BOTOX. The procedure
Botox is an injectable material consisting of botulinum toxin, which is used in small doses.
It appeared in the 18th century, while it was first produced in the laboratory in 1944 by E.Schantz.
In 1968, A. Scott used it for medical reasons, while its first clinical application took place during the 70's in the field of ophthalmology and in particular for the treatment of blepharospasm and strabismus.
The original BTX-A was produced in 1989 accompanied by its first approval by the FDA in usa for the treatment of cervical dystonia.
In April 2002, the material was accepted and approved for the application and treatment of wrinkles in the forehead and the frown lines between the eyebrows. At the same time it was approved in France, Italy, Spain, Poland, Australia, Japan and others.
In Greece, we are still waiting its approval by the Greek Pharmaceutical Association.
How does it work?
Botox is injected directly into the muscle and acts exactly where the nerve stimulation reverts to a muscle movement. In this way, there is no muscle motion for the duration of the treatment and as such wrinkles do not appear during the normal muscle functionality.
How long does it last?
You can see the difference after 3-4 days reaching its peak after 15 days. Its overall effectiveness lasts approximately 4-6 months and it depends on the dose quantity injected in different muscles.
Each dose depends on the muscle volume, area of treatment & its seriousness and the cosmetic preference of each candidate.
A successful use of botox relies heavily on facial anatomy and the exact deepness of the facial muscles.
Areas utilised
- Wrinkles in the forehead
- Frown lines between the eyebrows
- Eyebrow uplift or down lift
- Crow's feet around the eyes
- Lack of symmetry
- In specific cases in the upper lip
- In the neck for people with good skin elasticity
Right Candidates
Men or women looking to combat the first signs of ageing temporarily, as well those who are not ready or not wish to undergo a more long-term effective procedure (i.e. face lifting).
Treatment
It takes place at our practice and lasts around 5-10 minutes. We recommend avoiding any form of workload for approximately 2-3 hours.
Risks
- Some burning sensation during the treatment (temporary)
- Bruising (rare)
- Some people mentioned having a headache (but not common).
Essentially, successful botox treatments rely on the right choice
of muscles used, and are performed not only for the combat of facial
wrinkles but also for the creation of a more natural and fresher
face with more attractive features.