Facial muscles contract when we smile, laugh or frown. Thus lines and wrinkles appear which give a person an angry, tired or sad look. The more actively and frequently these emotions are shown, the deeper and more visible the wrinkles and lines are.
To smooth them out, botulinum toxin is injected which is a safe and effective means for the treatment of wrinkles and lines. The procedure can effectively diminish horizontal and vertical lines on the forehead as well as "crows' feet" lines at the corners of the eyes.
Botulinum toxin works at the junction of muscles and nerves thus blocking the nerve's impulse which is necessary for a muscle to contract. Botulinum toxin causes relaxation of facial muscles and smoothes wrinkles but the other muscles outside the treated area are not affected, so a natural expression of a face is maintained.
As the procedure is practically painless and can be compared to a pin prick, no anesthesia is required. After the procedure a cold application is put on the injection site for 10 - 15 minutes. After the injection patients can proceed with their everyday duties as well as drive a car. In rare cases small, temporary bruising may occur on the injection site which can be concealed by make-up.
Improvement will be evident within 3 - 10 days and tends to last from 4 up to 9 - 12 months. The skin becomes smooth and firm. The length of the improvement period depends on several factors - patient's age, state of skin, the place where the medicine is injected. To achieve a better and longer effect, patients are recommended to abstain from drinking alcohol, being in direct sun light, having
a facial massage, visiting a solarium, a sauna, a swimming-pool and taking a hot bath for 7 - 10 days.
In few cases botulinum toxin can migrate and cause temporary weakness of adjacent muscles. Very rarely a drooping eyelid or facial asymmetry may be observed. The side effects are temporary and only last for a few weeks.
These injections are only a temporary solution for the treatment of dynamic wrinkles, however, even the effect gradually fading away, the skin in the particular area relaxes and the habit of using definite facial expressions disappears. If necessary, the procedure can be repeated several times.
Poisoning from botulinum toxin injections is impossible because a only a minimal amount of the medicine is being used.
Contra - indications for botulinum toxin injections:
Botulinum toxin is also used for the treatment of excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis). This method is becoming more and more popular because it is convenient, it does not require much time and it gives a stable result. During the procedure, which lasts 15 - 20 minutes, botulinum toxin is being injected into the skin thus blocking the action of sweat glands. The results start to be noticed on the 4th - 6th day after injections and last for 6 - 9 months. It is recommended to repeat the injections once or twice a year. Blocking of sweat glands in certain places of the body is not harmful because sweat glands located in other places of the skin continue to produce secretion.