Injections of neuromodulators (Botox or Dysport)

What is botulinum toxin?

Botulinum toxin is a purified protein derivative derived from the culture of a bacterium called "Clostridium Botulinum". Its use in aesthetic medicine is actually a coincidence. The original medical use was to combat strabismus, facial spasms and eyelid tics. These patients were found to have fewer wrinkles around the treated eye than on the other side. This remarkable effect launched injections of this toxin (Botox) into the world of aesthetic medicine to reduce wrinkles.

Botulinum toxin acts only on dynamic wrinkles or wrinkles of muscular origin. The injection relaxes the targeted muscles of your face by acting on the junction between the nerve and the muscle. The muscles relax naturally, and wrinkles fade away. This is how botulinum toxin corrects the effects of time on your skin.

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Indications for botulinum toxin on the face

Expression lines are the first to appear on the face. They result from the movements of our face as we express our emotions.

In young people, the skin regains its smooth appearance after each muscular contraction. But from the age of thirty onwards, skin becomes less elastic. As a result, it becomes deeper, with permanent breaks (wrinkles) linked to facial expressions.

The main areas treated are in the upper third of the face:

• Horizontal forehead wrinkles of concern or astonishment stand out when we widen our eyes in surprise.
• The lion's wrinkle between the eyebrows appears when you frown to think.
• Crow's feet form at the corners of our eyes when we smile or laugh.

Other areas that can be treated:

• Gummy smile" caused by overactivity of the upper lip's levator muscles. Botulinum toxin injection corrects the smile naturally.
• Fine vertical wrinkles on the lips, known as "smokers' lines": they appear as you talk and move your lips forward.
• The bitterness folds on either side of the mouth towards the chin can be reduced when they are due to a repeated bitterness mimic (but not to sagging cheek skin).
• Bunny lines" on the nose
• Jaw line: the main aim of botulinum toxin treatment is to relax the muscles to create a smoother, more balanced mandibular line.
• Botulinum toxin injection into the masseter muscles has both aesthetic and functional indications:
  a.Aesthetic indications:
  Refining the lower face: An overly broad jaw makes a woman look too masculine. If this is due to excess thickness of the masseter muscle, botulinum toxin injection can reduce its thickness and give the face a more oval shape and a softer, more feminine appearance - so-called "facial slimming".
  b.Functional indications:
  - Bruxism (teeth grinding or clenching): Relaxing the masseters reduces involuntary nocturnal movements, relieving muscle pain and headaches, and preserving tooth enamel.
  - Temporomandibular pain (TMD): Used to treat TMJ disorders linked to excessive masseter tension.
  - Muscle-induced migraines (in certain patients): By reducing contraction of jaw muscles, certain headaches associated with mandibular tension can be reduced.

Intervention in practice

The professional will observe the expressions and mobility of your facial skin and invite you to make facial expressions in order to determine your wishes and define the areas to be treated.

After removing make-up and disinfecting the face, the professional injects botulinum toxin into the dermis with a very fine needle, in small volumes, in all areas where the contraction of facial muscles is to be reduced. The toxin will reduce the force of contraction of these muscles, with wrinkles fading away after one or two weeks.

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The benefits of botulinum toxin

Botulinum toxin is the most effective, risk-free treatment for reducing expression lines. This treatment helps prevent the aging of young skin and tone up mature skin.

Younger and younger patients are turning to botulinum toxin. If you start treating wrinkles as soon as they appear, around the age of 25-30, you can expect overall facial rejuvenation for 10 to 20 years.

If you begin injections at age 40, you can prevent aging and regain a rejuvenated face.

In the case of very deep wrinkles, the professional can combine the injection of botulinum toxin and hyaluronic acid in a comprehensive facial treatment. Schematically speaking, botulinum toxin relaxes over-contracted muscles, thus limiting expression lines, while hyaluronic acid fills in the hollow.

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Tips for a successful treatment

BEFORE: To reduce the risk of bruising, avoid taking any bleeding-inducing medication in the week preceding the injection.

You can be treated on tanned or untanned skin.

You will be able to apply make-up without any problem, as you will be cleansed before the injection.

DURING: The session is virtually painless and lasts only 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of areas treated.

AFTER: At the end of the treatment, there will be no visible transformation. You can resume your activities as soon as the treatment is over.

Care should be taken not to massage or press hard on the muscles in the treated areas for 24 to 48 hours, to avoid spreading the product to other muscles not targeted by the treatment.

FOLLOW-UP: A few rare temporary side effects may occur: headaches, redness, slight swelling or sometimes small bruises at injection sites.

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Expected results

Results are visible from the third day and are optimal two weeks after the session, except for masseter injections, where the effect is progressive for 2 to 4 weeks, and maximal around 6 weeks.

The product lasts approximately 4 to 6 months.

Skin becomes smooth and wrinkles fade. The face becomes relaxed, while retaining its natural mobility.

If necessary, a follow-up visit is usually scheduled 2 to 3 weeks after treatment.

The effect obtained lasts from 4 to 6 months, and repeat sessions are sufficient to maintain results. A new botulinum toxin injection session may be proposed around the 4th or even 6th month post-injection.

After several sessions, the doses that suit you will be better calibrated and, above all, you will gradually lose the habit of using the muscles that create your wrinkles.

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