BOTULINUM TOXIN

The most popular treatment in Aesthetic Medicine

Botulinum toxin (Azzalure®, Bocouture®, Vistabel®) is a prescription medication that, injected by a doctor with experience and accredited training, produces a relaxation of the facial muscles and visibly improves wrinkles on the forehead, between the eyebrows, around the eyes, neck, etc. Using a specialized technique, botulinum toxin can also effectively treat excessive sweating of the armpits, hands and feet.

This medication has been used in medicine safely and effectively for more than 50 years, in a wide variety of disciplines such as Neurology, Ophthalmology, etc.

In Aesthetic Medicine it has been used successfully for more than 30 years.

Botulinum Toxin benefits

The treatment relaxes the muscles that are the cause of wrinkles found between the eyebrows, forehead, around the eyes, and nose. It can also be used to reduce facial lines around the mouth and to smooth neck wrinkles. The benefits:

• Wrinkles almost disappear or considerably reduce their appearance
• After the treatment, you can resume your usual activity without downtime
• The effect of the treatment usually starts after about 2-3 days
• Aesthetic results usually last 3-6 months

There is no need for local anesthesia. The use of a micro needle significantly reduces the discomfort of injections, making the treatment almost painless.

How does botulinum toxin works

The different facial expressions occur because the brain sends a signal to certain muscles. These then contract, producing the desired movement in the skin of the face. Botulinum toxin blocks this signal, at the level of the connection between the nerve and the muscle. This causes muscle relaxation, leaving the skin above it less wrinkled. The treatment selectively affects the injected muscles, preserving the normal function of the surrounding muscles. However, to avoid the “frozen” expression of the face, the doctor must know which facial muscles to treat, and the intensity of relaxation that has to be obtained to produce a natural aesthetic result.

Treatment

The medication is injected with a sterile single-use syringe, using a very fine needle. For each muscle group, a variable number of injections is needed.  For the treatment of excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) a greater number of injections is required, although it depends on each individual.

The treatment lasts about 15-20 minutes, depending on the number of muscle groups to be treated.

Risks and side-effects

The treatment uses an exclusive prescription medication, therefore it can only be prescribed by a doctor. Injections must be administered by a doctor with experience and accredited training.

Patients with neuromuscular transmission pathologies, glaucoma, infections, pregnancy and breast-feeding, among other medical conditions, are not good candidates for treatment.

Possible side effects: bruising in the injected area, inflammation, allergy to medication, infection, peripheral muscle involvement, due to accidental migration of the injected product.

The effects of botulinum toxin last for 3-6 months. After this time, the treatment may need to be repeated to maintain the aesthetic results achieved. We recommend that you contact your physician to discuss your individual situation.

Examples

To view unaltered images of real patients treated exclusively by Medical Aesthetics physicians, please click here