If you've ever heard of botox, then you've probably also heard a lot of different rumors about it. Some are true, some are exaggerated, and some are entirely false. In order to help you get the most accurate understanding, here is a breakdown of what botox really is, what it is used for, and how it can help you:

What is botox?

Botox is short for botulinum toxin, which is a type of neurotoxin that has loosens or weakens muscles. When applied in a heavily-regulated and specific medical procedure by a professional, botox can be used to target specific facial muscles, creating a more youthful experience.

Botox is also used as an alternative treatment method in some cases of spasms, where the patient's muscles are overacting and damaging the patient. In these cases, botox can relax and weaken the muscles, improving the comfort and health of the patient.

Is it dangerous?

When botox is offered as a treatment solution by a certified doctor, then there is very little danger involved. The dosage should be too low to cause any significant risks and you should have repeat visits for several weeks after the initial dosage in order to gauge if there are any harmful side effects.

However, in the hands of an inexperienced user, botox can be an extremely potent and dangerous substance. Botox poisoning, also known as botulism, is a crippling affliction that eventually results in total paralysis.

How does it work?

In layman's terms, botox prevents specific nerves from transmitting neurotransmitters to certain muscles. This basically means that the message that would normally be sent is intercepted, which results in a failure of the muscles to contract.

Therefore, the application of botox has to be extremely specific to the region that is to be treated. If the botox is injected at the wrong site, then there could be potentially life-threatening complications, such as botox reaching the heart. If too much botox is injected, then the muscles in a certain site could be totally paralyzed.

How can it help me?

Most commonly, botox treatments are used for cosmetic purposes. If you want to alleviate the lines or wrinkles on your face, then botox might be the perfect solution for you. However, it only lasts a few months, so you'll need to get repeat treatments if you want to maintain the effects. On the other hand, you can stop the treatments if you are unhappy with the outcome.