Botox is a natural purified protein produced by the Clostidium botulinum bacterium. The areas of its first application were ophthalmology, neurology and pediatrics, and in recent years it has been mostly used in cosmetology, i.e. in cosmetic procedures. The Botulinum toxin is a natural purified protein that appears in seven immunologically different forms, marked A to G.
Application of Botox in facial rejuvenation
The use of Botulinum toxin type A is considered to be one of the most effective aesthetic methods in eliminating surface wrinkles and preventing the formation of deeper wrinkles. Botox has an effect on the wrinkles on the forehead and around the eyes which are caused by normal muscle movement. It is a simple, non-surgical treatment. The Botox treatment is safe and is one of the most effective and popular aesthetic treatments for eliminating wrinkles on the forehead. Botox will not affect the sensory nerves and will you not feel stiffness.
Botox is most often used to remove horizontal wrinkles on the forehead, vertical wrinkles on the forehead (frown lines), wrinkles on the outside of the eyes (laugh lines), gummy smile (pronounced gums when laughing), bruxism (gnashing of teeth), and migraines caused by firm masseter muscles.
The goal of the Botox treatment
As with everything, it is necessary to be moderate and trust true experts. When used properly, the Botox treatment can give the forehead an attractive and natural look. That is why it is important to be treated by an experienced physician who can judge the size and strength of your muscles and know how much Botox you need. Many insufficiently educated physicians ignore this fact and that is why their results are not satisfactory. The goal of Botox is to give your face a fresh and youthful look.
The course of the procedure
The treatment is performed in an outpatient clinic and involves several stages.
- First of all, the most important thing is to have an initial conversation with the patient, to find out all the wishes and expectations of the patient.
- The patient signs a consent form for the procedure.
- After the conversation, a facial treatment plan is made.
- After that, the preparations start, and the treatment is performed.
- The Botox is injected into the desired area using small, thin needles. The patients experience mild discomfort during the treatment.
- After the treatment, the physician applies a post-procedural cream that alleviates redness and possible skin irritation by lightly massaging the treated area. That is why most patients leave the Clinic without any signs that the treatment had taken place.
Preparation of the patient
Botox treatments do not require a long preparation – the patients are ready for the treatment within 15 minutes.
- To begin with, before the treatment it is necessary to remove all makeup in the places which are going to be treated.
- It is extremely important to disinfect the area to be treated, after removing the makeup.
- After disinfection, the application is done.
Duration of the Botox treatment
The duration of the treatment and the initial conversation is about 45 minutes. The duration depends on whether the patient is coming to a particular treatment for the first time and whether he/she knows exactly what he/she wants to treat. The treatment lasts 15 to 20 minutes, depending on the areas to be treated and the amount of Botox applied.
Botox mechanism of action
Botox works by blocking the signals from the nerves to the muscles. Some wrinkles, known as “dynamic wrinkles”, are a result of normal muscle movements. Throughout life, constant gesticulation with facial muscles causes constant muscle contractions, resulting in deep wrinkles on the forehead, between the eyebrows and around the eyes, which ultimately makes a person appear not only older, but also grumpy and tired. When Botox is injected into these muscles, the nerve signals are blocked and therefore the muscles relax and the wrinkles are straightened.
Results and recovery
The results of the treatment are visible after 7 days, but the first signs will appear within 3-4 days. A Botox treatment is relatively short-lived, which limits its effectiveness as a medical-cosmetic procedure. The duration of the final result varies depending on the individual characteristics (in most cases it is 4 to 6 months). The treatment can be repeated an unlimited number of times, and care must be taken to ensure that there is an appropriate time interval between the treatments, as determined by the physician. In most cases, the treatment is repeated every 4 months to maintain a youthful and fresh look. It is important to mention that with repeated treatments the aesthetic effect of rejuvenation is more permanent, i.e. it is not necessary to perform the treatments as frequently.
It is also important to mention that in 2002 the treatment was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which controls the quality and safety of food and medications. Research shows that after that approval, millions of people opted for a Botox treatment in the United States alone.
Precautions
After the treatment, redness, bruising, swelling or tenderness may appear at the injection site. The redness usually disappears after a few hours, while the swelling and bruising usually disappear within a few days. The side effects are extremely rare. After the treatment, the patient should not be in a horizontal position for several hours, and during the first night it is recommended to sleep on the back so that the treated area is not pressured. That is why it is recommended to have the Botox treatment performed in the morning/afternoon. Also, for 48 hours it is recommended to avoid saunas, sun exposure, tanning salons, and pressuring the area of the face that has been treated (hats, helmets, sleeping on the stomach).