Table of contents:

1. Botox, or
2. Botox - effects
3. Other preparations based on Botox type A
4. Administration of the preparation
5. Efficacy of the preparations

According to The American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), botulinum toxin type A treatments were at the top of the list of the most popular rejuvenation treatments in the United States in 2012.

Botox, a..

Botulinum toxintype A is a purified protein produced by the anaerobic bacteria Bacillus botulinus. The specific became known in the 1980s, when the preparation began to be used, among other things:

• in ophthalmology,
• treatment of migraine pain,
• treatment of hyperhidrosis.

Important! In 2002, Botox was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in treatments to correct facial wrinkles.

Botox - effects

When injected,botulinum toxin type A temporarily blocks neuromuscular conduction. The release of acetylcholine, a chemical substance that is released from nerve endings and is responsible for transmitting contraction information to the muscles, is inhibited. As a result of the blockage of this substance, the muscles become paralysed, which manifests itself by smoothing out wrinkles.

Among other things, the application of the preparation can eliminate the following:

• crow's feet,
• forehead furrows,
• lower eyelid wrinkles,
• imperfections of the neck skin,
• drooping corners of the mouth.

A minor facelift is also carried out using Botox to (among other things) lift the eyebrows or eliminate wrinkles on the nose - the so-called rabbit nose.

Important! The effectiveness of botox is high at around 80%.

In addition to restoring the skin's youthfulness (getting rid of wrinkles), botulinum toxin type A therapy also adds freshness and eliminates signs of fatigue.

Important! Botox is recommended for people aged 30-60 years.

Botox therapy is not for everyone. Contraindications to the treatment include:

• allergy to human albumin,
• pregnancy, lactation,
• disorders of the nervous system,
• use of medications (e.g. Amikacin, Chloroquine, Lincomycin).

Important! The results of the treatment can be seen after a few days and develop within 2 weeks. The rejuvenating effect lasts for 6-8 months. In the case of crow's feet it is 4 months.

Discontinuation of Botox has no effect on the deepening of the injected wrinkles - they do not change from before the injection (they are "frozen" at this stage).

Other preparations based on botulinum type A

Other preparations based on botulinum toxin type A are just as popular in aesthetic medicine as botox.

Important! There are no significant differences between the preparations. The only differentiating element is the different particle size (due to the fact that they are produced by different manufacturers). Consequently, the proportions are chosen differently during treatment.

A more potent preparation than Botox is azzalure, which contains anabotulin (Botox, on the other hand, contains onabotulin). The differences are due to the way the agents themselves are produced. Azzalure is recommended for people for whom the effects after injecting botox type A - are short-lived.

Important! The preparation is ideal for people with so-called "strong facial expressions", in whom wrinkles have appeared in the upper part of the face.

Azzalure works well with:

• the smoothing of horizontal forehead wrinkles,
• crow's feet,
• circular neck wrinkles,
• chin folds.

Botox, photo: panthermedia

Important! The effect of the treatment lasts for 4-6 months.

Another preparation that has the lowest protein content of all type A botox-based preparations is bocouture (incobotulin.

Important! The preparation can be used in patients with allergies (especially those allergic to protein).

Important! The effects of the treatment are visible after just 24 hours and last up to 4 months.

Dysport is highly effective in the removal of facial wrinkles. It is recommended to people who are interested in quick results.

Important! The results of the injections are visible after just 3 days and last for up to 4 months.

The agent is characterised by milder effects. There is no stage of excessive skin tightening that persists for the first weeks after Botox treatment.

Administration of th epreparation

The injection of the preparations is carried out using a very thin needle. The application is almost painless. For patients who are not very resistant to pain, anaesthesia in the form of a cream is used.

On the subject of the procedure - after a consultation, the doctor disinfects the skin and determines where the injection will take place.

Important! The amount is selected individually for each patient.

Injections last from a few to several minutes. The points do not necessarily have to be on the wrinkles themselves, but on the area where the muscle is located (usually 1-5 injections per muscle).

A side effect that may occur after injection is the appearance of slight redness and thickening at the injection site. The symptoms disappear within 1-2 hours. In occasional cases there is bruising, which disappears within up to a week.

The treatment leaves no traces in the form of scars. The areas where the preparation has been injected remain invisible.

Effectiveness of preparations

There are no studies that prove that one preparation is more effective than another. Each agent on the market is characterised by its efficacy and safety. The effectiveness of a substance is determined by personal inclinations as well as the experience of the doctor.

All preparations should work in the same way, but it should be remembered that they are not the same - each has a different concentration and is administered slightly differently. The only significant difference is the range of action.

Important! The variety of preparations based on botulinum type A allows the patient to choose the best minimally invasive treatment to improve the appearance of the skin.