Expression line removal
- Description of the treatment
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Derm-Al Beauty uses numerous wrinkle removal methods. Expression lines are best removed with botulinum toxin preparations.
Type A botulinum toxin, popularly known as botox, is neurotoxin synthesised by the Clostridium botulinum anaerobic bacillus. When properly injected into the skin, it blocks nervous cells. The nerve endings in the skin stop transmitting nerve impulses to the small muscles under the skin. The skin in a given spot stops wrinkling, relaxes and becomes smooth. As a result, wrinkles disappear from the spot where botox is injected, and they cannot get any deeper. It is best to apply botulinum before wrinkles become permanent, more like wrinkle prevention, because it is sometimes difficult to smooth out very “crumpled” wrinkles. Very deep wrinkles, where collagen fibres have already been damaged, will not be smoothed out completely, but rather made more shallow. On the other hand, they will certainly not grow any deeper. After botulinum treatment, it is possible to fill in wrinkles with the right kind of hyaluronic acid preparation.
Expression lines that can be treated with botox are:
- The “lion’s wrinkle” between the eyebrows
- Horizontal forehead lines
- The “crow’s feet” around the eyes
- The “barcode” around the mouth
Some patients fear that botulinum toxin treatment is quite invasive, but it is not, and it does not have many contraindications. However, there are few important contraindications: pregnancy, allergies and blood and coagulation system diseases. The substance has been used for medical purposes since 1973. It is broadly applied in many fields of medicine, e.g. ophthalmology. Initially, it was used to to treat strabismus in children.
How does the treatment work:
The treatment involves precise injection of a small dose of botulinum toxin solution to selected face muscles. The application takes 5 to 10 minutes. It is most often performed without anaesthesia, but Emla ointment may be applied for anaesthetic effect. The ointment should be applied at least half an hour before the treatment. Injection spots may be visible after the treatment, but they quickly disappear. In very sensitive skin, they may stay a little longer, and small bruises may develop.
The patient should not lie down or stoop for 4 hours after the treatment or drink any alcohol until the end of the day. For another day anything that could increase blood tension, such as solarium, sunbathing, sauna, physical exercise or massage, should be avoided.
The botulinum effect develops 2-3 days after injecting and is fully visible after 14 days. The effect is not permanent: it lasts for about 3-5 months after the first injection, and after subsequent injections it is usually longer. The treatment may be repeated 2-3 times a year.
In aesthetic medicine, botox is also successfully used to treat hyperhidrosis.
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