Botulinum Toxin / Botox
What is Botox?
- Botulinum toxin type A has the role to temporarily block the release of a neurotransmitter that causes muscle contraction: acetylcholine.
- It is this muscular contraction that causes rhytides.
Why have Botox?
The action of the toxin is to transiently block the nerve conduction in the injected muscle, which results in a momentary weakening of the muscles treated.
This allows either to reduce the wrinkles (forehead, around the eyes ...) or slightly lift up certain facial features (including eyebrows, corners of the mouth ...)
The consultation
- At the first consultation, your surgeon will ask about your wishes (volume, shapes, wrinkle locations, etc...)
- and after examining you (each muscle group is studied separately - various grimaces), he will inform you of the different options available.
- The surgeon begins by making an accurate identification of injection zones.
- And also informs you of the counter-indications for botulinum toxin or Botox (other medication, allergies, hypersensitivity disorders of muscle activity, etc...).
- Photographs will be taken in order to follow the morphological evolution of the face.
How does an injection of Botox work?
- Injections should be made several times with intervals of 3 to 6 months to achieve some stability of the results.
- From the second injection, the results may last longer (6-8 months).
- Conversely, it should be noted that if we stop the injections, the treated muscles regain their function prior to injections.
After Botox injections
- During the two hours after the injections, it is recommended that you relax and do not get involved in intensive sports
- You should also avoid massages for 24 hours following the session.
- In practice, the injected areas are slightly swollen during the hour following the injection, and you can resume social or professional activity slightly after.
- The effect of the product will be stabilized within 2 weeks.
- A session can be arranged up to 15 days after to possibly fix some residual imperfections. It permits the evaluation of the injection.
- The "after" photos are compared with photos before and stored by the practitioner.
The risks of Botox
- Like all medications, botulinum toxin injections may cause side effects.
- An allergic reaction can occur exceptionally and is characterized by symptoms such as pain, increased sensitivity, itching, swelling, bruising.
- In fact, the only notable risks are related to the way the injection is administered : targeting adjacent muscles can have non desired effects.
After an injection of botulinum toxin
- The effect of the product will be stabilized within 2 weeks.
- A 15-day "check" can be done with the patient to correct some residual asymmetries. This is the session that evaluates the effects of the injection.
- "After" photos are compared to the photos before and kept by the practitioner.
Information Sheet SoFCPRE (Société Française de Chirurgie Plastique Reconstructrice et Esthétique)
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