STOP! Stop doing hyaluronic acid injections every six months! Only two-stage contour plastic surgery of nasolabial folds can be truly effective!

Services Doctors Results Reviews

Expert tested

Avdeyuk Elena Vladimirovna Dermatovenerologist, cosmetologist

Publication date: April 30, 2022

Review date: November 07, 2022

A person's face is in constant motion. We smile, frown, squint our eyes, raise our eyebrows, purse our lips in displeasure... And all this several hundred times a day.

The facial muscles located under the skin are under constant tension because of this: they stretch or, conversely, contract. As a result, more and more wrinkles appear on the skin, it stretches and sags.

Botox (Dotox) will help you relax spasmodic muscles and “wean” your face from harmful facial expressions.

Today, the name Botox has become almost a household word; it is used to refer to the procedure for smoothing wrinkles on the forehead.

Zhmurina Natalya Borisovna

Director, Chief Physician of “A Clinic” Dermatovenerologist, cosmetologist

But in fact, Botox is a world-famous American drug created on the basis of botulinum toxin type A.

History of Botox

Bacteria that temporarily paralyze muscles (Clostridium botulinum) were discovered at the end of the 19th century, but more than 60 years passed before scientists came up with a rational use for them. In the late 1960s, Edward Shantz and Alan Scott began testing botulinum on monkeys. Later, this substance began to treat excessive sweating, strabismus, blepharospasm and achalasia of the esophagus.

In cosmetology, botulinum toxin began to be actively used at the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries. This happened after the discovery of ophthalmologist Jean Carruther: she noticed that under the influence of botulinum toxin, the orbicularis oculi muscle “crow’s feet” in the corners of the eyes noticeably contract.

Precautionary measures

The impeccable work of a cosmetologist is considered to be a natural look, maintaining harmony of proportions. Therefore, it is important to find an experienced cosmetologist who will gradually increase the dosage, and not inject a maximum of units at the first procedure.

Also, you should not increase the frequency of courses; you can find many examples of unsuccessful results on the Internet. Violation of symmetry, articulation, problems while eating and an unnatural mask-like face are the main side effects after an overdose or incorrect choice of injection areas.

Contraindications:

• period of pregnancy, lactation;
• pathologies of the endocrine, nervous, circulatory systems;
• presence of skin damage on the face;
• infectious, chronic diseases;
• oncology;
• elevated temperature, fever;
• menstruation.

In the first 3 days after injections, redness, swelling, and hematomas may occur at the injection site. Discomfort is felt while eating or talking. If such symptoms do not go away, and new ones are added to them - dizziness, nausea, rapid heartbeat - you should consult a doctor.

Important! Cosmetologists do not recommend injecting Botox before the age of 30. Once the toxin is removed from the body, wrinkles may become deeper and more noticeable due to atrophied muscles. Specialists are more willing to use fillers to smooth out nasolabial folds; they do not affect the quality of life and preserve natural facial expressions.

How does botulinum toxin work?

In youth, the skin is elastic, and small wrinkles that appear as a result of the movement of facial muscles are easily smoothed out. However, with age, elasticity decreases and wrinkles become deeper. In addition, facial muscles acquire the ability to fixate in one position. For example, if a person is used to frowning, the facial muscles are fixed in a constant spasmodic position. A person has to make a huge effort of will to give his face a friendly expression.

Botulinum toxin drugs block neuromuscular transmission. When Botox is injected into a muscle, its ability to contract is reduced. And when the muscle does not contract, the skin over it does not fold. Wrinkles are gradually smoothed out. In this case, the muscle does not atrophy, because the blood supply to it does not stop, which means that nutrients continue to flow to the muscle fiber.

Contrary to rumors, facial expressions after using drugs based on botulinum neurotoxin do not disappear, but simply become calmer and more controlled. The face will not turn into a mask and will not lose its expressiveness. You will still frown, smile, be surprised. Only longitudinal grooves will disappear on the forehead, deep folds on the bridge of the nose, “crow’s feet” around the eyes, and “marionette lines” between the nose and the corners of the lips. The skin will glow with health and youth!

Age-related changes

This is one of the few types of wrinkles that can be corrected at a young age. The earlier appearance of furrows is associated with individual anatomical features, as well as lifestyle. Experts note the positive effect of the correction. The sooner you use aesthetic medicine methods, the better the result will be.

Reasons for the formation of nasolabial folds:

• rich expressive facial expressions can lead to the formation of dense folds, additionally moving the cheeks down;
• loss of elasticity is observed after 30 years, by the age of 40 the depth and area of ​​creases increases, with age the problem only gets worse;
• hereditary factor - the type of aging is transmitted by genes, it is easy to track and prevent aesthetic flaws before the formation of static wrinkles;
• sudden weight loss, malocclusion, professional activities associated with constant tension of the articulatory apparatus can lead to the formation of nasolabial folds before the age of 30;
• bad habits, especially smoking, not only contribute to constant tension in muscle fibers, but also trigger premature aging processes that reduce collagen synthesis and disrupt the supply of oxygen and nutrients.

