The question of the safety of botulinum toxin injections tends to be the first one I get from clients before a procedure. I always answer that in medicine, any medicine can be a poison, it just depends on the amount of the substance we inject into the body. Botulinum toxin is no exception.
I applied it for the first time on a Slovak client in 2002 and it has been used worldwide for more than 20 years. Specialists from our Clinic Esthetic have been working with it the longest in the country and based on personal experience I can say that the application of botulinum toxin is a safe, effective and proven method for the treatment of fine lines and wrinkles. In aesthetic medicine, its introduction was literally a revolution, although it was first used by Dr. Scott, an ophthalmologist, for the treatment of strabismus (squinting). There are several types of this toxin, which has found application in many medical fields. In our clinic we work with botulinum toxin type A (BTX – A), whose effects are the best studied.
As I mentioned before, it mainly helps our clients to remove facial wrinkles, but we also use it to correct excessive sweating on the face, palms or soles of the feet. Based on the very positive results, we are gradually expanding the original indications and using it also for the treatment of wrinkles above the upper lip and on the neck. We can even lift the tip of a fallen nose without surgery, or remove the so-called. Gummy smile, which afflicts women whose upper gum is visible when they smile. Very good results of botulinum toxin application are achieved by combining it with the use of implants – filler materials in the area of the lips, nasolabial folds, or frown lines between the eyebrows. Most often we use absorbable implants, e.g. hyaluronic acid, where the effect persists for approximately 9 months.
Botulinum toxin injection is an ideal solution for those who are troubled by wrinkles but do not want to undergo a surgical facelift. Many clients tell me after the procedure that they get compliments from friends that they look better, fresher, more youthful, but they can’t recognize what it is. Naturalness comes first with us. We strictly ensure that botulinum toxin injections are administered only by experienced professionals who can perfectly assess where the substance needs to be injected and in what quantity. It is unacceptable for us to create Donald Duck-like lips on a client. Unfortunately, we also see such in photos of celebrities who probably did not care about the quality and experience of the staff when choosing a workplace.
The procedure itself is not painful, which is why we use anesthesia. The substance is injected into the skin with a very fine needle, and its action causes the relaxation of the facial muscles that cause wrinkles in a short period of time. Botulinum toxin also temporarily immobilizes the muscles and thus prevents the formation of further lines. The procedure needs to be repeated over time to make the final effect more permanent. Highly effective and minimally painful is also the combination of botulinum toxin with intense pulsed light, complemented by Nd: Yag laser treatment, lazily called ambulatory facelift.
So if you are wondering whether botulinum toxin is a yes or no, my advice is yes. But only in a reputable clinic that uses quality material and consistently pays attention to the expertise of its staff.
AUTHOR: MUDr. Alexandra Novotná, dermatologist, owner of Esthetic Clinic
