The creases between our eyes, around our eyes and across our forehead come from using certain facial muscles repetitively. Such creases make us look worried, unapproachable and older.
The muscles from these creases are involuntary, so we cannot consciously relax them to make the creases disappear. As dermatologists have become better acquainted with products like botulinum toxin and dermal fillers, they have discovered that these treatments are ideal for combined use. Pre-treating with a muscle relaxing agent and following up with dermal fillers, the result is further enhanced without looking “overdone”.
Botox® Cosmetic, Dysport® and Xeomin® may also be used in conjunction with laser or light-based therapies for beautifully rejuvenated skin. We are fortunate to have a treatment, botulinum toxin, which can relax these busy muscles by inhibiting muscle activity. Botulinum toxin can also lift our eyebrows and make our eyes appear more open, resulting in a more relaxed, fresh and youthful appearance. Three FDA-cleared brands of botulinum toxin are available at the Skin Specialist Centre – Botox® Cosmetic, Dysport® and Xeomin®. These products have exactly the same ingredient (botulinum toxin) and differ only in the proteins that surround that ingredient. All are effective, although some seem to work better than others in different individuals. All botulinum toxin injections are performed by Dr McKerrow, who has years of experience to know how and where to place injections safely and for the best result.
Botox and Dysport are Prescription Medicines containing 100 units of clostridium botulinum Type A toxin complex for injection. It is used for the treatment of severe frown lines of the face. It should be administered only by trained medical professionals. Arrange a consultation to discuss the benefits/risks of this procedure in appearance medicine. Cautions: people with defective neuromuscular transmission disorders, presence of infection at site of injection, glaucoma, pregnancy and lactation. Possible side effects include headaches, pain, burning or redness at injection site, local muscle weakness including drooping eyelids, lack of feeling and nausea. If you have side effects or concerns speak to a doctor. A charge applies. Note: Botox and Dysport treatment lasts about 4 months and after this time further courses of treatment could be necessary. Arrange a consultation to discuss your own situation.
Botulinum toxin procedures are quick, with no anaesthesia required. Injections are administered with an ultra-fine needle directly into the muscle being treated. Discomfort is minimal and brief. Once complete, there is usually no discomfort. You will be able to return directly to work or normal activity immediately. Most people are surprised for the first time to see just how quickly and comfortably botulinum toxin can be injected. If you have had botulinum toxin in the past at another practice and had any unexpected side-effects, please let us know so that Dr McKerrow can make the necessary adjustments to your dosage and/or injection placement.
To prevent bruising after treatment, do not take Aspirin-containing products or homeopathic treatments such as Omega 3 or flaxseed oil for two weeks before the procedure. The injected areas may look like a mosquito bite for 20 – 60 minutes following the injection and be swollen for a few hours. Little red areas may appear but they resolve in a few days. Bruising is uncommon, but if it occurs it may require 7 – 10 days to clear. In the meantime, the bruising can be camouflaged with make-up which may be applied immediately after treatment. You may speed up botulinum toxin absorption by making frowns, raising your eyebrows, smiling and squinting. Do this several times for a few hours after the injections. Try not to lay back or fall asleep during this time because the injected botulinum toxin may spread to nearby areas and cause unwanted relaxation of muscles. Feel free to resume your regular skincare immediately after treatment.
The effects of botulinum toxin appear within a few days and generally last for four to six months. As with all medicines, muscle relaxing injections may cause some minor side-effects, but these are temporary. Muscle relaxing injections are a prescription medicine that should only be administered by medical professionals who have received appropriate training and completely understand the facial anatomy of the muscles to be injected. At the Skin Specialist Centre we realise that most patients prefer a more natural look, rather than the frozen appearance of “Hollywood celebrities”. We will assess and treat you with the optimal dosage to create a fresh, natural, relaxed look.
The masseter muscle is one of the more powerful muscles in the body and is wrapped around the jaw bone. The masseter’s role is to open and close the jaw in speech and eating. When this muscle enlarges, the shape of your face can change, sometimes quite dramatically. For women, this represents the issue of appearing somewhat masculine. Botulinum toxin injection into the masseter muscle can be successfully used to reduce the ability of the masseter muscle to exert heavy force and this reduced force allows the muscle to return to a normal size and shape. The treatment of botulinum toxin is simple, with results lasting four to eight months.
The normal action of the masseter muscle does not usually cause this type of muscle enlargement, although if you chew gum, eat a lot of nuts or chew on hard food, chewing alone may be the cause. However, the most frequent causes are teeth grinding and unconscious clenching of the jaw.
Anxiety and stress are common amongst many people and often it is not until one assesses the shape of their jaw and seeing it become more square that one realises that you are clenching or grinding. Your dentist can provide help with teeth grinding and once you are aware of the tenseness or clenching in your jaw, you can take steps to reduce the tension, or at least re-direct it.
If you are considering botulinum toxin for masseter treatment, it is essential that the procedure is undertaken by a dermatologist who has plenty of experience, as there are glands in this area that must be avoided. Also, the dilution of botulinum toxin for masseter treatment is not the same as standard botulinum toxin injections on the face.
Botox and Dysport are Prescription Medicines containing 100 units of clostridium botulinum Type A toxin complex for injection. It is used for the treatment of severe frown lines of the face. It should be administered only by trained medical professionals. Arrange a consultation to discuss the benefits/risks of this procedure in appearance medicine. Cautions: people with defective neuromuscular transmission disorders, presence of infection at site of injection, glaucoma, pregnancy and lactation. Possible side effects include headaches, pain, burning or redness at injection site, local muscle weakness including drooping eyelids, lack of feeling and nausea. If you have side effects or concerns speak to a doctor. A charge applies. Note: Botox and Dysport treatment lasts about 4 months and after this time further courses of treatment could be necessary. Arrange a consultation to discuss your own situation.
1 Benedetto A. The Cosmetic Uses of Botulinum toxin type A. Int J Dermatol 1999, 38:6641.655
