Botulinum toxin

What is a botulinum toxin application

It involves injections of a drug whose use is basically appropriate wherever it is necessary to reduce muscle contraction for therapeutic purposes (e.g. face-play, convulsion) The most common use of botulinum toxin is to treat wrinkles and thus to reduce unwanted face-play of the treated area.

Who is a good candidate for the treatment

The treatment is intended for everyone who wants to effectively fight the signs of ageing. Changes coming with age, cumulative doses of UV radiation and, possibly, e.g. episodes of major weight losses or excesses in the lifestyle (progressive loss of skin elasticity, changes in the connective tissue and subcutaneous hydration, changes in the adipose tissue, muscles and bones) mean that, in older age, the benefit from the administration of botulinum toxin for the treatment of certain wrinkles is more limited and other methods may rather be justified. 

Before the Procedure

If you consider the application of botulinum toxin, it is always necessary to undergo an initial consultation with a physician, unless you are a regular client of the GHC Dermatology Department. The dermatologist will examine you, evaluate the indication for its application and the skin condition, hear your expectations, recommend the most suitable course of action and suggest treatment alternatives, if available.

How is the botulinum toxin application performed

The procedure is conducted in the doctor's office on a day case basis. Typically, no anaesthesia is performed before the procedure, since it may cause a distortion of the initial state of the wrinkles or even affect the diffusion of the drug, hence also its effect. Botulinum toxin is applied in small doses injected into the skin.

After the procedure

Restriction of the face-play of the treated area, whose intensity is dependent on the amount of the applied dose, the intensity of individual face-play and the individual responsiveness of the organism to the botulinum toxin. After the application of botulinum toxin, a progressive onset (within hours or days) of the drug takes place. The full onset varies from one person to another and takes 2 – 20 days. Gradually, the face-play of the treated area and the expression lines are reduced; the duration of this effect varies from one person to another and usually is 3 to 8 months, exceptionally more. If the botulinum toxin is used to treat the forehead (wrinkles on the forehead and on the nasal root), the secondary benefit of the procedure is the reduction or full recovery from certain types of headaches (a headache caused by concentration or by the contraction of the muscles in the nasal root) as long as the effect of botulinum toxin lasts, i.e. approximately for 3 – 8 months.

In principle, there is no downtime from work or social activities. However, it is recommended not to lie down and bend down for 4 hours after the application, not to exercise and, preferably, not to fly for 24 hours after the procedure. Skin cleansing and application of cosmetics including creams should be done gently: on the forehead, always from the bottom upwards and, around the eyes, to the outside and gently upwards. Please avoid sauna for at least 24 hours. If the client intends to stay in the sun and bruising occurred during the application of botulinum toxin, the bruise should be protected with a sunscreen with SPF 50 and intentional sunbathing should be avoided.