BOTOX - Botulinium Toxin
Introducing botulinum toxin
Botulinum toxin was first adapted to treat medical conditions, but today is best known for its cosmetic use. Botulinum toxin injection is gaining popularity because it is a simple, effective and low-risk way of reducing deep facial wrinkles without the need for surgery. In addition, it keeps the muscles immobile for several months, so people often lose the habit of frowning or squinting. This helps prevent the lines from coming back.
The power of botulinum toxin to remove lines was first noticed in people who had been injected around the eyes to treat twitching eye muscle disorders.
Botulinum toxin is now widely used across the world in a range of cosmetic applications. This is an exciting and expanding area with new uses being explored and added continually, including applications in the lower face.
When properly used medically and cosmetically, botulinum toxin treatment has minimal risk because only tiny amounts are used, and spread of the toxin from the site of injection is very limited.
Medical uses of botulinum toxin
Botulinum toxin is naturally able to weaken muscles. By injecting very small amounts, specific muscles can be targeted. This has led to its use for many years in the treatment of medical conditions that involve uncontrolled muscle contraction or spasm.
In New Zealand, It is approved for use in treating neck muscle spasm in adults (spasmodic torticollis), blepharospasm in adults, leg muscle spasm in children with cerebral palsy and hemi-facial spasm. In addition, Botox is approved for the treatment of strabismus, glabellar lines and hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) of the axillae.
How does botulinum toxin work?
When you frown or squint, you tense muscles in your face, forming deep creases in your forehead and around your eyes. These movements are often habitual and frequent, resulting in fixed wrinkles. Botulinum toxin works by preventing the injected muscles from receiving the nerve signals that tell you to tense. With prolonged use, this weakens the muscles, reducing wrinkles and in time the habit of frowning may even diminish.
Botulinum toxin doesn't affect your ability to feel sensation, so after an injection, though you can't tense the muscle, the skin feels normal when touched. While the toxin is taking effect you may experience unfamiliar sensations. As new nerve endings grow, the ability to move the muscle returns.
What is involved in treatment with botulinum toxin?
The injection can be performed in our office and the procedure including consultation and injection generally takes less than 30 minutes. No anaesthetic is required and recovery is immediate.
Botulinum toxin is injected into the specific muscles responsible for the problem. There will be a stinging sensation during the injection.
To limit the spread of the toxin from it's required position, for 4 hours after:
- Do not massage the area
- Do not exercise vigorously
- Remain in an upright position: do not lie down.
It is useful to avoid massage to the area for a week or two after the injection, according to some sources.
In general, you will start to notice a reduction in muscle power within 3-5 days, with the greatest reduction after 2-6 weeks. Some of the wrinkles will disappear when the muscle is weakened and others will fade slowly as the skin remodels over several weeks. Untreated muscles will be able to move as usual, allowing normal facial expression.
The effect of the injection lasts for different lengths of time in different people, but most people will require a repeat treatment every 3 to 5 months.
BOTOX is a prescription medicine containing 100 units of clostridium botulinum Type A toxin complex for injection. It is used for the treatment of severe frown lines and associated 'crow's feet' around the eyes. It should be administered only by trained medical professionals. Talk to your specialists about the benefits/risks of this procedure in appearance medicine. Cautions: people with neuro-muscular transmission disorders, presence of infection at site of injection, pregnancy and lactation. Possible side effects include headaches, pain, burning sensation or redness at injection site, temporary local muscle weakness including eyelid droop, decreased sensation and nausea. If you have side effects or concerns, talk to your doctor. A charge applies. Allergan Pharmaceutical, Auckland.
Note: Botox treatment lasts about four months and after thus time further courses of treatment may be necessary. Talk to your specialist about your own situation.
Botox Treatments Available
Botox is one of the services that Clinic 42 can help with. Botox is a non-surgical procedure that can dramatically reduce even your toughest wrinkle within days. You can choose to live without wrinkles! Click on the movie file links below to view an actual treatment.
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Botox
Forehead Wrinkles |
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Botox
Crows Feet |
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Botox
Frownlines |
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To learn more about Botox or to make a consultation contact us now.
