Botulinum Toxin Injections: Effective Wrinkle Treatment with Natural Results
Injectable botulinum toxin is the most well-known and widely used method for treating wrinkles. Its action “blocks” acetylcholine, which is the substance through which nerves signal facial muscles to move. For as long as the toxin’s effect lasts, wrinkles stop making their presence felt.
Why are botulinum toxin injections so popular?
Over the past decade, the use of botulinum toxin injections has skyrocketed, making it the top non-invasive procedure, especially for individuals aged 35 and above. This popularity is mainly due to its effectiveness, particularly on horizontal forehead wrinkles, vertical lines between the brows, crow’s feet around the eyes, “drooping” facial corners, lifting “drooping” eyebrows, and for the neck in older individuals.
What is the difference between this material and hyaluronic acid?
Botulinum toxin temporarily deactivates the facial muscles responsible for wrinkles, resulting in their elimination or softening. If certain wrinkles are more pronounced and deeper, such as frown lines, injectable hyaluronic acid can be used in combination to “fill” the area and achieve the optimal aesthetic result.
How is the treatment applied?
Botulinum toxin injections involve a quick, painless, but not simple procedure, and is relatively low-cost. Using a tiny needle, the required amount of the injectable material is administered to selected areas of the face. The extent of your wrinkles and overall aesthetic needs will determine the number of injections and the dose used. Our goal is to achieve a natural result that allows for expressiveness, avoiding a “frozen” look that reveals the treatment.
Applying a local anesthetic cream minimizes any discomfort, while any local irritation at the injection sites quickly subsides and can be covered with makeup. The result—a more youthful, refreshed face—becomes visible after a few days, with maintenance required every six months.
What should I watch out for after the treatment?
You can return to your daily activities immediately. However, in the first few hours, avoid actions like rubbing, pressing the treated area, and exposing yourself to intense heat.
What happens if I choose to stop botulinum toxin injections?
Stopping the use of botulinum toxin injections at any time does not cause any complications. On the contrary, your skin has “rested” during the treatment period. Therefore, your face will not be in worse condition than before, and you will have “gained” years as your skin will remain in good condition.
Can botulinum toxin injections also improve my health?
Apart from its aesthetic uses, botulinum toxin is also employed for medical reasons. Other common applications include treating excessive sweating (underarms, palms, and soles), migraines, eyelid spasms (tics), and spasms of the masseter muscle and the temporomandibular joint.
Why should I choose a plastic surgeon for this treatment?
The application of botulinum toxin injections requires expertise. A plastic surgeon has an in-depth understanding of facial anatomy and the muscles involved, ensuring a safe and precise application, as well as injection at the exact points needed to achieve a natural result.
Therefore, if we want our face not to “reveal” the use of injectable botulinum toxin, we should choose an experienced plastic surgeon, not just any self-proclaimed expert in injectable treatments who lacks the comprehensive experience to perform them.