Some wrinkles and drooping can be due to loss of volume in the facial fat, muscle or bone. Some are due to skin damage caused by eviromental pollutants, sun exposure and lifestyle. There are however, some types of wrinkles or droops which are caused by over activity of certain facial muscles. These may be suitably resolved by the use of botulinum toxin. Read on to find out more about how botulinum toxin works.
What is Botulinum Toxin and how does it work?
Botulinum Toxin type A is a naturally produced neurotoxin secreted by the bacteria Clostridium Botulinum. This chemical can be delivered to specific muscles at specific doses, to reduce that muscle's activity. When the chemical enters the muscle, it binds receptors on the nerves responsible for causing movement and reduces the amount of neurotransmitters being released. In doing so, the skin covering that muscle doesn't get creased as much as it used to when the muscle was more active. This allows wrinkles and lines to relax and smooth out. The botulinum toxin effects slowly wear off as your body makes more neurotransmitters and the toxin is removed by your body. This is why results wear off after 3-6 months. The faster your metabolism, the more active your lifestyle and the more sun exposure you have, the quicker your results will wear off.
What can you treat with Botulinum Toxin?
There are so many muscles responsible for your facial expressions! The more expressive we are, the more likely that the skin covering these muscles crumples and creases. The aim of botulinium toxin injections is to relax these muscles to both prevent and reduce wrinkles as well as lift and slim. The areas people are usually most concerned about are on the forehead and in between and around the eyes. Toxin can also be used to help weaken muscles which pull your features downwards. In doing so it can give a lifted appearance. This is commonly used on eyebrows, corners of the mouth and the chin to relax over active muscles and give a subtle, youthful appearance.
There are many applications for toxin treatments, When you have a consultation and we discuss your concerns at length, we will plan the best mode of treatment specific to your concern. You may require a combination of treatments to get the results you desire. If your issue is related to the activity of a muscle, toxin injections may be an appropriate choice, but often the skin and the fat are treated too through addition of a combination of skin treatments and fillers.
There are many applications for toxin treatments, When you have a consultation and we discuss your concerns at length, we will plan the best mode of treatment specific to your concern. You may require a combination of treatments to get the results you desire. If your issue is related to the activity of a muscle, toxin injections may be an appropriate choice, but often the skin and the fat are treated too through addition of a combination of skin treatments and fillers.
What are the possible side effects?
Botulinum Toxin is a prescription only medication and as such, should only be prescribed and administered by a medical professional. The following are potential side effects following administration of toxin:
- Post-treatment: discomfort, swelling, redness and bruising
- Post-treatment bacterial and/or fungal infections requiring further treatment
- Allergic reactions
- Minor temporary droop of eyelid(s) in approximately 2% of the injections given (this usually lasts 2-3 weeks)
- Occasional numbness of the forehead lasting up to 2-3 weeks
- Transient headache
- Flu-like symptoms