Botulinum Toxin - The ultimate wrinkle eraser.

BOTOX is an injectable treatment derived from a purified protein. BOTOX smoothes out lines by preventing the muscles from contracting into a wrinkle.

BOTOX FOR LINES AND CREASES

When we frown, blink or squint, we gather tissue into a fold which can cause a chronic crease in our skin. This results in crow's feet, forehead wrinkles and frown lines. BOTOX blocks nerve impulses to muscles, causing relaxation. Because certain muscles are used when twitching or frowning, injecting these muscles with minute doses of BOTOX stops the action. Once a muscle action has been relaxed, existing creases fade and further ones are prevented.

This treatment also shows remarkable results in brow elevation. It can widen the eye area and give you an open, refreshed appearance. Depending on the sensitivity of your skin, anesthetic ointment may be used to numb the discomfort of a BOTOX treatment. The procedure takes minutes to perform and the effect usually takes just days to become apparent. To prevent lines from reappearing, a simple touch-up treatment two to three times a year is recommended.

 

BOTOX FOR FACIAL CONTOURING

Most women consider a square jaw to be rather severe and masculine. Chewing on foods such as dried squid or gum or teeth grinding can result in overdeveloped muscles in the jawline. This is known as Masseter Hypertrophy or more commonly, square jaw. BOTOX is a highly successful treatment that can beautifully contour the lower face and create a slim, feminine jaw.

BOTOX FOR EXCESSIVE SWEATING

Sweat glands require a nerve impulse to activate. Without this stimulation, they won't secrete. By injecting BOTOX into problem areas such as underarms, hands and feet, the related nerve impulse is temporarily relaxed and prevented from reaching the sweat gland. This, in turn, stops sweat production in the treated area. The treatment is as simple as it sounds.

All patients report a substantial decrease in sweating within two days. Many patients have also reported not perspiring at all following treatment. Repeat treatment is usually recommended within five to seven months.

BOTOX FOR OTHER INDICATIONS:

Newer information including our recent research has shown that BOTOX also affects sebaceous glands (oil glands), blood vessels in the face and skin texture.

 

How is the procedure done?

A few drops of BOTOX are injected with a tiny needle into the muscle, blocking the nerve impulses that cause the contractions. As the stimulation to the muscle weakens, the lines gradually soften, giving you a more refreshed, relaxed, highly natural looking appearance. The procedure is so quick and simple that clients often have it done during their lunch hour.

How long does BOTOX last?

The actual treatment only takes only a few minutes and the BOTOX takes effect in three to four days, while maximum results are achieved in 7 to 10 days. Gradually over three to six months, the BOTOX effect will fade, and the muscle action will return. When the frown line starts to reappear, a simple repeat treatment is all that is necessary to maintain the desired result.

Are there any side effects?

BOTOX is very safe, long before it was approved for cosmetic use BOTOX had established 10 years of safety data for the treatment of opthalmic disorders. It has also been approved for the treatment of a number of debilitating conditions such as adult spasticity, cervical dystonia, migraine headaches and juvenile cerebral palsy. It is also effective in the treatment of hyperhydrosis.

How much Botox is needed for each area?

The amount of Botox units differs amongst patients, as some patients require more Botox because of:

• Larger muscle mass e.g. men
• Facial expression differences, some people have a dead pan face whilst others have very expressive faces
• Recruitment of other facial muscles outside the norm after Botox has been given
• Biochemical differences have to be taken into account; for example patients taking a lot of fat burners appear to metabolize Botox much faster and have a much shorter duration of action of their Botox cosmetic treatment
• Badly sun damaged skin changes the amount of Botox units needed. 



All of these above mentioned criteria will be assessed by the attending doctor before he or she administers Botox and this is why it is so important to choose a clinic where the doctor focuses on aesthetics and administers Botox to at least 5 to 10 patients a day. A doctor can only claim to be experienced in the administration of Botox after at least 1000 patients have been injected. At Clínica Privé all NEW patients MUST make a follow up appointment to see the doctor 2 weeks after the initial injection to assess final result. Additional injections may be needed to attain a perfect result. This will be charged accordingly if more than 2 to 4 units are needed for a top up.

Where is Botox injected to reduce wrinkles?

On the Upper Face: For a chemical brow lift, Botox relaxes dynamic frown lines between the brow, on the forehead and the wrinkles around the eyes. Botox makes you look less worried, angry, or tired, and more relaxed, approachable, and confident.

For the Lower Face: Botox when used in small dilutions in a controlled fashion by a skilled physician with extensive experience, can cause a chemical jowl lift and decrease a permanent mouth frown, a very undesirable effect.

What kind of wrinkles does Botox treat?

To understand the various treatments of wrinkles, one must understand that there are different kinds of wrinkles, dynamic and static lines or wrinkles.

• Dynamic lines or wrinkles are those wrinkles and lines that appear when your face is animated.
• Static lines or wrinkles are those facial lines that are evident even when our face is at rest and are due to volume loss and are better treated with dermal fillers. These two types of wrinkles are what separate Botox from any of the injectable fillers.
  

Botox is for dynamic wrinkling. It is a muscle relaxing agent so it will soften the wrinkles and lines that occur from a dynamic facial movement, such as between the brows with frowning…. or the crow' s feet from smiling… or around the mouth from excessive pursing of the lips.. With ageing, this repetitive motion the skin starts to show strain and deep folds and tiny wrinkles start to develop. Botox will also help prevent a mouth frown by relaxing the muscles that exert a downward pull to the mouth.

Alternative cosmetic uses of Botox:

For the body: Botox injections also can be used to block chemical signals from nerves that stimulate sweat glands.

