Botulinum injections

Various aesthetic medicine techniques are applied for elimination of face skin involutional and structure changes, hyperdynamic and static wrinkles, skin excess. Botulinum toxin A is most widely used preparation for non-surgical correction of mimic wrinkles.

MIMIC WRINKLES

The first mimic wrinkles usually start forming at a young age due to constantly repeated emotional expression, but they can also be caused by hereditary predispositions due to increased activity of the corresponding muscles. The nature of these wrinkles is determined in adolescence and gradually becomes more defined.

Wrinkles are always characterized by individual picture. Barely visible at first, these wrinkles become more visible and deeper in time. Their kinetic types are distinguished:

• Kinetic wrinkles – formed by the movement of face muscles directly related to emotional expressions and completely even up during the rest period.
• Hyperkinetic wrinkles are usually more expressive in the forehead, bridge and periorbital area (around eyes), causing mostly occurring aesthetical discomfort. Constant, repetitive and too intensive activity of face muscles is one of the provocative factors of the development of mimic wrinkles accelerating the involutional processes. These wrinkles are mostly visible with the movement of muscles that move more frequently and are not always related to expressed emotions, and during longer rest period they smooth up, e.g., during sleep, wrinkles usually leave soft “path” at the beginning that becomes more deep in time.
• Hypertonic wrinkles. Even during the rest period the muscles are intense, therefore, they cannot become fully loose and do not depend on human will.
• Static wrinkles are formed due to degenerative changes in face skin and muscle apparatus that are related to ageing tissue changes are also stimulated by environmental factors (exposure to UV rays, gravitation, harmful habits, etc.). These are mostly visible during the rest period when no movements are made.

HOW BOTULINUM TOXIN WORKS?

Injected botulinum toxin A inhibits the neuromediators acetylcholine in neuromuscular connection and anatomic cholinergic ganglia. Without the effect of nervous impulse muscles do not contract. In this way, botulinum toxin A temporarily relaxes face muscles by softening or completely eliminating the formed folds or wrinkles composed due to specific interaction of contraction of muscles or their groups.

BOTULINUM (BOTOX) INJECTIONS – ARE THEY SAFE?

1987 marked a significant breakthrough in aesthetic medicine. It was the first time, when A. and J. Carruthers used botulinum toxin A for cosmetic purposes. Since then, the discovered influence of botulinum toxin has launched the era of non-surgical correction of mimic wrinkles. Once known to be a poison, Botulinum toxin (Botox) has been widely used in aesthetic medicine for the safe and effective correction of age-related skin changes.

DISPELLING VARIOUS MYTHS:

• First – is botulinum toxin is poisonous. But it is not possible to be poisoned with botulinum toxin as only small doses of preparation are used. Injections are made to specific muscles responsible for formation of mimic wrinkles.
• Is muscle atrophy possible? Muscle atrophy is impossible since denervation is only temporary and is fully restored within 3-12 months. Normal metabolism processes remain in muscles during the whole time.

The laser dermatology clinic Era Aesthetic uses the most widely used facial mimicry muscle treatment in the world today, Vistabel by Allergan Pharmaceuticals (Irvine, California, USA), which is very popular because it can provide a natural facial expression. It is botulinum toxin A, which is in a complex whose molecular weight determines less diffusion of the preparation. But this means precise, predictable results, longer-lasting, natural, unblemished facial expressions.

AT WHAT AGE THE BOTULINUM INJECTIONS CAN BE STARTED?

Botulinum toxin for aesthetic purposes can be used between 18 and 65 years of age. The time for the first injection is up to the individual, depending on their well-being and self-esteem – for some it is 20-25 years, for others 50 years. Botulinum injections, by acting on the aetiological factors of mimic wrinkles, can be used not only to correct wrinkles but also to prevent them. Injections started at 30-35 years and earlier block passive mimicry and are applicable for the prevention of first wrinkles. Injections are often started at 30-45 years, as the elasticity of the skin decreases, leaving more intense mimic wrinkles. The third stage is menopause, between 45-55 years of life. The rapid decrease in estrogen and progesterone leads to a decrease in the synthesis of collagen and elastin, the skin has difficulty retaining moisture, dries out, becomes thinner, and various mimic wrinkles appear rapidly.

