Aesthetic Enhancement: A complete guide to Botox and its uses
Everything you ever wanted to know about Botox, explained.
There is an inextricable link between wrinkles and Botox. Whenever people think of wrinkles and fine lines, they think that going for a ‘Botox’ treatment is the only way to get rid of them.
Newsflash: Botox is not a name of a treatment!
The problem is, ‘Botox’ is a brand name of a neurotoxin treatment. Likewise, there are other brand names such as Dysport and Xeomin that are injectable neurotoxins that use botulinum toxin type A. These 3 brands are by far the most popular brands that medical doctors use to perform treatments in Singapore.
What exactly is botulinum toxin type A?
Botulinum toxin type A is an injectable neurotoxin that is commonly used by doctors to reduce the appearance of dynamic wrinkles. Dynamic wrinkles, as opposed to static wrinkles, are formed as a result of making animated facial expressions such as frowning, squinting, raising your eyebrows, and smiling day after day.
Botulinum toxin type A is made from the bacteria that causes botulism. When used in tiny doses (a few billionth of a gram), dissolved in saline, it effectively blocks nerve activity in the muscles temporarily.
In other words, botulinum toxin type A is used to temporarily lessen the appearance of facial wrinkles.
What is the difference between Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin?
These three products contain the same active ingredient: botulinum toxin type A. The purpose of these products is to reduce the appearance of dynamic wrinkles and other concerns.
Although these products are intended to provide certain effects and outcomes, the main difference lies in the formulation, content, how quick-acting it is, and how fast one can see results.
For example, Botox contains human albumin (a protein found in human blood plasma) and sodium chloride. On the other hand, Dysport contains albumin and lactose and may also contain traces of cow’s milk protein. Xeomin is free from any complexing proteins and albumin. This keeps its molecules pure, minimising any possible allergic reactions.
The fastest onset is probably Dysport, which takes up to 24 hours, Botox takes about 3 to 4 days before you can see the effects, and Xeomin has the slowest onset of about 4 to 5 days.
Diffusion patterns have also been observed in the 3 different types of neurotoxins. Dysport has been shown to diffuse more than Botox, increasing the chance of unwanted effects such as droopy eyelids (if used around the eye area) or unintentional relaxation of muscles around it.
What are the uses of botulinum toxin type A?
When we talk about aesthetic enhancements, the first thing that comes to mind is getting rid of wrinkles and fine lines on the face. That is where these neurotoxins come in. Botulinum toxin type A can erase dynamic wrinkles from the face easily with just some micro-injections. The commonly treated facial areas with botulinum toxin are:
- Glabella (area between the eyebrow) a.k.a. frown lines
- Forehead
- Side of the eyes a.k.a. crow’s feet
- Side of the mouth
There are other uses of botulinum toxin type A such as:
- Excessive sweating – Botulinum toxin type A can be used to treat excessive sweating by reducing the nerve endings that activate the sweat glands. This results in significantly less sweat secretion from the glands.
- Facial slimming – It is common for people to seek aesthetic alteration of the masseter muscles (muscles at both sides of the jaw) to enhance the face shape by making it sharper and slimmer.
- Neck lift – Botulinum toxin type A relaxes the muscles in the neck so that it lifts the neck and the lower face. By doing so, it gives the neck a smoother appearance.
- Migraine headache – Botox has been approved by the FDA to treat chronic migraine headaches in adults. If administered correctly, Botox can alleviate migraine headaches for up to three months.
- Muscle spasms – Doctors have used Botox to treat muscle spasms in hospitals. It works by blocking neural impulses to the muscles. As a result, it relaxes the muscles and spasms (i.e. involuntary contractions, are no longer able to occur).
Side effects of botulinum toxin type A
Some possible side effects of botulinum toxin include:
- Allergic reactions
- Rash
- Muscle stiffness
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Trouble breathing, talking
- Unusual muscle weakness
- Loss of bladder control
- Blurred vision
- Dry mouth
This is not the full list of possible side effects that one may face when there is an adverse reaction to neurotoxin treatment. Botulinum toxin can spread to other parts of the body beyond where it was not intended for. If not done properly, it could lead to serious life-threatening side effects.
Consult a doctor immediately if you have any of these side effects.
Choice of doctor to administer botulinum toxin type A
Although cosmetic treatment using these neurotoxins takes only about 15 minutes, it may seem like a fuss-free, straightforward procedure.
Even though it is a non-surgical treatment, it is still a medical procedure that requires specific training, relevant experience, and skills to administer the treatment safely and effectively.
Do not compromise safety for the sake of cost savings. Always choose a doctor who has several years of experience performing the procedure without any complications. When selecting a doctor for a non-surgical cosmetic treatment, give it the same level of consideration that you would for a surgery.
Never base your sole decision on cost.
This article was contributed by Radium Medical Aesthetics. Radium Medical Aesthetics offers all three brands of neurotoxins for different indications.
Radium Medical Aesthetics is located at 3 Temasek Boulevard, Suntec City Mall, North Wing, Tower 2, #03-326, S(038983) | Tel: +65 6837-0507 | Email: [email protected]
Photos: Getty Images
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