Botox®/Botulinum toxin
Cosmetic Surgery - Plastic Surgery - Aesthetic Medicine - Reconstructive Surgery
Botox ® is the brand name for Botulinum toxin, produced by the bacteria
Clostridium Botulinum. Botulinum toxin is responsible for a disease,
botulism, a food borne illness resulting in muscle paralysis that can
lead to death when breathing muscles are affected. Botulinum toxin is a
neurotoxic protein.
The action of Botox® is aimed at blocking the transmission of
information between nerve and muscle that is necessary for a
contraction, acting on the messenger of the information: acetylcholine.
The medical use of Botulinum toxin began in 1978 in neurology,
urology, ophthalmology and ENT. I was also used to combat excessive
sweating. Then, in the 1980s, its use spread to aesthetic medicine,
where, over the last ten years, Botulinum toxin has been widely used
in the treatment of wrinkles.
Botulinum toxin is a purified and controlled protein. Botox® is used in a strictly medical setting by specialist surgeons.
The amount of Botox® used varies with individuals, muscle quality and
thickness. Botulinum toxin is used at doses a thousand times less than
the amount necessary to cause botulism.
The treatment of frown lines is mainly achieved by the injection of
Botulinum toxin or Botox®. Botulinum toxin has the property of relaxing
muscles and it is this action that is used to reduce horizontal as
well as vertical wrinkles.
The aim of treatment with Botox® is to treat muscular balance so as to
achieve harmonization of the face. A number of sessions will be needed
to adapt the treatment to each patient so as to get the best result.
Treatment with Botulinum toxin injections does not require any special
preparation (no anaesthesia) on the day of treatment. There are
however some contraindications to adhere to: pregnancy and
breastfeeding, neuromuscular disorders or treatment with amino
glycosides (a family of antibiotics). During the consultation with the
plastic surgeon, it will generally be necessary for him properly to
look into all your health problems to enable him to judge whether the
injections would be indicated.
Botox® injections are made using fine needles. Injections to the face are painless and take a few minutes.
Subject to any requirements made by your plastic surgeon, you can normally go back to work immediately after the injections.
Adverse reactions to Botulinum toxin injection may occur depending on
the patient but they are transient: swelling (oedema), bruises
(ecchymoses), localized redness, sensitivity disorders and transient
pain.
The results will stabilize quickly after a fortnight. The results
after the first session will last for between three and six months. At
this point injections can be repeated.
Stabilization of wrinkle reduction will be obtained by repeated
injections, subject, in all cases, to a delay of three months between
injections to avoid a "vaccine-like" reaction. Depending on the
patient, stabilization will be complete as from the third injection,
but some patients will require up to eight to ten injections
Botox® injections, although practised for purely aesthetic reasons,
are simple but rigorous, have the inherent risks associated with any
medical procedure (surgery) even where carried out under the best
conditions, that is to say by a competent plastic surgeon. Without
overstating the risk, a small number of risks always exist. Turning to a
qualified plastic surgeon can help prevent complications or ensure
they are treated effectively.