Botox

Botox (Botox) – What it is & How it Works

BOTOX is a natural, processed protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum
Very small doses of the drug are administered with very thin "insulin syringes" (insulin syringes) into the muscle, inhibiting the transmission of the nerve impulse and thus the muscle relaxes and does not contract. . Most people (and especially those who are more expressive and "use" the muscles in their face more during communication) after the age of 30 start and "write" fine lines of relaxation especially near the eye ("crow's feet") and on the forehead and between the forehead.

Botox
The temporary reduction or elimination of intense muscle contraction with the use of Botox results in a noticeable reduction in the appearance of these wrinkles.

Botox (Botox) – Application to the face (anti-aging)

The treatment with Botox has a double benefit because on the one hand it works therapeutically by reducing deep wrinkles and disappearing wrinkles of medium depth, but on the other hand it also works preventively when done at younger ages (closer to 30 years) because it does not allow the face to form wrinkles of rest thereby greatly slowing down the aging process.

Botox achieves a very "natural" aesthetic effect, as the face appears to be fresh and "rested" (even after a day with a very heavy work schedule) and others perceive it as a younger face.

Botox – Application for excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) in armpits, palms, soles

BOTOX can provide very great relief to this very important problem. Excessive sweating occurs even at rest, but is significantly enhanced during physical activity and psychological stress. The problem is not only aesthetic, but also creates psychological problems for the sufferer and social problems (difficulty shaking hands during palmar hyperhidrosis creates professional problems, difficulty during written exams, etc.). In primary hyperhidrosis, its mechanism of action botox it is the interruption of the nerve impulse that reaches the sweat glands and instructs them to produce sweat. It should be noted that the app botox in such situations it prevents excessive sweating and not the normal production of sweat.

The good results of the application last for 6 months.

Before hyperhidrosis treatment with botox, the area is mapped with a starch-iodine test. With this test, the sweating area is colored black. Botox is then injected intradermally as painlessly as possible. Hyperhidrosis treatment with botox is the treatment of choice for immediate reduction to disappearance of sweating, while the patient immediately returns to his activities.

Of course, before the application, there must have been a check for pathological causes of secondary hyperhidrosis such as hyperthyroidism and pheochromocytoma. In these cases, the pathological cause should be corrected and then the primary hyperhidrosis should be treated

Before & After Treatment

You can see the course of each treatment in the slider below. By pressing the arrows at the bottom you can see the result per session

Application of Botox to the middle brow Pre
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Application of Botox to the middle brow Pre

Result of botox application in a 51-year-old lady. Press the arrows at the bottom to see the results in the other areas as well.

Botox application in the middle brow After
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Botox application in the middle brow After

Result of botox application in a 51-year-old lady. Press the arrows at the bottom to see the results in the other areas as well.

Botox application on crow's feet Before
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Botox application on crow's feet Before

Result of botox application in a 51-year-old lady. Press the arrows at the bottom to see the results in the other areas as well.

Botox application on crow's feet After
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Botox application on crow's feet After

Result of botox application in a 51-year-old lady. Press the arrows at the bottom to see the results in the other areas as well.

Botox application on the forehead Pre
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Botox application on the forehead Pre

Result of botox application in a 51-year-old lady. Press the arrows at the bottom to see the results in the other areas as well.

Applying Botox to the forehead After
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Applying Botox to the forehead After

Result of botox application in a 51-year-old lady. Press the arrows at the bottom to see the results in the other areas as well.

Botox – Application for persistent recurring headaches and migraine

An additional benefit of the treatment, which has recently become known, is that headaches are reduced which are in the majority "tension headaches" from the involuntary muscle contraction of the muscles in the forehead and neck due to stress. Botox was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of chronic migraine..

When applying botox for migraine treatment we make injections in some additional places (temporal muscle, occiput) which are related to the occurrence of migraine
His action botox it is transient and subsides after 4-6 months.

15-20 minutes only! Of course, it is possible to return to work immediately. That's why botox belongs to the "lunch break" treatments, i.e. the treatments that can be done even during the lunch break!

The cost depends on the amount (units) of botox we will use. If we do the application in only one place (forehead or forehead or crow's feet-eye) we will need 1/3 of the units compared to a full face application. We may also want to do the application in all the prescribed positions, but with fewer units because we want to maintain mobility in the face, but at the same time to prevent the deepening of wrinkles. In this case we do half the units of a full face application and this is called baby botox. Finally, a male face or a female face with a very intense muscular system requires more botox units and this also affects the cost of the application. With a consultation visit you will find out exactly the price botox for your own person.
The cost botox it should not be the main criterion for choosing a doctor, as the quality, effect and duration of treatment is what counts.

It is true that botox is an expensive drug. Therefore the cost of the treatment is relatively high. The choice of cheap solutions and "offers" is dangerous, as in these cases the origin and quality of the drug is dubious, its dissolution - dilution is not correct and the result will be poor and short-lived at best. When choosing a medical treatment the main criteria should be the experience of the doctor and the safety of the treatment. In non-genuine preparation there are serious and incalculable risks to our health.

