WHAT IS BOTOX®?
It is the trademark of the most frequently used botulinum toxin, produced by Allergan Laboratory. Botox is a neuromuscular blocking agent, ie a muscle relaxant, which acts locally reducing the strength of muscle contraction and thus reduces wrinkles.
In which facial areas can botox be applied?
Its most common use in facial aesthetics is to treat expression wrinkles produced by the repeated contraction of the muscles that produce wrinkles in different areas of the face and neck. The areas are:
- Glabellar wrinkles (frown lines) associated with hyperactivity of the corrugator and procerus muscles.
- On the forehead, Botox is used to relax the frontalis muscles by reducing the horizontal lines of expression or wrinkles of the forehead.
- On the lateral lines of the angle of the eye (crow’s feet)
- In the chin in people with chin wrinkles due to problems of dental occlusion or with a small chin
- On the side of the lower lips or puppet lines to relaxing the depressive muscles of the lips (depressor angulis oris)and modeling the smile, avoiding the descent of the cheeks.
- In the neck to reduce muscle bands (platysma muscle) below the chin and laterally in the neck.
Botulinum toxin type A is the number 1 treatment worldwide among mini-invasive treatments according to the American Society of Plastic Surgery that reaches 7 million procedures in 2016, 4% more than in 2015.
How is Botox® composed?
It is composed of a Neurotoxin complex of Clostridium Botulinum Type A 900 kD.
How many units does it have one vial of BOTOX?
1 vial contains 100 units (IU). Usually, an average of 50 IU are used in each patient, although there are cases in which up to 100 IU are needed.
How many units do I have to use, how often, and how long does it work?
In young patients from the age of 20 to 40, we generally use low doses, between 20 and 40 Units to produce muscular relaxation with a subtle and not evident result, in order to reduce and prevent the appearance of wrinkles. After 40’s up to 100 IU might be needed to get the best results.
The effect lasts from 3 to 6 months and should be applied twice a year because if applied in short periods and high doses, larger doses will be needed and the period of action is shortened due to the resistance of the organism.
What other indications does Botox have in Plastic Surgery?
We will only mention the indications that the Plastic Surgeon usually treats in the office, without considering the indications for diseases that correspond to other specialties.
BOTOX® is indicated in cases of:
- Prevention of chronic migraine.
- Excessive sweating called axillary hyperhidrosis (hyperhidrosis is considered to be sweating that exceeds 40ml / minute / m2).
- Blepharospasm or exaggerated contraction of the eyelid muscles
How much does Botox cost?
Use our free online plastic surgery cost calculator to check the cost of 50 IU of Botox in Argentina by Dr Bukret
Can it be combined with other treatments?
Botox® can be used in conjunction with other mini-invasive treatments such as fillers (Juvederm, Volbella, Volift or Voluma) to fill nasolabial folds, lips, wrinkles, and to restore the volume tissues lost over the years due to a loss of fat volume and thinning of the skin.