Dermatology: Botox

General description
Botox aims to eliminate wrinkles in the face, commonly called "crow’s feet", or wrinkles between the eyebrows. Wrinkles are marks left in the skin by the repetition of a muscular movement or gesture.

Benefits
If you want to look younger, BOTOX® (botulinum toxin type A) is what you need because it helps to reduce expression lines..

An additional benefit is possible for patients suffering from headaches caused by permanent contraction of facial muscle. Treatment may alleviate the discomfort brought about by headaches that occur in part from stress or worry.

Technical description
Procedure – Butulinum toxin (commercially known as BOTOX®) has been therapeutically used for more than 20 years, and for eight years in the fields of cosmetic and plastic surgery.

To apply this treatment the patient must be in a sitting position. The goal is to inject small quantities of BOTOX® (botulinum toxin type A) in the area where wrinkles appear. To do this, the plastic surgeon will ask you to contract the muscles that will be treated and he will inject the substance using a very thin needle.

The effects of BOTOX® (botulinum toxin type A) can be perceived 5 to 10 days after the injection; the effects of the treatment last for 4 or 6 months. Wrinkles gradually improve over a 12-week period; depending on the patient.

Once BOTOX® is injected, you must remain horizontal for 4 hours so the toxin can be properly distributed and effect the area where the nerve connects to the muscle. Once the effects disappear, you can repeat the treatment. It has been proven that the larger the amount of injections, the longer the period during which the effects can be perceived.

Two weeks after the first treatment you can have another session of injections that allow the surgeon to locate any resistance from the muscles. Approximately 90% or more of patients positively respond to BOTOX® (botulinum toxin type A), meaning 10% do not respond to this treatment.

The success of this treatment lies in the muscles’ inability to tighten, which begins 24 to 48 hours after the injection. The maximum weakening of the muscle can be achieved in seven days. The paralysis of the muscle after the first injection lasts four to seven months in most patients.

Although there have been no reported childbirth abnormalities related to this treatment, our policy is to not treat pregnant or breastfeeding women. Patients with a record of neuromuscular conditions (multiple sclerosis and/or severe myasthenia) or other neurotransmission related conditions must also avoid this procedure.

Hospitalization – This is an ambulatory procedure.

Back to Dermatology