Injections are booming

(Interview published in ”Perfect Beauty”)

What is botulinum toxin?
The botulinum toxin is produced by the clostridum botulinum bacteria and was introduced in France in the early 1990s by the name botulinum toxin®. It’s main characteristic is that it blocks the nerve connexion under the skin and consequently preventsmuscles from contracting. As a result,the skin is smoother and more tense.

How does it work?

After a first consultation with the practitioner, the following session consists in performing five to ten injections, on the targeted areas. The procedure takes fifteen minutes and is completely painless. During the following week, it is recommended to avoid touching your face too much or sleeping on your stomach, as this may move the product which is not yet completely fixed in the muscles.

Advantages of using botulinum toxin

Botulinum toxin® has progressively replaced the frontal lift. It avoids all the inconveniences of  surgery under general anesthesia. In addition to this, the product’s effect slowly disappears in 5 to 6 months, which can be a relief for patients who are not happy with the results.

Downsides of botulinum toxin

The result is not permanent, so we must perform newinjections about twice a year. Like any other treatment, it should be used in a reasonable way, unless you want to take the risk of ending up with a ”poker” face, due to the paralyzed muscles. Moreover, excessive botulinum toxin® injections might create new wrinkles, because the facial muscles will need to find a way to express themselves. Luckily, today’s trend is to really adjust the quantities injected and avoid the ”paralyzed” look.

Results

A few days must go by before the product can act on the forehead wrinkles and the lion’s wrinkle and before the crow’s feet start to disappear. When it comes to treating the other face areas, the results are not conclusive. The mouth, for example, responds poorly to botulinum toxin®injections. Once you get the desired result, only a deep skin hydration can correct the old wrinkles’ traces.

What is hyaluronic acid?

Hyaluronic acid is obtained industrially, but it’s actually already present in the body, as a natural element of theskin and cartilage. It has a viscous consistency, it drawswater and therefore improves the hydration and elasticity of theskin.

How does it work?

A session takes about thirty minutes, and local anesthesia may be performed. Today’s new,flexible needles, such as Magic Needles or SoftFil with foam tipswill drastically reduce the pain. Moreover, laboratories producemore and more hyaluronic acids mixed with local anesthetics, which means we can have completely painless procedures. Asurgeon or anaesthetic practitioner will inject the targeted areas, generally the nasolabial folds and the wrinkles around the mouth.

Advantages of using hyaluronic acid

It’s a completely safe product, with natural origin. No recovery is needed, patients resume normal activity immediately andfinal results can be seen in aweek.

Downsides

Some patients can develop small hematoma after the injection. After 6 to 8 months, the body completely eliminates the product in a natural way, therefore injections must be repeated once or twice a year. There are a small risks of infection and small cysts, but these are kept to the minimum  by an experienced practitioner.

Results

A week after the session, wrinkles are filled. The natural volumes and elasticity of the face are restored.