD because in the end, you will definately come out looking WAY WORSE than before you began. I'm not here to offend anyone, it's just obvious that you don't go sticking needles in your face for beauty when GOD put science here on this earth for us to "live young" in the first place and anti-age from the inside out on the "cellular level." That also goes for the biggest organ on our bodies, OUR SKIN!

Ann

propylene_glycol · Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 34 Location: Colgate, WI

Botox is not the actual bacteria, but its toxin. I don't know where you got that info. (no offense). The toxin blocks a neurotransmitter and causes facial muscles to be paralyzed. If you want to know more, you can read what people have said above.