The botox it can be applied preventively even to younger people in whom wrinkles due to their increased expressiveness have formed but have not yet settled and become permanent. This technique is known as "babybotox", a technique in which smaller doses (units) are used botox which has an inhibitory effect on the permanence of wrinkles.

In older people, baby botox is also indicated if they want to maintain reduced mobility in their facial muscles. The smaller amount (units) of botox used in baby botox allows the muscles to move, but to a lesser extent, resulting in less deep wrinkles and a rejuvenated face.

when the botox applied by a specialized Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon, it rarely shows side effects. If these occur they are transient and mild, which makes the application extremely safe.

The most common side effect that can occur is bruising (bruising) at the injection site especially in people who have this predisposition (very thin skin with superficial vessels). These bruises usually appear in the area around the eyes where the skin is particularly thin and has many superficial vessels. To avoid this it is recommended to avoid taking aspirin anticoagulant or vitamin E 48 hours before and 4 days after the treatment. In case it happens, we immediately use ice and use cream containing arnica or 1M arnica pills on the day of application and for the next 3 days. Bruises disappear quickly in a period of about a week, while they are easily covered with make up. Another side effect is asymmetric reduction of wrinkles which is corrected at the review which takes place in 15 days. In very few cases, a feeling of heaviness or headache is observed which may occur during the first days after application botox but it subsides quickly.

More serious side effects such as eyelid drooping are described when the botox applied by non-specialists.

- Do not touch-rub the areas of the face where the application was made for the next 4 hours
- Do not lie down or bend over for the next 4 hours

- Prefer paracetamol (Panadol, Depon) as a painkiller and avoid aspirin in the case of a headache in the first hours immediately after the treatment (to avoid the formation of bruises).
-To avoid intense physical exercise (sweating) for the next 4 days
-Avoid heat for the next 4 days (hair dryer, sauna, hot bath, gym, fireplace, ironing, etc.)

– Avoid excessive alcohol consumption for the next 4 days

In our clinic, the application is done by a certified dermatologist, the original formulation is used in the appropriate units and with the appropriate technique, so the results are impressive and completely safe.

Of course. But perhaps in men who have a stronger muscular system in the face, the good effect lasts a little less. Also, in men we use more amount (units) of botox to be able to neutralize stronger muscles

No. Most of the time, patients do not feel the microinsoles at all. No kind of anesthesia is required. For accuracy, we do not want any anesthesia so that the patient can maintain full mobility in the facial muscles during the application and be able to carry out the orders we give them to make certain expressions. In this way we make the best possible application fully personalized for each person

There is no rule to this. There are patients who, when they see some mobility appearing on their face again (eg after 4 months) and before the effect of the treatment is completely exhausted, wish to repeat the application. We usually wait for full facial mobility to return after 5-6 months and then repeat the application. Patients who, in addition to the aesthetic effect of anti-aging, do the application also for migraine reasons, repeat the application a little more often every 4 months because then we see that the migraines start to return. But even if for practical or financial reasons we want to repeat the application after a longer period of time, for example 1 year, there is still no problem.

BOTOX is established in the world's perception as a treatment that eliminates wrinkles. At the same time, it is also an excellent treatment for prevention so that resting wrinkles do not appear and settle! As we grow older, the skin loses its hydration and elasticity, with the result that expression wrinkles become permanent even at rest when the mimic muscles that create them do not contract. If BOTOX is used as prevention (eg to prevent excessive frowning) then these wrinkles will not form. BOTOX applications as prevention start at younger ages close to 30 years. Also, we must take into account that botox is a medical application and the person concerned must decide together with the doctor if it is advisable to do the application. Thus, a person who due to work or hobby is excessively exposed to outdoor air and sun (skiers or sailors) will have earlier aging of the skin (photoaging) and will need earlier application than a person whose work and recreation located indoors. Also, people with dry and thin skin show earlier signs of skin aging compared to oily-combination skin, so they will need botox application sooner.

Finally, for people whose professional or personal reasons require the best possible result in the appearance of the face, start the baby botox applications before visible wrinkles appear in order to take advantage of the preventive properties of the application.

Of course. Especially in young people, it is common to need to apply botox in only one area such as in the middle of the forehead (eg in people who frown too much because they don't see well far away or tics) or in the crow's feet in people who laugh too much! In these cases we can make the application only in the place that needs correction or prevention. However, even in these cases we can do smaller amounts of botox in the remaining positions as well (baby botox) for precautionary reasons, but also to achieve a more uniform result

The effect of botox starts after 4-5 days. The maximum complete result is seen after 15 days. That's when we ask to evaluate the result of the application and proceed with some reinforcement or correction if necessary (botox retouch). Its micro-dose supplement botox it should be done between 10-16 days, and not after this period, because otherwise the body perceives it as a booster dose, resulting in the rapid development of resistance and a reduced duration of botox in the future.

