REGENERATE, REVIVE, RENEW AND REJUVENATE YOUR SKIN – FACE, NECK, DECOLLETAGE, HANDS, KNEES AND ARMS.
The face remains main source of information for identification and discrimination. It constitutes a structural ground for many nonverbal messages including the emotional state of a person, so the proverb “Face is an index of mind” holds good. The wrinkles and laxity are considered to be one of the factors for aging.
Some wrinkles caused by habitual response, especially the frown line is often misinterpreted and seen either as anger, discontent or sadness, when the converse could be true. Administration of toxin is an emerging science for beautification of the face. There are seven types of Botulinum toxin (A, B, C, D, E, F, and G) but the most common type is Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNTA). Botox (Type A) has burst onto the market in 2002 but many other types exist and are used widely in various clinics: they are known as Bocouture and Azzalure. Toxins are prescription only medication (POM) and are not allowed to be advertised and cannot be obtained without a prescription and consultation. Other commonly used words for treating lines and wrinkles are “toxins”, “anti-wrinkle injections, anti-ageing solutions, muscle relaxant,anti-ageing injections”, “Brotox” for men etc.
BOTOX
How it works?
Botulinum neurotoxin type A acts by blocking the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction (stops the signal to the muscles and paralyse it) which prevents contraction and therefore, the muscle relaxes, and lines disappear. The treatment is only temporarily and last 3 – 4 months for most patients. However, each person is different and depending on activity and lifestyle your treatment can last longer or shorter. It is most widely used for aesthetic and therapeutic applications. The most common use is for frown lines between eyes (glabellar region), forehead and crow’s feet (wrinkles around eyes). It has other uses and are licensed for treatment of migraine, grinding of teeth, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating axilla, hands and feet) and facial or eye spasms.
Each patient is carefully assessed in 3 dimensions with muscles in relaxation and in activity. Attention is given to a multitude area to see if it could be improved or tweaked for beautification or rejuvenation. These areas include:
- Fine lines downside of face that could be treated superficially with a toxin
- Lines around lips or pulling of the upper lip that exposes gums (gummy smile)
- Down turned nose or widened nostrils (nasal flare)
- Pebbled chin
- Bunny lines – small lines around your nose
- Slimming jaw line especially in very square face. Normally due to grinding of teeth and can also cause migraine.
- Bands around the neck – Nefertiti neck lift.
Side Effects:
- Headaches
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Headaches
- Ptosis (drooping of a muscle)
- Dry eyes / Tearing
- Photosensitivity (can no longer squint against sun light glare as usual)
- Flu like symptoms
- Allergic reaction
- Tinnitus (ringing in ears)
- Nausea (rare)
- Dry mouth (rare)
- Dizziness (rare)
- Muscle cramp (rare)
- Visual disturbances (rare)
- Facial swelling (rare)
Safety and Efficacy:
Toxins have been around for over 20 years and its long-term effects and side effects have been well documented. There are no adverse events reported and it is safe to use in the long term.
Common Questions:
Confusion exist about cost and treatment areas. Other clinics offer treatment of one area, two areas or three and each one has a different price.
This is usually a problem for many reasons. Toxins such as Botox is a prescription only medication and can only be used on the client it is prescribed for.
Once the toxin is opened and reconstituted its guaranteed efficacy is two weeks. It might be longer, but 2 weeks are advised by the product makers (Allergan).
The treating clinician assesses the face from various angles and note the diverse issues which relates to your frown lines and how to treat it best. There are actually four muscle groups in play during upper facial expression and each are considered in its own entity. By treating all four muscles the results are superior.
At UniSkin we do not treat only one area. We use a logical approach to anatomy (anatomologic) and treat the area accordingly and is usually all the muscles involved and some more if there is for instance a pebbled chin or a droopy nose.
After treatment you are reviewed two weeks later to assess if you need a “tweak” such as uneven eyebrows, too raised eyebrows or some other fine lines presented and if your Treatment was effective. We usually do before and after photos to assess change which is also required by our insurers and have to be documented in your records. If your treatments do not last the full 3 months there could be several reasons such as increased metabolic rate caused by strenuous activity or frequent sports. You could be using your muscles much more than the average patient or develop a resistance to toxins. There could be many reasons for this, however, do contact us if this happens to you.