Note! With no heredity, leading a healthy lifestyle and proper facial care, creases in the nasolabial triangle appear by the age of 40–45. They are called wrinkles of grief, as they give the face a characteristic expression.

Where is Botox injected?

Botox is most effective in the upper third of the face. The forehead and area around the eyes are its zones of influence. This is where the results of the procedure will be most noticeable.

Wrinkles and folds in the lower part of the face in most cases are not the result of excessive muscle work, but depend on the characteristics of the bone structure of the face, the elasticity and density of the skin and subcutaneous fat, as well as age-related loss of facial volume.

It is recommended to correct the lower part with Botox if there is an obvious muscle spasm: for example, a person constantly clenches his jaw or purses his lips. In this case, Botox will be able to soften the emerging nasolabial folds, relax the jaw, and even slightly enlarge the lips if the pursing of them is eliminated.

There is also the mesobotox technique. This is a subdermal injection of microdoses of the drug, which allows you to smooth out fine purse-string wrinkles around the mouth.

How many units of Botox should you use on your face?

Before talking about a certain number of units of a substance for one or another part of the face, it is worth knowing that only an experienced cosmetologist will be able to establish the exact number of units based on the condition of the patient’s facial skin. Of course, there is an average of the units used, but still only a doctor can do everything at the highest professional level.

If less Botox is used, the effect will be very insignificant. If you inject more units of the substance, your face will look like a mask. Therefore, trust your face exclusively to professionals in their field.

How is the procedure performed?

Botox should be administered only in a trusted clinic, and not in the first one you come across. Despite the fact that the drug has been on the market for a long time and has proven itself, it is still a toxin that is injected into the facial muscles. Therefore, injections should be given by a doctor who understands the mechanism of how the facial muscles work “from” to “to” and knows exactly at what point and how many units to inject in order to achieve the desired effect.

Botox injections are placed shallowly into the muscles and leave virtually no marks. The procedure takes about 15 minutes.

Immediately after the injections, small papules are noticeable at the injection sites, but they resolve within 10-20 minutes. Therefore, immediately after the injections you can go about your business: work, walk, relax. The only rule: for 3-4 hours do not take a horizontal position and do not lower your face down. This is required for better absorption of Botox by the muscles and to prevent swelling.

In the first days after the procedure, it is recommended to frown and grimace more often so that the drug is evenly distributed in the muscles.

Botulinum toxin - injection of youth

Botox is an injection that an experienced cosmetologist injects directly under the patient’s skin. Immediately after administration, the drug creates a strong connection with the nerves of the facial muscles. Botox molecules block the production of acetylcholine, which, in turn, stops transmitting signals to the brain about contraction of facial muscles during facial expressions. Therefore, the muscles relax and due to this, all wrinkles are smoothed out. The effect lasts from 4 to 6 months, after which the nerve begins to create new endings and the signal appears again. Therefore, Botox injections should be performed regularly.

How long does the effect last?

The effect of Botox begins to appear 3-4 days after injections. A person is getting younger right before our eyes. At the same time, a good doctor will make sure that you can smile, frown and raise your eyebrows in surprise, as before, but wrinkles and creases will not remain on the skin.

The effect of Botox will last for 4-6 months, sometimes longer. This depends on the rate at which the drug is eliminated by the body. Botox is a biodegradable drug; it does not accumulate in the body, but is removed from it through the lymphatic system. By the way, with regular administration of Botox, the effect of the drug lasts longer and the frequency of procedures can be reduced to once a year.

Drug differences

The principles of action of the drugs are different - Botox affects muscle activity, while hyaluronic acid replenishes the lack of substance in the injection areas.

The difference between Botox and hyaluronic acid also appears in the areas of application. Botox injection is indicated only in the forehead and eyes; in other areas it can distort facial expressions. Hyaluronic acid can be used in any segment of the face.

Conclusion: botulinum therapy corrects only facial wrinkles that arise due to incorrect functioning of the facial muscles. Other age-related changes are corrected by other methods, in particular, injections of hyaluronic acid.

Pros of Botox

The procedure is quick and simple, there is no rehabilitation period. You can get Botox injections during your lunch break. The procedure takes even less time than a traditional manicure.

Gradual and increasing effect of smoothing wrinkles over two weeks. This is very important for people who do not want to advertise their visits to beauty clinics.

Another significant advantage of Botox is that even after the botulinum toxin is completely removed from the body, a person retains the habit of not wincing or raising his eyebrows. Having gotten used to the new reflection in the mirror, a person will no longer want to return to life before Botox and will strive to maintain a beautiful face at all costs.

