BOTULINUM TOXIN APPLICATIONS

This toxin is obtained from bacteria. Contrary to popular belief, this is not any animal’s poison. They settle at the entrance of the receptors in the muscles that receive the stimuli coming from the brain and prevent muscle contraction. 

The effect of botulinum toxin application depends on the amount of drug used. If a low dose is used, slow down the muscles. In larger quantities it can make the muscle completely immobile. So, the effect is dose-dependent.

Botulinum toxin has a local effect entirely. It acts about 1 cm in diameter. It does not go to farther regions and to systemic circulation.

Botulinum Toxin Type A, which is used for aesthetic applications for about 20 to 25 years, can be applied to patients over 20 years of age with mimic lines formed between the eyebrows, forehead and eyes, or for extreme facial lines during mimic movements. It can also be applied to patients with excessive sweating under the arm, hands and feet.

It is not appropriate for pregnant women, nursing mothers, and those with severe muscular dystrophy, called Muscular Dystrophy. If you have any additional health problems or a current drug use, you should definitely share it with your physician before treatment.

Vertical facial lines between the eyebrows, horizontal facial lines in the forehead, facial lines at the eye edges are the areas where Botulinum Toxin is most frequently applied. Alongside this it can be applied in controlled doses to mimic lines on the edge of the nose, barcode lines on the lip, neck bands, to reduce the gingiva appearance in patients who have many gingiva appearance during laughing, to patients whose chewing muscles are over-developed, to patients who sleep their teeth tight in the sleep, and to patients with severe sweating complaints, to their armpit, hand and foot area. But it is important to remember that Botulinum toxin application is approved by the FDA for application only in between the eyebrows and around eyes. Therefore, applications to other regions require great experience and attention.

It starts to take effect within 4-7 days after application. Nevertheless, studies have shown that an average of 10-15 days is required to see full effect.

The most controversial issue is the duration of the effect. The most important factors affecting the duration of Botulinum Toxin are; the age of the patient, the dose of the application, the number of application to the patient, and attaining proper storage conditions for the drug.

The duration of effect of botulinum toxin is normally 4 months. In general, we physicians say it is between 4-6 months old, depending on the patient. Movements begin after the third month. Then gradually the effect disappears completely. As a result of the scientific studies conducted, the duration of action is shorter in the first application, whereas the duration of action of the drug in the third application for the same patient is longer. It has also been shown that the duration and duration of action of the drug is reduced in patients over 65 years of age. In sweating treatment, the effect of the medication may last longer than 6 months.

Because the application is made into the muscle, a temporary swelling occurs. This swelling is healed in about 10-15 minutes. If the vessel is damaged during application, bleeding and bruising may occur in the application area. After the application (especially within the first 24 hours) you will have to avoid your harsh head bending movements, sleeping on the face and avoid very hot places like baths and saunas. Massage and muscle exercises are recommended by some physicians, and not recommended by some others. The most frightening side effect of Botulinum Toxin is Ptozis, a downfall of eyelid. The problem of eyelid downfall is usually experienced when Botulinum Toxin is applied at the wrong spot or after a high dose of application. This situation is not permanent and will improve over time.