What are Botox injections and why are they needed?
Miscellaneous / / July 31, 2023
One of the most dangerous poisons can be beneficial.
What is Botox
Botox is the trade name for botulinum toxin, which produces American company Allergan. It has become a household name for all botulinum toxins, of which there are quite a lot: Dysport, Xeomin, Relatox, Lantox and others.
Botulinum toxin, or botulinum toxin type A, is a protein that produce bacteria Clostridium botulinum. This is a neurotoxin, that is, a substance that affects the nerve fibers and temporarily interrupts the signal between the nerves and muscles, that is, as if it paralyzes the muscles.
If ingested, for example, from improperly prepared home-canned food, it causes serious illness. botulism. But medical botulinum toxin is safe when used correctly.
How Botox Works
Botulinum toxin does not give acetylcholine, a substance that transmits an impulse between a nerve and a muscle, is released from the nerve ending. The nerve endings themselves remain unchanged, but this substance can no longer be released from them.
The body needs an average of two to three months to grow new contacts with nearby muscles. At this time, the effect will be best seen, and then the mobility of the muscles will slowly recover.
Usually the result is visible from three to six months, after which the injections will need to be repeated.
What problems does Botox solve?
Botulinum toxin in medicine reduce symptoms of cerebral palsy, relieve spasms and treat strabismus. In cosmetology, it is used against increased sweating and mimic wrinkles:
- on the forehead;
- between the eyebrows;
- around eyes;
- around the mouth;
- on the neck.
At what age should you start botulinum toxin injections?
It used to be that the first Botox injections should be followed when deep wrinkles already appeared on the face, that is, at least after 40 years.
But Botox does not work on already existing creases on the skin, it can only prevent the appearance of new ones.
Therefore, if you start injections earlier, then push back appearance of signs of aging. You can only get used to the toxin psychologically, because you will like a face without wrinkles. The only disadvantage of this approach is the high cost of the procedure.
Who Should Not Get Botulinum Toxin Injections?
enjoy botulinum toxin for the correction of mimic wrinkles is impossible:
- pregnant;
- lactating;
- children under 18 years of age (there are no contraindications from a medical point of view, but no one will perform the procedure in the clinic);
- those who have an infection or injury at the site of the intended injection;
- people who have already had an allergic reaction to botulinum toxin preparations;
- those who are currently ill with an acute illness, such as SARS.
Also, you will most likely not be recommended the toxin if you have hernias around the eyes or the tissues of the face have become severely sagging.
What complications can botulinum toxin cause?
Most common Botox injections don't cause complications if they were done by a qualified cosmetologist. But there may be such side effects:
- headache and flu-like symptoms during the first day;
- bruising, swelling and redness at the injection sites;
- "frozen face" due to excess toxin;
- drooping of the eyelids or eyebrows if the drug accidentally gets close to the muscles that are responsible for this.
Very rarely, serious problems can occur, such as blurred or double vision if the area around the eyes is treated, or difficulty breathing if injected into the neck.
If you see these symptoms, contact the specialist who performed the procedure as soon as possible. Cosmetologists are trained to help in such cases.
How many units of botulinum toxin are needed for different zones
Botulinum toxin is It is a powder that is diluted with saline (0.09% NaCl) before the procedure. The amount of the drug for each point is calculated based on the activity of the muscle in this place. This is determined by the doctorbeautician.
For example, for Botox it is May be about 24 units in the interbrow muscles, 20 for wrinkles around the eyes, another 20 for the forehead. But all this is individual.
When will the results of injections be seen?
To protein united with receptors and blocked the release of acetylcholine, time must pass. Usually, the first results can be seen after 3-4 days, and the full effect will come towards the end of the second week after the injections.
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