But it is worth remembering that Botox is not able to cope with deep wrinkles that have already appeared. In this case, only filling them from the inside with fillers based on hyaluronic acid or other modern fillers, such as calcium hydroxyapatite, will help.

Advantages and disadvantages of both methods

Treatment of local hyperhidrosis

Hyperhidrosis of the palms, armpits, feet or face is often associated with endocrine disorders, neurological disorders, and hormonal changes in women. In some cases, excessive sweating can occur for no apparent reason, based on a genetic predisposition.

The most popular way to treat excessive sweating is Botox injections. The drug injected into the problem area blocks the transmission of nerve impulses and the functioning of the sweat glands. In conditions of lack of response to external stimuli, the amount of sweat produced is significantly reduced.

Therapy is local in nature. It does not disrupt the sweating process of the entire body, but acts in specific problem areas. Injections are made with thin needles, do not cause complications and have a narrow range of contraindications. The effect of the procedure becomes noticeable on days 2-4 and lasts stably from six months to one and a half years.

Preparation for the procedure

A consultation is required before administering the injections. The cosmetologist provides comprehensive information on ways to solve problems of nasolabial folds. In addition to choosing a strategy for solving aesthetic problems, the patient is interviewed, an anamnesis is compiled for the presence of chronic diseases, whether medications are being taken, and whether allergic reactions have previously occurred.

Preparation for the procedure:

• for a week you should not take antibiotics or medications that affect the circulatory system;
• It is worth giving up bad habits: you should not drink alcohol or smoke for 1-2 days - this increases the risk of bruising;
• limit physical activity.

Patient reviews

The forms contain mostly positive opinions about Botox injections.

The user writes about the absence of side effects after injections, as well as the need to check the drug’s license.

But there are other opinions. The participant writes about the ineffectiveness of Botox to solve the problem of nasolabial folds, and the preference for other methods of aesthetic medicine.

The review writes about the effectiveness of not only Botox, but also its analogue Xeomin.

The user points out the effect of rapid aging after injections.

Other reviews can be found on the forum.

Contraindications

Currently, botulinum therapy is completely safe for human health. However, one should not ignore the neurotoxicity of the drug itself, which makes the procedure unacceptable in the presence of certain pathological conditions.

How long should you not exercise after Botox?

Botox is in great demand in terms of eliminating facial wrinkles, correcting lips or nose.

Thus, Botox injections into the nasolabial folds have the following contraindications:

• chronic diseases of the liver, endocrine system, lungs and kidneys at the acute stage;
• high degree of myopia ;
• myasthenia gravis;
• age-related atony ;
• malignant neoplasms ;
• bleeding disorder _
• predisposition of the epidermis to the formation of keloid scars;
• individual intolerance and tendency to develop an allergic reaction to protein compounds;
• acute form of herpes ;
• exacerbation of chronic pathologies;
• ulcers on the skin;
• damage to the integrity of the skin;
• previous surgical interventions in the area requiring treatment;
• menstrual cycle, which can cause bleeding.

In addition, cosmetic procedures using botulinum toxin are prohibited during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

It is also worth noting that age is not considered a basis for refusing to carry out such manipulation. However, cosmetologists do not recommend using Botox for people under the age of 20 and after 60 years.

How to speed up the elimination of the drug

The toxin is eliminated on its own within several months. But if facial asymmetry or speech impairment occurs, recovery must be accelerated. Experts recommend taking a course of massage or hardware procedures. Manual or exposure to currents accelerates the outflow of lymph, improves blood circulation, and stimulates the elimination of botulinum toxin.

In some cases, antibiotics or hormonal drugs may be prescribed. You should not take medications on your own, without consulting a doctor. The regimen and dosage of medications must be written down.

Progress

The procedure for eliminating nasolabial folds takes place in several sequential steps. First, the specialist cleans the surface of the skin from decorative cosmetics, facial care products, dirt and sebaceous secretions using an antiseptic solution.

Next, preliminary markings are applied to the skin, according to which the doctor will administer the drug. If the patient has a low pain threshold, then a local anesthetic cream is applied to the affected area.

After completing all the steps, the doctor begins to inject the botulinum toxin solution into the nasolabial folds using an insulin syringe. At the final stage, the affected areas are wiped again with an antiseptic.

Difference between filler and botox

In the field of cosmetology, there is a wide variety of procedures that help fight signs of age-related changes and help improve skin firmness and elasticity.

To reduce pain, it is recommended to apply ice cubes or cold compresses to the injection sites.

You also need to remember that opening the package with the drug should be carried out immediately before the session itself and only in the presence of the client.

On average, the entire procedure takes no more than one hour. After its completion, the patient must remain under the supervision of a specialist for some time. This measure is necessary for the timely detection of undesirable manifestations of the body in response to such intervention.

In the absence of any negative reactions, within an hour the client can go home and return to their normal lifestyle.