Botox treatment consists in the application of botulinum toxin type A in the muscles that cause facial wrinkles, in order to attenuate them. This treatment does not paralyze the muscle, it only relaxes it, so when gesturing, the wrinkle is not marked and the face looks relaxed and more rested.
It is a preventive treatment because the continued use of the same prevents the formation of wrinkles, so it is important to start it before the wrinkle furrow is not very deep. If the wrinkle is already very marked, once the Botox treatment has been performed, the wrinkle furrows can be filled with low cross-linking hyaluronic acid.
In what areas is it administered?
The main indication for botulinum toxin is the treatment of wrinkles in the upper third of the face: forehead, frown lines and crow’s feet. It is a simple and painless procedure. It consists in the injection of the toxin in different points of the forehead musculature and around the eyes with a very fine needle. After the treatment, the injection point is hardly noticeable in the treated areas.
It is essential to know well the anatomy and facial musculature to apply this treatment to avoid side effects of misapplication of the toxin such as asymmetry and drooping of the upper eyelid. For this, it is very important to put yourself in expert hands. This treatment can be performed at any time of the year.
Side effects of Botox
There are no side effects if it is applied properly and by expert professionals. Only in a small percentage of patients, mild headache may appear the first days after treatment, while the diffusion of the toxin to the upper eyelid may cause drooping of the upper eyelid or difficulty in lifting it. Other side effects may be hematomas in patients with very thin skin, very rare if the toxin is injected with a very fine needle.
How long does it last?
The onset of wrinkle relaxation usually appears between the third and fifth days and this effect is progressive until fourteen days when the maximum relaxation of the muscles is achieved. After the second week is when the doctors will call the patient back for a revision and reinforce the dosage in those points that require it.
What happens if Botox is not injected again?
The fact of not applying Botox does not imply that more wrinkles will appear or that they will appear more quickly. The muscle recovers its ability to contract from the fourth month and does so progressively until after 6 months the effect disappears completely and wrinkles reappear. What is observed in patients who do the treatment continuously is a better quality of the skin, with more light, less sweating, in addition to smoothing wrinkles.
It is recommended to perform the treatment every 5-6 months, although in some patients, especially men, it is recommended to repeat the treatment after the fourth month.
After injecting Botox it is not necessary to perform any special care, although it is important to avoid massaging or squeezing the treated area, not to lie down in the following 4 hours after applying the treatment and not to perform intense physical exercise. The patient can resume social and work activities immediately after the treatment.