For ACNE conditions: Botox when transdermed into the skin (MesoBotox), can decrease the secretion of sebum form the pilosebaceous unit, an important factor for acne conditions

Another off label indication for Botox is for chronic migraine. Botox is injected into fixed-sites in varying locations, including the forehead, temples and potentially extending into the neck muscles. According to Allergan, the manufacturer of Botox, Phase III clinical trials showed a significantly greater decrease in headache days among patients receiving Botox, compared with those receiving a placebo. There are numerous medical conditions for which Botox is used.

What is Botox made from?

Botox is a purified botulinum neurotoxin type A complex, produced from a culture of the A strain of bacteria called Clostridium Botulinum Type A. Although the Clostridium bacteria cause botulism, the Botox facial extract does not. Botox has been used safely for over 15 years in the treatment of muscle disorders of the eyes and voice box, headaches, spasticity of the stomach, spasticity associated with cerebral palsy, and other neuromuscular disorders, in addition to its cosmetic indications.

Why do we get Dynamic lines or wrinkles?

When we were younger and our skin had abundant collagen, the only lines and wrinkles we had were dynamic. Our face was otherwise wrinkle-free when we weren't animated. All dynamic wrinkles, with age, will eventually lead to static wrinkles as collagen is depleted and constant motion "cracks" the skin. Dynamic Wrinkles are caused by facial expressions and repetitive facial movements. Each time we use a facial muscle, a groove forms beneath the surface of the skin, which is why we see lines form with each facial expression. As skin ages and loses its elasticity, the skin stops springing back to its line-free state, and these grooves become permanently etched on the face as fine lines and wrinkles.

How can Botox injections influence how people perceive you?

You only have one opportunity to make an impression. First impressions are significantly influenced by facial expression. Research has revealed overwhelming data indicating that more attractive individuals receive better judgments and treatment from others.

When should one start using Botox cosmetic?

With the millions of Botox injections that are performed annually, evidence and experience have shown that prolonged use of Botox over a period of 10 years does slow down the ageing process .If we can relax these facial expressions with Botox, then we can prevent the breaks in the skin, commonly known as wrinkles. If the skin is continually relaxed, collagen can build up in the area that is treated and the wrinkle will improve. Repeated Botox injections (every 4 to 5 months) will ensure a superior long-term result as collagen is not depleted by the constant motion of our muscles

How does Botox help the ageing process?

Consumers are always interested in maintaining a youthful appearance, and as the global population's median age increases, this market is increasingly expanding. When we are younger, the brow and jaw line elevators are more prominent and the face appears constantly elevated.

As we age, the dynamics change and the depressors take over and combined with gravity, a gradual sagging of our brow and jawline takes place. If we can keep the dynamics between elevators and depressors neutral with strategically placed Botox injections every 4 to 6 months, then the sagging that occurs with ageing will be reduced.

Multiple clinical studies have shown that a modest elevation occurs in the range of 1 to 3 mms which in the face can be a make a real observable difference. Once the Botox "kicks" in 10 days later, the face takes on a relaxed and refreshed look and one's face appears to glow.

In other words, an anti ageing effect is achieved because Botox relaxes the downward pressure that the depressor muscles exert on the facial tissues. This results in the elevator muscles of the face becoming more dominant, raising the brow and jawline and preventing the downturned mouth or mouth frown.

Is Botox safe?

Botox Facial injections have become an essential ingredient in facial wellness, erasing frown lines and relaxing worried brows. Botox Facial is safe and effective and has been approved for cosmetic use by the FDA. Botox Facial has become the most commonly performed cosmetic procedure and has been used for more than 10 years in aesthetic practice and more than 20 years in neurology and ophthalmology. There are many publications supporting its use. It has a long and impressive safety record.

Botox Facial should be injected at a physician's office by an experienced and trained medical doctor with an intimate knowledge and understanding of the muscular anatomy of the face as well as the aesthetic implications of proper placement. The final outcome of a Botox procedure is very dependent on the experience of the injector. In addition Botox side effects will be minimized if done by a practitioner who has done over 1 000 procedures and who injects Botox cosmetic daily.
1. Botox has been proven safe if administered by a trained medical professional
2. Botox has been used worldwide in millions of patients since 1988

What To Expect after a Botox treatment?

Usually you will have a mosquito-bite looking area for 20-60 minutes which resolves without a trace. Very occasionally, little red areas at areas of injection appear but resolve within a couple of days. Try not to fall asleep or relax in a recumbent position for at least 4 hours after a Botox procedure as this may rarely lead to some diffusion or spreading of the Botox Facial to adjacent areas and causing problems.

Your regular skin care regimen can be resumed immediately following a treatment, and makeup may be applied if desired.

After having had Botox injections, exercise should be avoided for twenty-four hours.
Try to avoid aspirin containing products or high-dosage vitamin E supplements for 48 hours before the Botox procedure unless medically necessary. Avoidance of these for 10 days prior to the procedure is recommended to avoid bruising.

How long will it last?

Within 4 days of the treatment you should start to see an improvement in your lines and the final result only " kicks in" 14 days later. The result can last up to 4 months but varies from patient to patient and the initial amount of Botox given. Baby Botox is Botox given in 3 areas but in half the quantities of a usual procedure. This kind of Botox will only last 6 to 8 weeks and is useful in actors who need facial expression.

With repeated Botox treatments, the result of Botox injections can last for longer periods.
Some patients have a hyperactive brow and are constantly raising their brows. In these patients a shorter effect can be expected as the Botox is quickly "worked" out.