Botox is useful for everything from minimizing the appearance of deep wrinkles to preventing wrinkles from occurring in the first place, as well as treating migraines and other medical issues. Doctors have found a new use for this remarkable injectable, however, which is to prevent the formation of facial scars after plastic surgery.
Learn more about Botox for facial scarring treatment and find out how this injectable can be used to treat existing scars and prevent the formation of new scars after plastic or reconstructive surgery.
Botox is the brand name for a drug that is made from a toxin in the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Though this is the same bacterium that causes botulism, a severe, potentially life-threatening type of food poisoning, the refined form in Botox can be effectively used to treat many conditions, such as:
When injected, Botox weakens or paralyzes certain muscle groups or blocks certain nerve pathways, which corrects the condition. Depending on what’s being treated, Botox can last for three to 12 months, and it has minimal side effects. In most cases, patients have mild swelling or bruising at the injection site for a few days following treatment.
Recently, Botox has added another capability to its long list of treatment options. Because Botox temporarily weakens muscles and limits contractions, it’s proven effective as a facial scars treatment during the recovery period of plastic or reconstructive surgery, as well as in people recovering from severe wounds.
Movement from skin and muscles contribute to scarring, which is why scars tend to be worse on the face and the areas of the body that flex. The tension on the wound from the muscles and skin pulling it apart leads to bumpy, wide or thick scars, which are difficult to correct.
Botox weakens the muscles under the healing incision and prevents them from contracting, which reduces the motion and tension on the healing incision and leads to thinner and less noticeable scars. When combined with a hyaluronic filler, which restores lost volume and is an effective treatment for acne scars, Botox can relieve some of the tension on the existing scar and minimize its appearance as well.
The unique capabilities of Botox are turning it into the medical “go-to” for everything from anti-aging treatment to treating overactive sweat glands, but its ability to minimize facial scarring is a truly remarkable development in the medical community.
If you’d like to learn more about Botox for facial scarring treatment or the other conditions it can treat, Love Your Body Medical Spa can help. We’d be more than happy to give you additional information on Botox treatments and help you determine the right option for your unique skin needs, so contact us today to schedule your consultation!