 

The effect of botox lasts about 5-6 months, while some mobility in the face returns a little earlier, for example at 4 months. There are many factors that determine the duration of the result of the application. The anatomy of the face plays a primary role with men but also some women who have stronger facial muscles having a shorter duration of effect. The person's daily life also plays a role. We notice that people who are very tired, experience great intensity in their work and do not sleep enough have a shorter duration in the application result. And daily vigorous physical activity or exposure to heat (eg the daily life of a gymnast) has a negative effect. Finally, even the time of year when the application is made plays a role, with the summer months lagging behind in the duration of the botox effect.

Also the duration depends on the amount of toxin we used. So for example a proportionally larger amount can last up to 5-6 months but usually it will have caused intense immobilization which gives a 'frozen' expression and may not be desirable. On the other hand, the smaller amount of medicine (baby botox) gives a more natural result, but it lasts up to 3-4 months, so it needs more frequent repetition.

Even today there are many myths about it botox that deter people who wish to proceed with the application

It is a myth that the botox "freezes" and "ferals" the face. When this is done correctly it highlights the beautiful features of the face which simply looks more rested

It is a myth that if one starts early the botox, then it will not have the corresponding effect. The botox it is ideal to start as soon as the first resting wrinkles become visible in order to avoid their permanence.

It is a myth that the botox it is a toxin and therefore harmful to health. Its use botox over 25 years in medicine has shown that it has never harmed health. The botulinum toxin type A contained in botox in the form of the purified toxin is neither harmful nor dangerous to the human body.

It is a myth that after many applications the botox lasts less and "doesn't catch". On the contrary, when the botox done regularly, its action increases and wrinkles remain smooth for a longer period of time. According to a study on a large number of patients published in 2011 in the authoritative scientific journal of the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, timely and consistent repetition of the treatment every 4-5 months leads to a greater reduction of wrinkles each time, greater satisfaction of the "patients" and a longer duration of the result which in some cases can reach up to 7 months.

Hyaluronic acid is a completely different application. It does not temporarily relax the facial muscles that "write" the wrinkles like botox but gives volume and "fills" the deep lines and wrinkles. The result of the hyaluronic treatment appears immediately upon application and lasts for 9-12 months. Hyaluronic acid treatment essentially offers anti-aging and especially in the lower face (wrinkles between the nose-mouth, cheekbones-apples, increase in lip volume, correction of wrinkles in the mustache, chin, etc.), while BOTOX treatment is preferred in the upper face (forehead , around crow's feet)

Finally, let's add that for an ideal result, BOTOX and hyaluronic treatments can be combined on the same face!

  • In our dermatology practice we only use BOTOX (Allergan) and DYSPORT (IPSEN). These are the approved substances used in Greece. You should demand to see the bottle of botox being applied to you, as anything other than the above-mentioned drugs is not legally available and may be dangerous.

It is a myth that if someone decides to stop botox treatment for some reason, the aging process will be accelerated and the image of their face will deteriorate. After botox wears off, the face will simply gradually return to its original, pre-treatment state as the muscles begin to move normally again.

Wrinkles gradually return (within about 6 months) exactly to the state they were in before BOTOX treatment! But because we have been used to a much younger face for the last 6 months now it seems worse!

The application of botulinum toxin should not be done in people suffering from neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis and myasthenia gravis, and should be avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding (considered a class C drug by the FDA, due to a lack of safety data).

A serious issue is what to do with hypersensitive people, who are intensely concerned with real or imagined imperfections. Often they persistently try to present some defects that cannot be perceived by the doctor. In these cases, it is common for them to be dissatisfied with any aesthetic operation and in this case with botulinum toxin, and most colleagues avoid starting a collaboration or suggest some trial application.

 

Wrinkles gradually return (within about 6 months) exactly to the state they were in before BOTOX treatment! But because we have been used to a much younger face for the last 6 months now it seems worse!

In older people, who have already formed deep wrinkles, botox has less effect, as the skin, which now has reduced elasticity, has already "creased" into the wrinkle from the chronic contraction of the mimic muscles. In this case botox cannot perform as satisfactorily as in younger people. Very deep wrinkles that have been established for many years will improve significantly after treatment, but it may not be possible to completely disappear. If someone has had wrinkles for many years, connective tissue has now developed in their structure that does not allow for full expansion after the paralysis of the underlying muscle by botox. In these cases, after BOTOX treatment, it is good to have a complementary treatment to fill the wrinkles with a hyaluronic implant. Of course, many patients do not aim for the complete disappearance of wrinkles, but simply to soften them (to have a more subtle and natural result). In these cases treatment exclusively with BOTOX exceeds their need.

Hyaluronic acid is used to fill wrinkles and can be used. Also, the newest autologous treatment such as PRP (which can be combined with a fractional technique such as fractional CO2 laser, fractional RF, microneedling) significantly contribute to facial rejuvenation and antiaging. Nevertheless, the offer of BOTOX treatment in giving a younger and more rested face is irreplaceable.