BOTULINUM TOXIN (BOTOX)
General Description of Botulinum Toxin:
Botulinum toxin, also known as Botox, is a neurotoxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Used for medical and aesthetic purposes, it acts by temporarily blocking the nerve signals responsible for muscle contraction. This results in targeted muscle relaxation, which can be used to treat various medical conditions such as muscle spasms, strabismus, blepharospasm, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), and facial wrinkles. In aesthetic medicine, it is mainly used to reduce the appearance of facial lines and wrinkles by relaxing the muscles responsible for their formation.
The indications for botulinum toxin injection are varied and mainly include aesthetic and medical treatments. In aesthetic medicine, the main indications include the treatment of facial lines and wrinkles, including forehead wrinkles, frown lines between the eyebrows and crow's feet around the eyes. It is also used to raise eyebrows, to correct gummy smiles, to reduce the appearance of chin and neck lines, and to contour the face by changing the shape of muscles.
In addition to cosmetic treatments, botulinum toxin is also used medically to treat conditions such as strabismus (eyes that are out of alignment), blepharospasm (involuntary twitching of the eyelids), hemifacial spasm (muscle twitching on the side facial), hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), bruxism (teeth grinding), chronic migraines and other neurological and muscular disorders.
In aesthetic medicine, the main types of botulinum toxin used are:
- Botulinum toxin type A: This is the form most commonly used in aesthetic medicine. Popular brands include Botox, Dysport and Xeomin. Each of these brands has specific characteristics in terms of diffusion, duration of action and concentration.
- Botulinum toxin type B: Although less common than toxin type A, botulinum toxin type B (e.g., Myobloc) is sometimes used for cosmetic purposes. It may have different characteristics in terms of diffusion and duration of action compared to type A toxin.
These different types of botulinum toxin can be used interchangeably depending on patient needs and practitioner preferences. Each type of botulinum toxin may have unique properties in terms of effectiveness, duration of action and potential risks, and it is important that the practitioner discusses the available options with the patient before performing the injection.
Botulinum toxin injection procedure steps
The cosmetic surgeon will carry out a preliminary interview to precisely identify your expectations and detect possible contraindications such as pregnancy, known allergies, history of herpes, neuromuscular diseases or recent injections.
Photographs before and after the botulinum toxin injection will be taken to document the results.
No specific preparation is required before the injection, and there is no need to fast. Makeup will be removed before each injection session.
It is recommended to avoid taking aspirin or anti-inflammatories in the week preceding the injections.
The injections are generally not painful, and local anesthesia is rarely necessary. If local anesthesia is desired, it can be achieved either with the application of an anesthetic cream (Emla) 30 minutes before the injection, or by an injection of local anesthetic.
Injections are performed in the office, except when combined with surgery.
If necessary, the area is anesthetized before the injection to minimize any unpleasant sensations. The injections are performed using very fine needles to ensure patient comfort. The duration of a botulinum toxin injection session can vary from 10 minutes to an hour, depending on the number of areas to be treated and any associated procedures, such as hyaluronic acid injection. After the session, the patient can redo her makeup immediately.
