Botulinum toxin

Botulinum toxin injections are the most commonly performed procedures in aesthetic medicine. Its action consists in temporary deactivation of the facial muscles caused by local blocking of neuromuscular conduction. Most often, it is used to smooth horizontal forehead wrinkles, vertical forehead wrinkles (frown line) and crow’s feet. More rarely, it is also used for other parts of the face, the neck or in hyperhidrosis treatment.

At our dental office, we use Azzalure product by Galderma.

What happens during the procedure?

During the procedure, botulinum toxin solution in the form of a clear liquid is injected intramuscularly, after prior disinfection of the skin with a disinfectant. This is done with an extremely thin, single-use needle and does not require anaesthesia. The whole procedure lasts approx. 15 minutes.

After the procedure, you should not touch or massage the injection areas. During the first 4 hours, the patient should not lie down or bend for long. Also, makeup should not be applied on the same day. For two weeks, the face should not be warmed and sauna, sunbathing and other beauty treatments should be avoided.

Side effects that may occur are:

• headache (most common)
• reactions at the injection site – redness, swelling, petechiae, bruising, pruritus, rash
• eyebrow paralysis
• drooping eyelid
• excessive tearing or dry eye syndrome
• abnormal eye movements, double vision

These symptoms are short-lived and do not require any therapeutic procedure. However, if something worries you, you should always contact your attending physician.

Results

Results began to be seen at approx. 3-7 days and last for 4-6 months. After this time, the muscles will gradually regain their original contractile force. The patients do not have worry that their wrinkles will be worse after the effects of the procedure have dissipated. It is just the contrary: wrinkles will be reduced because by that time, the skin will have already regenerated and it will not deform that quickly as a result of the work of the muscles. The procedure should not be repeated more than once every 3 months because of the risk of formation of antibodies against botulinum toxin (which renders the administration ineffective).

Of course, the best results will be seen in younger patients whose wrinkles only begin to appear. At that time, we have a chance to slow down or halt the process of their formation. When wrinkles are already established and visible even at rest, the reduction of wrinkle depth may be less significant, and it may be necessary to wait longer before the results can be seen; furthermore, it may be even necessary to use other methods, e.g. filling with hyaluronic acid.

Contraindications:

• hypersensitivity to botulinum toxin type A
• pregnancy and breastfeeding
• infection at the planned injection sites
• presence of myasthenia gravis pseudo-paralytica, Eaton-Lambert syndrome or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• use of medications reducing coagulation of blood