Wrinkle prevention is also recommended in case of very intensive muscle activity.

THE COURSE OF PROCEDURE

At the clinic, the procedures are carried out by aesthetic medicine doctors. Usually, before the procedure, the area of injection is not anaesthetized since the procedure is virtually painless. In case of hypersensitivity, you will be provided with the proper technique of anaesthesia. Subject to age, gender, deepness of wrinkles, localization and all accompanying individual factors s small dose of preparation is injected by special thin needle in the respective points. Microinjections block hyperactive muscles responsible for formation of mimic wrinkles. When muscles stop contracting, the wrinkles are smoothed out. The procedure itself takes a few minutes.

EFFECTIVENESS

Usually, the effect can be seen after 2-7 days, but the full effect takes up to 14 days. The muscles of the mimic relax and the skin in problem areas smooths out. The effect lasts 4-8 months. Sometimes up to 1 year. Emotions may continue to be expressed, but they do not express the wrinkles in the facial skin, which have increased..

HOW OFTEN CAN BOTULINUM BE INJECTED?

In the length of time, innervation is restored and injections can be repeated. In order to maintain constant effect, the course of injections is performed after 4 to 8 months. With repetition of injections, the impact of botulinum lengthens up to 6 to 10 months, the habit to wince conditioning the formation of mimic wrinkles is sometimes lost, therefore, mimic wrinkles can be less intensive. It is not recommended to repeat botulinum toxin injections more frequently than every 3 or 4 months.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS

RECOMMENDATIONS BEFORE THE PROCEDURE

In order to avoid the increased bleeding, the usage of non-steroid anti-inflammatory medication shall be avoided before the procedure.

RECOMMENDATIONS AFTER THE PROCEDURE

• You can return to normal everyday routine immediately.
• The massaging of injected areas should be avoided for 12 hours after the procedure.
• The vertical position should be maintained for 4-5 hours after procedure.
• During the first days after the injection avoid any sports activities, alcohol consumption and sunbathing.
• Overheating (hot tubs, saunas) should be avoided for 7-10 days after the injections.
• Avoid using aminoglicozides, tranquilizers two weeks after the procedure (the administration of these preparations can reduce the effect of botulinum toxin).

ABSOLUTE CONTRAINDICATIONS:

1. Diseases in which the transmission of nerve impulses is disturbed (myasthenia gravis, etc.)
2. Pregnancy
3. Lactation 4
4. Local inflammatory processes
5. Haemophilia
6. Increased sensitivity to preparation components

RELATIVE CONTRAINDICATIONS:

1. History of kidney disease
2. Use of drugs that affect blood clotting
3. Exacerbation of somatic disorders
4. Use of drugs that affect the activity of botulinum toxin: certain antibiotics, muscle relaxants, drugs that affect the transmission of nerve impulses in the nervous system.

INTERACTION OF AESTHETIC PROCEDURES

Botox injections are perfectly compatible with hyaluronic acid injections, biorevitalization, mesotherapy, peeling, photorejuvenation, skin tightening treatment Thermage CPT. Each of these has its own important niche in the prevention and restoration of skin involution changes. The complex, appropriately combined treatments allow to achieve long-lasting results. During your first free consultation, your aesthetic medicine doctor will assess your skin condition, age skin changes and recommend the most suitable treatments and their schedule..

INJECTIONS AND OTHER PROCEDURES ARE CARRIED OUT IN THE CLINIC ONLY BY QUALIFIED ERA ESTHETIC DOCTORS

For more detailed information, please contact us, register for a consultation or call +371 25 711117.