Botox wonder injection

Dr Divya Ramkumar | 10-July-2013

Due to the ease of administration, wide safety profile and fast results, botox has become one of the most popular cosmetic procedures today

Dr Divya Ramkumar,
Dermatologist & Cosmetologist

Though people keep talking about ‘BOTOX’, what exactly is it? We have read about it in advertisements and got it done, but don’t know much about it!

Botulinum toxin is a powerful neurotoxin produced by the bacterium clostridium botulinum. It was initially used by ophthalmologists for the treatment of strabismus and bleharospasm. They noticed reduced frown lines on patients who received this. Due to the ease of administration, wide safety profile and fast results, botox has become one of the most popular cosmetic procedures today. Botulinum temporarily paralyses striated muscles by blocking the release of acetylcholine at neuromuscular junctions thereby combating signs of ageing like wrinkles, frown lines and neck bands.

Indications in dermatology

Prevention and removal of dynamic wrinkles like frown lines,  crow’s feet, wrinkles on the nose, angle of the mouth, nasolabial fold, jaw line and turkey neck.

Hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating on palms, soles and axillae

Mode of administration

Botulinum toxin is available as a freeze dried powder which is to be reconstituted with normal saline and to be used within four weeks (under refrigeration). Dosage depends on the size of the target muscle. The best candidates are people within 30-50 years of age. Patient should be informed that the effect of botox will be seen only after 2-5 days and it is a temporary procedure which lasts 4-6 months. In case the patient is unhappy with the procedure, the results cannot be reversed immediately. Botox is injected into the specific muscle (intramuscular) to temporarily paralyse the muscle and thus cause an inability to wrinkle the skin over the treated muscle. It is useful only for dynamic wrinkles or wrinkles in motion.

The injection is usually given in a sitting position after applying ice or topical anesthesia (For apprehensive patients). Mesobotox is the method of injecting diluted botulinium toxin intradermally at random into the face and it is useful for fine lines and it leads to an immediate tightening of the skin.

Following the procedure, the patient is asked not to exercise immediately or to lie down to avoid dispersion of the drug. If pain persists, they can apply ice at the injection sites.

Contradictions

Pregnancy and lactation, infection, known hypersensitivity to any of the components in the formulation, certain neuromuscular disorders like myasthenia gravis, if the patient is on certain drugs like anti-malarials or cyclosporine.

Complications

It can vary from just a headache, pain or bruise at the site of injection to ptosis (Drooping of the eyelid), diplopia (Double vision), eyebrow drooping, frozen face, asymmetric results and even rarely reactions.