Botox-Type Injectables (Neuromodulators)
While Botox has become a popular household name in the U.S., it is actually the brand name of a drug rather than the procedure itself. Among a handful of others, including Xeomin and Dysport, these types of injectables are typically used in cosmetic treatments. They are collectively known as botulinum type A injections, a neuromodulator (sometimes called neurotoxin) is commonly used to rejuvenate facial features as well as to treat muscle spasms, stiffness, and excessive sweating. Neuromodulators are also being used to treat bladder problems as well as male and female reproductive conditions. These medications provide a temporary result and treatment must be repeated at various intervals to maintain the result or effect.
Introduction
Botulinum injections work by blocking muscular nerve signals. This in turn weakens muscle contraction and results in a more relaxed, youthful look.
Patients most benefit from this when treating wrinkles and creases, whether from aging or other causes. These can form from practically any facial movement, including frowning, squinting, raising eyebrows, and even smiling, but the severity of the wrinkle will vary from person to person. By utilizing botulinum injections, patients can address these with minimal invasiveness and vastly improve their appearance.
Who is a Candidate?
- Patients who wish to reduce wrinkles and enhance their look.
- Additionally, patients who are candidates for treatment of muscular spasms, stiffness, excessive sweating, as well as bladder issues.
- This type of injection only relaxes muscles and does not fill wrinkles or tighten skin. For patients who have excessive skin laxity, facelift, eyelid surgery or other procedures may be a better suited treatment.
Who is not a Candidate?
- While your doctor will ultimately decide if this treatment is right for you, you may not be eligible if you:
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have skin conditions which may result in infection
- Have allergies or hypersensitivity to the drug or its additives
- Have certain types of neuromuscular disorders
- Take medications that may interact with the neuromodulator
BOTOX-TYPE INJECTABLES procedure
- Temporary reduction of wrinkles
- A youthful, smoother facial appearance
- Using a very thin needle, your doctor will inject a small amount of botulinum into the appropriate sites. Anesthesia is rarely required.
- The number of injections needed will vary from person to person and also depend on the extent of wrinkles being treated.
- Most procedures do not take more than several minutes.
- There is no downtime or recovery stage following botulinum injections.
- Patients can return to work and resume their daily activities following botulinum injections immediately.
- Some patients experience mild redness and swelling at the injection site.
- Bruising at the injection site may occur.
- Results of the treatment are visible within one week.
Notes
There are 43 muscles in the human face, only some of which are necessary to be treated in order to eliminate wrinkles and still preserve your ability to make facial expressions. While many types of professional spas offer botulinum treatments, it is crucial to your health and result that you receive them from a skilled provider who has a background in cosmetic treatments as well as experience in performing these types of procedures.
The specific risks and suitability of this procedure for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation with your cosmetic surgeon. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are unusual.