BOTOX - what is it?
BOTOX®, this is the most common trade name of botulinum toxin. BOTOX® is the most popular agent for smoothing wrinkles, mainly in the upper part of the face. The first studies on the clinical use of botulinum toxin were conducted in the 1950s and 1960s. At that time, it was realized that small doses of the drug caused temporary muscle relaxation. In the '70s, this drug was first used to treat strabismus. The resulting relaxation of the muscles that direct the eye movement corrected this defect.
Then botulinum toxin began to be used to treat various types of muscle spasms, ticks on the face, vocal spasms, etc. In the 90s, BOTOX® was found to block excessive sweating. This medicine has also been used to treat children's paralysis. In 1989, the FDA (American Drug Agency) officially approved BOTOX® for medical use.
In the early 90s, the first reports on the cosmetic use of BOTOX® to smooth excessive lines of wrinkles on the forehead and around the eyes were published. In 2002, BOTOX® was approved by the FDA for wrinkle treatment and for general use in aesthetic medicine. It was a breakthrough moment for aesthetic medicine, because since then treatments using BOTOX® have enjoyed unprecedented popularity, first among actors and artists, and then among the entire society.
BOTOX® blocks the passage of nerve impulses from the nerve endings to the muscles. Muscles, losing the ability to react, do not shrink and smooth wrinkles. BOTOX® only works on the muscles where it has been injected, while the other muscles function as before. The skin smooths gradually, thanks to which the patient undergoing the procedure has time to get used to the following post-treatment changes.
BOTOX® is injected using a disposable syringe fitted with a very thin needle, in small quantities and in several places. The procedure is not excessively painful and does not require anesthesia. For patients who are particularly sensitive to pain, anesthetic cream or temporary cooling of the treatment site can be used.
The length of the procedure depends on the number of sites treated and their extent. Normal activity can be started immediately after the procedure. BOTOX® starts working 2-3 days after injection. The full effect of the treatment is visible after one or two weeks.
The effect of the treatment lasts about 4-6 months depending on the individual predisposition of the body. With regular use, the BOTOX® effect lasts for a year or more.
BOTOX® injections are the most commonly used treatments among all aesthetic medicine treatments. In 2010, only in the United States 10.2 million treatments were performed using BOTOX®. Complications after surgery are very rare and are temporary, disappearing after a short time. The most undesirable ailments after the procedure are: redness at the injection site, a small bruise, slight swelling, headache or muscle weakness.
Contraindications to the BOTOX® treatment are relative. These include, but are not limited to: pregnancy, breastfeeding, cardiovascular and nervous system disorders, and muscle diseases.
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