Botox has the effect of making men and women appear younger than they really are; for such a recognized treatment it is surprising how many people haven't a clue how it works. To help with this, we need to step back a few decades to when this substance was first researched and used. It may be famous now for its use in cosmetic surgery but it wasn't always that way when it was first being studied by scientists half a century ago; it was tested for use as a treatment for disorders of the mind.
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In 1989 it was finally approved by the FDA to treat eye muscle disorders; these included blepharospasm (uncontrollable blinking), strabismus (crossed eyes) and even wrinkles. By the new millennium it had been approved for a number of other conditions including cervical dystonia; this eases the pain from serious contractions in the shoulders and neck, but it was also given the OK to be used on another more unusual eye condition. However, it was the discovery of the effect botox had on reducing frown lines that finally changed things; after this in 2002 the FDA approved it's use on the condition that it was a cosmetic procedure.
When Botox is injected into the muscles of the forehead, it blocks nerve impulses which results in the weakening of the muscles that cause frowning; eventually, over a period of several months, given enough of these injections, the frown lines start to soften. Continued treatments mean in many cases the lines disappear and now the same treatment is used on other areas of the face like the crows' feet, laughter lines and other facial wrinkles. The injections are a purified and watered down version of the sometimes fatal Botulinum poison; if it were not for the purification process this treatment could make us very sick.
The problem is that when we laugh, cry or frown for example, lines and wrinkles appear caused by the muscles that have helped create the expression; these injections can help eliminate those lines. This treatment is able to take back, for a temporary period, all those years of lines, creases and wrinkles that has formed from the use of our facial muscles; many cosmetic manufacturers have tried to create creams to eliminate the creases but this is the only treatment to date that can actually rid them from us. Muscles in the area of the botox injection become paralyzed temporarily so they cannot move fully; these treatments provide the user with a facial surface that is smooth and often referred to as looking like a dummy or mannequin.
Because frown line, wrinkles and facial creases have all but disappeared, it provides the user with a look of someone much younger. For some people the obvious downside to this treatment is the cost; with injections in the low to very high hundreds of dollars each, it looks to remain expensive for some time to come. Whether there are any long term effects from continued use of botox is still unknown as the treatment is still to new but for those people who do use it, it doesn't seem to matter.
There are many factors that determine the cost of Botox injections.
* Dilution rates
* Geographic location
* Spa specials
* How many facial areas are being injected
Dilution rates vary between salons or medical establishments. This is a factor that many people don't Botox in Edmonton know about. When the medical staff purchases Botox it comes to them in a frozen powder form. The medical staff then has to determine how they want to dilute the power to turn it into its liquid form. A good dilution would be four units per .1 cc.
Where you are in the country is a major factor in determining the cost of Botox injections. If you are in Los Angeles or New York City you may be paying a much higher price than if you were in San Diego or Las Vegas, for example. Spa owners will charge whatever the going rate is in their area. The cost of living, in general, is higher in these areas.
Many spas run specials during the year to entice people to come in and experience Botox for the first time. This is a great way for a person who wishes to try Botox to be able to do it at a reduced cost. Spas may offer specials based on the area(s) being injected to encourage clients to try areas that they haven't previously done.
The cost of injections may be determined by the number of areas being treated. The cost to treat a single area may be more expense than treating three areas when broken down by cost per area. For example, it may cost $100 to treat one area and $250 to three.
Botox may be priced by the unit or by the areas being treated. Each salon has its own policies. A cost per unit range would be $10 - $50. A cost per area may be $50 to $300. The difference in numbers is determined by the spa's location, dilution rates, on going or current specials and number of areas being injected.
The three sites that are most often treated are the glabella (between the eyes), forehead and eye area. These three sites are the ones people are most conscious of and therefore, willing to treat. You will find coupons and/or specials focusing on these areas primarily.
As you can see, there are many factors to consider when pricing Botox. It is certainly recommended that you call your favorite salon and ask them if they have Botox specials. Please remember to enquire about the dilution rates to ensure that you are getting a treatment that is going to work for you. No matter what the cost is, if the Botox is out of date or diluted incorrectly, it will be a waste of money.