Pioneered by an ophthalmologist in 1987 to treat muscle disorders, Muscle Relaxing Injections (botulinum toxin type A) was quickly adopted by cosmetic surgeons as a valuable aid to temporarily eliminate wrinkles.
Botulinum toxin injections, such as Botox, are used to help relax facial muscles and make lines and wrinkles less obvious. During the procedure, your skin is cleaned and small amounts of botulinum toxin are injected into the area to be treated. Several injections are usually needed at different sites. The injections take effect about three to five days after treatment and it can take up to two weeks for the full effect to be seen. The effects last for about three to four months.
In the UK, the only product that has a licence to treat frown lines (glabellar area) is Vistabel. Other areas of the face can be treated off ‘licence’ and this has been done safely for well over a decade using products such as Botox.
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Azzulure® is a purified protein which is injected into specific muscles in the face to temporarily relax them, softening facial expressions and helping to reverse the signs of ageing.
BOTOX® reduces the activity of the muscles that cause the vertical lines to form by blocking nerve impulses that trigger wrinkle-causing muscle contractions, creating an improved appearance between the brows. Botox is also indicated for the management of severe hyperhidrosis of the axillae (armpit), which does not respond to topical treatment with antiperspirants or antihidrotics.
Vistabel injections prevent nerves from functioning normally. It prevents nerves from releasing a chemical called acetylcholine, which is essential for the nerves to communicate with muscle cells, thus preventing muscles from receiving nerve stimulation.