Unfortunately, no matter how a woman takes care of her body throughout her life, sooner or later there comes a time when the usual means, whether creams, masks, wraps, etc., cease to act and hide age-related skin changes. Fortunately, cosmetology has stepped far forward today and is ready to offer clients “youth injections”: Botox injections (botulinum toxin). How safe are these manipulations? Were there any undesirable effects in the use of Botox?
Is botulinum toxin toxic?
The substance itself is very toxic, you just need to recall the numerous "horror stories" about botulism poisoning. Get it by processing a very toxic bacteria in the laboratory. However, a real breakthrough in medicine was the "taming" of such a dangerous toxin and its use in a peaceful manner.
So, the first mention of the use of botulinum toxin for medical purposes appeared back in 1960. It was used to combat various diseases of the nervous system: for paralysis, headaches, cerebral palsy, strabismus, etc. The local principle of botulinum toxin action is as follows: thanks to it, it is possible to create a violation of the transmission of nerve impulses, thereby relaxing specific muscles. However, this effect does not last forever: after 3-5 months, repeated manipulation is required.
How did botulinum toxin appear in cosmetology?
Botox began to be used for cosmetic purposes after doctors discovered an interesting “side” effect of injections: the substance perfectly smoothes wrinkles and suppresses excessive mobility of the facial muscles, which leads to the appearance of unwanted wrinkles.
The recommended doses to combat facial age-related skin changes are extremely small, and therefore absolutely safe. However, the cosmetologist performing the manipulation must be a professional in his field, knowing the anatomy from “A” to “Z”: too close arrangement of the facial muscles is fraught with stopping and relaxing the wrong zone.
Botox: salvation from everything?
It is worth noting that botulinum toxin injections are, first of all, an excellent prophylactic against age-related changes. However, a miracle remedy will not work on long-formed static wrinkles. Therefore, one should not have too high hopes and expect that eternal youth is guaranteed even at 60.
The result of botulinum toxin therapy, as a rule, appears only on the second day after the procedure and has a cumulative effect: thus, a complete picture of the transformation can be obtained after a couple of weeks. The effect of the toxin, as mentioned earlier, is maintained for a period of 3 to 5 months. After this time, depending on the result, some patients return to the beautician for a second procedure, while others continue to try to bypass such institutions: not everyone is lucky with a qualified craftsman who does his job in a quality manner.
Cost
The price of beauty injections directly depends on the amount of the drug administered, measured in units. So, to eliminate wrinkles from the forehead, an average of 14 units of Botox are needed. For comparison, to get rid of crow's feet around the eyes, you need a little less preparation - about 8 units. The calculation is carried out individually, based on the characteristics of the skin and age-related changes in a particular patient.
The average unit price of botulinum toxin fluctuates around 300 rubles. Therefore, in order to "stab" the forehead, you need about 4000-4500 rubles.
Contraindications to the procedure
The list of contraindications for Botox injections includes:
- Botulinum toxin immunity.
- The period of pregnancy and breastfeeding.
- The presence of cancer.
- Exacerbated chronic diseases.
- Violation of the skin at the alleged injection site.
Do I need preparation before the procedure?
To avoid undesirable consequences after Botox, first of all, at least one day should give up any alcoholic beverages. In addition, parallel antibiotic therapy is not permissible, since the effect of injections in this case will be minimized or will not occur at all. It is also advisable to come to the session without makeup, so as not to spend extra time on its removal.
What should i avoid after the procedure?
To ensure a longer duration of the achieved result, as well as to avoid the undesirable consequences of Botox, you should adhere to several rules:
- During the first two weeks after the procedure, you must refrain from taking hot baths and saunas.
- Sports are not recommended.
- It is forbidden to use scrubbing agents, as well as pilling, ultrasonic cleaning, etc.
- Taboo on alcohol for two weeks.
How does the frequency of procedures
What about the effects of Botox? Experts say that botulinum toxin is recommended to be injected once every six months. However, in the case of excessively active facial expressions or a genetic predisposition to early aging of the injection, it is possible to repeat more often than the indicated earlier period of time. To date, there is no evidence of any negative consequences of the frequent use of Botox, nor are there any references to the fact that over time botulinum toxin can provoke the development of somatic diseases.
