| Frequently
Asked Questions – Frown line reduction
How
does Botulinum Toxin work?
Botulinum Toxin blocks impulses from the nerve
to the tiny facial muscles that are related
to expression lines. Botulinum Toxin relaxes
the muscles so that they do not contract. After
treatment, the overlying skin remains smooth
and unwrinkled while the untreated facial muscles
contract in a normal fashion, allowing normal
facial expression to be unaffected.
Are Botulinum Toxin treatments
safe?
Botulinum Toxin injections have been used safely
for over twenty years to treat many neurological
and ophthalmological disorders. Each year tens
of thousands of patients receive Botulinum Toxin
for relief from a variety of conditions and
it is quickly becoming a popular treatment for
reversing the visible signs of aging.
What is the treatment
like?
Cosmetic “denervation” with Botulinum
Toxin is a simple and safe procedure. Using
a tiny micro-needle, a very small amount of
Botulinum Toxin is injected very precisely into
several locations on the face. The needle is
so fine and only a small amount is used, therefore
the pain associated with the injection is minimal.
Most patients compare the sensation to a mosquito
bite. No sedation or local anaesthetic is required.
You can resume normal activities immediately
afterwards and even drive yourself home or back
to your place of work.
Are there any side effects?
Some patients experience a slight temporary
bruising at the injection site. This may be
covered up with make up. In some cases, the
toxin can migrate and cause temporary weakness
to nearby small muscles. In rare cases there
can be drooping of an eyelid or asymmetry of
facial expression. The risk of any side effect
depends upon the muscles injected. Your doctor
will discuss this with you in detail before
the treatment. Because the effects of Botulinum
Toxin are completely reversible, any side effects
are temporary, lasting only a few weeks.
What results can I expect?
If dynamic wrinkles make you look older than
you are, cosmetic “denervation”
can smooth these out and give you a more youthful
and pleasing appearance. However, this treatment
cannot improve wrinkles due to aging and sun-damaged
skin since they are unrelated to facial muscle
contractions. Muscle relaxing injections will
not improve sagging skin or replace the need
for a facelift or browlift.
What are the limitations
of Botulinum Toxin?
Unfortunately, Botulinum Toxin injections are
a temporary solution for the treatment of dynamic
wrinkles. The effects of the injections last
from three to six months. You will need to have
injections about two to three times a year.
The early clinical studies indicate that the
duration of the treatment benefits is increased
over time so that you should require fewer injections
in the future. The duration of the effect varies
from patient to patient and may be less effective
for those over 65 years of age.
Is Botulinum Toxin used
to treat other symptoms?
Yes, Botulinum Toxin has been used for over
twenty years on thousands of patients to treat
blepharospasm associated with dystonia.
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