Botox has more recently been used for the treatment of facial wrinkles. It is especially useful for emotional wrinkles adjacent to the eyes on the forehead known as Dynamic wrinkles. Tiny doses of Botox are administered with a very fine needle in the areas of concern, often alleviating the wrinkles for about 3 to 6 months. This alternative is a welcome one to many individuals who have concerns about more invasive cosmetic surgical procedures.
Botox is used to rejuvenate Dynamic wrinkles and cannot improve face wrinkles cause by sun damage and age.
What is Botulinum Toxin (Botox)?
Botulinum toxin (Botox) is a complex protein produced by the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It produces a total of seven different toxins all of which have the same end result, the paralysis of muscle. One of the toxins, Botulinum Neurotoxin Type A, is now available for medical use under the trade name Botox. Advantage can be taken of the effects of Botox to alleviate muscle spasm or to weaken a muscle for therapeutic purposes. In therapeutic applications, minute quantities of botulinum neurotoxin type A are injected directly into selected muscles. Ocular conditions that respond include squints and spasm of the eyelid (blepharospasm).
Botox therapy is minimal invasive. Its use should be reserved for patients in whom an specialist diagnosis has been established with reasonable certainty. At our surgery, Botox therapy is conducted by a skilled interdisciplinary team and sophisticated instrumentation and electromyography are available to ensure valid diagnosis, state-of-the-art treatment, and appropriate follow-up. Our consultants who administer this drug are highly trained in its use and qualified to manage any complications. Botox treatments of cosmetic conditions requires proper identification of the effected muscles.
Is Botox safe?
Since 1990, success rates of over 90% have been reported in medical literature. Wide attention has been given to Botox and more and more applications have been found for it, often with equally impressive success rates. Botox is now the treatment choice for muscular spasms affecting the face, and repeated studies have demonstrated that it is a very safe and effective treatment.
How is Botox Used?
Injections into the target muscle are carried out by a very fine needle. The sites of the injection will vary slightly from patient to patient, and according to the specialists preference.
How Long Does it Take to Work?
Benefits begin in 1-14 days after the treatment and last on average three to four months, after which it can be repeated. All effects of the toxin ultimately reverse with time.
What are its Side Effects and Complications?
Many studies have confirmed side effects to be minor in the vast majority of applications. Side effects are generally transitory, well tolerated, and amenable to treatment. They are related to the dose of Botox administered. Persistent complications are distinctly rare, and serious side effects are uncommon. Some of the reported side effects include:
Flu like symptoms. These are mild and transient.
Systemic complications are uncommon
Tenderness or bruising at the site of injection, and headaches again mild and transient.
Muscle weakness. This is to be expected in the muscles injected but in practice this is rarely a problem.
Weakness in other areas is rarely troublesome and is associated with large doses.
Allergy is a theoretical risk but is virtually unknown.
Antibodies can be produced and if this happens the toxin becomes ineffective, but there are no other effects. The antibodies often disappear with time and treatment may be successfully recommenced after an interval.
Other very low incidence of complications of botulinum toxin injections includes droopy eye (ptosis), dry eye and photosensitivity. One of the more common adverse effects, ptosis, is due to diffusion of toxin from the upper eyelid injection sites to the levator muscle.
Although the side effects of the toxin are generally uncommon and not serious there are nonetheless contraindications to treatment with botulinum toxin. Please phone the Cosmetic and Ophthalmic Surgery Centre for further details.
Pregnancy and lactation.
Infection in the vicinity of the injection site.
Current therapy with a certain class of uncommonly used antibiotics, known as the amino glycosides.
Blood clotting disorders or current therapy with drugs inhibiting blood clotting, e.g. Warfarin.
Diseases affecting the muscles, particularly myaesthenia gravis.
Allergy to tetanus toxoid is a potential, but not absolute contraindication
Get a quote
By filling in one enquiry form, you can submit an enquiry for information about or costs of cosmetic treatments to up to three participating companies.
Special offer from the Cosmetic and Ophthalmic Surgery Centre