No matter how strange this may seem, judging by the reviews of the effects of Botox on the face, perhaps one of the problems encountered with frequent visits to a cosmetologist for beauty injections is the psychological dependence of patients on botulinum toxin. And really, what woman wants to see herself in a mirror with numerous wrinkles after the effect of the administered dose gradually fades away? That is why in this regard, cosmetology, in particular the use of Botox, is a "gold mine": it is likely that, having tried once, the patient will return again.
The term “toxin” and the fact that the poison will be injected into the face inhibits many people from carrying out the procedure. However, ahead of all fears and doubts, it is safe to say that the negative consequences of Botox in this direction are excluded, since the concentration of botulinum toxin in the drug is minimal, it is impossible to poison them.
What are the consequences of the treatment of hyperhidrosis with botulinum toxin?
Botox also copes with the problem of excessive sweating in the armpits, inguinal region, as well as in the palms and soles. In this case, injections are carried out superficially, a large amount of the drug is consumed. The injections disrupt the supply of a nerve impulse to the sweat glands, so that sweat ceases to be produced in the treated area for a period of 4-6 months (the duration depends on the patient's activity and the individual characteristics of the body).
Is such a procedure so effective? Reviews of the effects of Botox for the treatment of hyperhidrosis are full of information that, often, getting rid of hyperhidrosis by a “cleaved” zone, patients receive a similar problem in another area. So, a good beautician is obliged to warn before the session that, getting rid of sweating in the armpits, you may encounter excessive sweating of the back or palms. However, this phenomenon is characteristic only in situations of peak loads or at high temperatures in the street. You should also warn against thoughtless administration of the drug in all possible places at the same time: sweat is necessary for normal functioning and proper circulation.
Consequences after Botox: reviews
The available reviews on the Internet about the negative consequences of the procedure confirm the fact that all undesirable outcomes entirely depend on the level of professionalism of the cosmetologist. One of the frequently encountered problems is the “frozen face”, achieved due to errors and inaccuracies. The only thing that can be advised to a patient who is faced with this consequence is to wait until the action of the drug ends.
Beauticians are often mistaken for chipping around the perineal region: on the streets there are often girls with overly raised eyebrows. With an excessive amount of Botox, it is possible to get bloating of the upper eyelid: it looks swollen and teardrop-shaped. Unfortunately, correction of this phenomenon also takes time.
The most common are various distortions of facial features, lip curvature (one of the sides twists up or down). This is especially noticeable during a conversation. Unlike the above consequences, these inaccuracies can be corrected without waiting for the cancellation of Botox. It is only necessary to find a competent specialist and consult with him.
Botox: consequences, photos before and after
Say what you like, after any cosmetic procedure, undesirable complications can occur. The consequences of Botox, the photos of which are presented below, will make many think about the appropriateness of such a procedure:
- the patient’s presence, firstly, of dependence on beauty injections, and secondly, a low level of services provided by a cosmetologist: lips look unnatural;
- the appearance of a bruise and swelling after correcting the shape of the lips is a fairly common phenomenon, which occurs on its own 3-5 days after the procedure.
How to find a competent doctor?
It may take a lot of time to find your specialist. Before you go to the reception, you need to study all the available information about a particular cosmetologist, see the photos before and after, read the reviews about the consequences of Botox that his clients experienced.
However, it is better not to risk it and consult a doctor to whom you go, for example, a colleague, relative or girlfriend. If you like the result of the procedure, then the specialist will most likely like it. In addition, in this case, you can ask your friend all your questions and get a first-hand answer.
It would be great to make an appointment only with that beautician who has at least five years of experience with Botox. This information can be checked at the reception, ask for a diploma of study. It is very important to properly perform Botox. Reviews, consequences, photos before and after - all this needs to be studied in advance. And also find out the name of the cosmetologist of interest and the city.
The final tip is to avoid overly publicized beauty salons. As a rule, good cosmetologists have no problems with the client base and they do not need flashy advertising: the record is scheduled for months ahead.