Botox injections for aesthetic uses
Botox injections (botulinum toxin) constitute an essential technique of cosmetic medicine, whose main objectives are:
- To reduce the visibility of the wrinkles and little wrinkles at rest.
- To reduce the expression wrinkles during facial expressions.
- To prevent the structural ageing in the face region (by reducing at rest tone of the muscles relating to facial expressions).
- To correct possible asymmetries in the face area (relating to imbalances of the contraction force between some muscles).
The mechanism of action relating to the botulinum toxin is to block at the level of the neuromuscular junction the emission of a neurotransmitter (acetylcholine), which prevents the muscle contraction. Therefore, Botox enables the relaxation of the injected muscle.
Procedure steps
Dr. Petit will begin with questioning your medical histories in order to eliminate one of the following contraindications to Botox:
- A neuromuscular transmission disease (myasthenia, Lambert- Eaton syndrome).
- A known hypersensitivity to botulinum toxin.
- A pregnancy or a current breastfeeding.
- Taking some medicines: aminoglycosides, ciclosporin, antirheumatic medicines (D-penicillamine, tiopronin), anticoagulant medicines.
- Coagulation disorders.
He will listen to you in order to understand your discomfort and your requests relating to our face.
He will carry out a clinical examination of your face at rest in order to evaluate your wrinkles, and to note possible asymmetries relating to the eyebrow positions, the opening of the palpebral fissures, the position of the external canthi (corners of the eyes) and of the labial commissures. Then, he will carry out a dynamic clinical examination of your face during the conversation (spontaneous mobilization) and during the forced contraction of the muscles of facial expressions, in order to visualize your expression wrinkles and to evaluate the strength and the position of your muscles. This accurate analysis of your face is essential to suggest a “tailor-made” treatment adapted to your functional anatomy.
- Dr. Petit will give you information on possible actions in the face area and on main injection risks, so as to make an informed decision.
Good candidates for botox injections are those wishing
- To treat their expression wrinkles:
In the upper third of the face: the horizontal wrinkles in the forehead, the vertical and horizontal glabellar wrinkles between the 2 eyebrows, and the oblique crow’s feet wrinkles in the external corners of the eyes.
In the middle third of the face: the lateral wrinkles of the nose (“Bunny Lines”).
In the lower third of the face: the vertical little wrinkles in the upper lip region.
- To raise their eyebrows.
- To treat a gingival smile (upper gum too visible when smiling).
- To elevate their labial commissures (corner of the mouth).
- To treat their platysmal bands (in the neck area).
Recommandations before botox injections
- 3 days before the injections: Discontinuation of medicines which increase bleeding: (aspirin, anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant medicines) in order to reduce the occurrence of ecchymosis, which can lead up to the diffusion of toxins within the risk areas and complications.
- 1 hour before the injections: it is possible to apply « Emla » cream to your skin without makeup in the injection areas planned, in order to reduce pain relating to the injections.
Procedure stages relating to botox injections
The Botox injections are performed at Dr.Petit’s office.
He will begin with taking photos of your face at rest, and during the forced muscle contractions of facial expressions.
Dr. Petit will identify the injection sites with a dermographic pencil in order to establish an accurate «mapping» relating to the areas to be treated.
After an antiseptic disinfection, he will perform the injections corresponding to the areas previously determined with you, with a very thin needle.
What to expect after botox injections
A redness of the skin, ecchymosis (bruise), an oedema (swelling), the fast occurrence of headache constitutes possible adverse reactions after Botox injections. The latter are usually moderate and resolvent within a few hours to a few days.
In the first hours following the injections, it is recommended not to lie down.
In the first days, you will have to avoid facial trauma, excessive massages or facial manipulations, which may facilitate the non-desirable diffusion of the toxin in the risk areas.
The discontinuation of medicines which increase bleeding: (aspirin, anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant medicines) is also advocated.
A socio-professional eviction is not necessary.
Risks after botox injections
The complications of Botox injections are rare.
Local and general complications can be distinguished.
Local complications
The local complications are mainly due to the diffusion of the botulinum toxin at a distance from the injected area. They are transient owing to the action reversibility of the botulinum toxin (lowering of the eyebrow, palpebral ptosis, diplopia, dry eyes, ectropion). They are avoided by good injection practices but also by your compliance of the recommendations before and after Botox injections.
General complications
The general complications are exceptional (allergic reactions, nausea, dizziness, flu syndrome).
Result in the short term and in the long term
The beginning of action of the Botox depends from one patient to another (a few days on average). Its efficiency is fully installed at the end of 10 days. At this stage, you will have another consultation with Dr. Petit to assess the result and if necessary, he will perform a possible additional injection in order to harmonize it.
The duration of action of the Botox is from 3 to 6 months.
The sessions of Botox injections do not have to be repeated before a minimum period of 3 months, in order to prevent the occurrence of a resistance to the product.
The Botox injections for aesthetic uses are a reliable technique enabling an aesthetic enhancement in the short term and preventing the ageing in the long term.