Treatment of Expression Wrinkles
Botulinum toxin relaxes certain muscles responsible for wrinkles on the forehead, between the eyebrows, around the eyes and in the neck. It is possible to prevent the effects of aging without altering the natural expressions of the face.
General Information on Botulinum Toxin
Botulinum toxin comes from the culture of a bacterium called “Clostridium Botulinum”. It blocks the nerve conduction that allows muscle contractions and thus inhibits muscle activity for a specified period. Used as a treatment for certain ophthalmological (strabismus) or neurological (muscle spasms) disorders by thousands of children and adult patients, these aesthetic effects have mainly been noticed during the treatment of blepharospasm (spasms of the eyelid). For more than 20 years, its indications have thus been extended to aesthetic medicine. It is now recognized as a safe and effective treatment for facial expression lines and excess sweating. The dose used in aesthetic medicine is very low compared to therapeutic use.
Indications of Muscle Relaxing Injections
Expression wrinkles appear by repetition of dynamic muscle contractions in certain areas of the face. During your consultation with your doctor, you can discuss what bothers you and what your expectations are. A treatment plan will be adapted to your need according to each step you are in life.
There are four major areas that can be treated:
- Periorbital lines
- Frown lines
- Forehead lines
- Eyebrow lift
Other areas can be treated:
- Smoker lines
- Marionettes lines on each side of the mouth
- Chin dimpling
- Bunny lines
- Gingival smile
- Bruxism ( increased masseters contractions)
- Hyperhidrosis (excess sweating)
Results and Maintenance
After 10-15 days, the effects of the toxin are stabilized. According to the treatment you received you can expect to look less angry, less anxious, less sad and more rested or fresh. The effect lasts between 4 to 6 months (depending on your initial state). It is proven that repeated treatments help prolong muscle relaxation over the years and prevent new wrinkle formation or aggravation. Maintenance treatments are therefore advised between 4 to 6 months.
Contraindications
- Pregnant women and breast-feeding
- Neuromuscular pathology: Myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome.
- Treatment based on anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory or even antibiotic-based (aminoside) should be discussed with the doctor prior to treatment.
- Other medical issues should be discussed with the doctor prior to treatment.
Informed Consent for Injectables
Please sign the informed consent after reading it carefully.
We have created this document to inform you about some of the available dermal fillers and botox treatments (injectables), their risks and alternative treatments. Physicians are required by law to have these documents completed prior to any treatment.