Top Dermatologist in Gurugram | Call Now for Appointment: +91-8448407278, +91-8826038515 , +91-8527453269

Botox Decoded

Botox Decoded

Are you scared of the word Botox? Well, before we even begin to explain everything about botox , know this – Botox is a safe treatment! Do you feel the need for it, but you are apprehensive because of your doubts?

What is Botox?

Botox is one of the brand names of Botulinum toxin (BT). It is a neurotoxin derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It works on the principle of interfering with the neural transmission at the neuromuscular junction. When injected in small quantities into the target muscle, localized chemical denervation takes place. This reduces the muscle contractions temporarily & smooths the wrinkles in the treatment area.

History

Long before BT found its use in the aesthetic world, its effectiveness was first demonstrated for the management of strabismus. Subsequently, it was approved to be used in a variety of conditions like blepharospasm, axillary hyperhidrosis, cervical dystonia, overactive bladder, etc. The FDA approved the use of Botox (Botulinum toxin A ) to temporarily reduce glabellar, forehead (frown) lines.

Use in aesthetic practice.

Understanding Skin Aging

As we age, the skin naturally thins & loses volume as dermal collagen, hyaluronic acid & elastin gradually diminishes. Exposure to ultraviolet radiations & other extrinsic factors like smoking accelerates this process of dermal atrophy. Initially, lines & wrinkles are only seen during active facial expressions such as frowning, laughing; they are called dynamic lines. Over time, these lines become permanently etched into the skin, resulting in static lines, which are always present irrespective of facial expression.

Botox Treatment areas

  1. Frown lines
  2. Horizontal forehead lines
  3. Crow's feet
  4. Eyebrow lift
  5. Bunny lines
  6. Lip lines
  7. Marionette lines
  8. Downturned corners of the mouth
  9. Nasolabial folds
  10. Gummy smile
  11. Chin line
  12. Chin puckering
  13. Neckbands

The goal of the treatment

BT treatments are specifically directed at the region of muscles to inhibit contractions focally and achieve smoothing of the skin or elevating facial areas. The beauty of this treatment is that the degree of correction a patient desires can be achieved by dose modulation. For example, some patients may want complete inhibition of glabellar complex muscles with BT treatment of frown lines, whereas few desire partial muscle inhibition with some ability to frown. This can be achieved very easily by dose modulation.

Getting your botox treatment done from a certified dermatologist is of utmost importance because an expert with a sound knowledge of facial anatomy can do justice to the treatment.

On the day of treatment, a thorough assessment of the facial anatomy and types of wrinkles is performed by the doctor. Following which, your face is cleansed & a numbing cream is applied over the treatment area, which takes about 30-35 minutes to act. After this, your dermatologist would reconstitute the botulinum toxin and load the product in a syringe. You are asked to give various expressions like frown or smile so that the treatment area is marked correctly. Once the markings are done, the doctor injects BT. Some patients might experience a sharp pain when BT enters the undersurface of the skin; this is generally a short-lived pain. Once all the points are injected, the area is cleaned again with a sterile swab, and a topical antiseptic is applied.

The patient is asked to follow up in two weeks for assessment of results and to see if any touch-up is required.

The full effect of the treatment is visible after 24-72 hours, and rarely it might take 5-7 days in some individuals. The effect usually lasts for 4-5 months, after which the treated area goes back to its pre-treatment position without any aggravation or worsening. The patient can get it done again at this point.

Effects are most noticeable for the treatment of dynamic lines. On the other hand, static lines are slow to respond, typically requiring two or three consecutive treatments along with some other procedures like dermal fillers or laser resurfacing to achieve an optimum result.

Now that you are aware of how botox works & its safety profile, let us tell you about some situations where it is NOT advisable:-

  • Pregnancy – not a good time for any invasive or injectable procedures
  • Nursing (lactation
  • If the patient is suffering from any active infection in the treatment area, like herpes simples, eczema, pustular acne, etc. injecting botox might aggravate it.
  • If one has a tendency of scarring (keloids or hypertrophic scars), then its better to have a detailed discussion with your doctor before going ahead with it
  • Bleeding abnormalities because of anticoagulant use.
  • Skin atrophy
  • Sensitivity or allergy to constituents of BT
  • Neuromuscular disorders like myasthenia gravis, myopathies
  • Eye surgery within the previous six months
  • Unrealistic expectations

We hope that we were successful in decoding botulinum toxin treatment & taking care of your prehensions. At Meraki Skin Clinic, we believe in a slow but steady journey towards achieving a healthier skin, the skin of your dreams. Our experts' advise you on skincare based upon your skin type & need, which forms an integral part of any treatment. As your skin heals, it's also getting ready to receive any kind of treatment. This approach gives sustainable results and teaches a patient ways to care for their skin in the long run.

These days there are many brands of botulinum toxin available, but very few have the capacity to give fantastic results with a great safety profile. At Meraki Skin Clinic, we take pride in using all the products from leading pharmaceutical companies so that there is no compromise in the quality.

So, what are you waiting for? It's never too late to start caring for yourself & investing in yourself

FYI Botox is also known as "Miracle Poison"

Latest Blogs

meraki skin clinic