What is Botox?
The term botox, known in the cosmetic industry as botulinum toxin, is a neurotoxin created by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
As intoxication or poisoning it produces botulism, affecting the nerves of the body with muscular paralysis, difficulty in breathing or even death.
It is banned as a chemical or biological weapon by the Geneva Conventions and the Chemical Weapons Convention because it is considered extremely dangerous.
The ability of botulinum toxin to produce muscle paralysis by chemical denervation is exploited for use as a drug in the treatment of certain neurological diseases and as a cosmetic product for the aesthetic treatment of facial wrinkles.
Application of botox in esthetics
The application of botulinum toxin in the aesthetic sector arose by chance in 1987, when Dr. Jean Carruthers was treating a patient suffering from blepharospasm.
After infiltrating the toxin with an extra fine needle into the muscle, muscle movement is inhibited by relaxation. Wrinkles disappear, but have a temporary duration of three to six months.
The procedure has to be repeated afterwards. It involves little aftercare and there is no contraindication to sun exposure.
The best known brand name is Botox, and it is registered by the company Allergan, Inc. from Irvine, California. It was approved in 2002 for the esthetics sector. Although there are other brands such as Dysport, Lantox, Nabota, Siax, Xeomeen and Meditoxin (Medytox).
Adverse effects on esthetics
As you should know, the aesthetic sector is full of products that do not work as they claim and of professionals who do what they should not or do not know how to do. Some of the effects that the use of Botox as an aesthetic treatment can produce are caused precisely by lack of knowledge.
The effects of an incorrect Botox injection can be very significant, so much so that they can cause drooping of the corner of the mouth, drooping of the eyebrows or expressionless faces. For this reason, it is essential to count on the services of professionals
Some of the adverse effects that may occur are:
- Ecchymosis or bruising, which occurs in more than 10% of patients.
- Short duration of effect (approximately less than two months).
- Drooping eyebrows or eyelids.
- Asymmetry on both sides of the face
- Headaches or neck pain (rare).
- Inflammation of the eyelids or soft tissues in the area of botulinum toxin application.
- Problems speaking, swallowing or breathing.
Benefits and disadvantages of Botox
Botox injection is probably the most widely used treatment in this sector at present. The benefits and disadvantages of Botox may give us an idea of why it is so successful.
Advantages of Botox
- Fast treatment: the application of Botox is very fast. In a few minutes the treatment can be completed without any problems.
- Low cost: compared to other treatments with similar effects, it is a low cost treatment.
- It is painless: a local anesthetic is usually applied which reduces or completely eliminates any pain caused by the injection.
- Safe method: it is a simple treatment, with no complications and performed by professionals without any danger.
- Temporary effects: this, which for some could be a disadvantage, is also an advantage in case the result is not the desired one.
Disadvantages of Botox
- Not immediate effect: you will begin to notice the effects of botulinum toxin from the third day.
- Asymmetry: the natural effect of Botox can produce this type of skin alteration if not performed correctly.
- It is not suitable for gravitational wrinkles: that is, for wrinkles produced by gravity, which are created as a result of the sagging of the skin due to aging.
- Major effect: the injected Botox can reach unwanted areas, which could also produce unwanted effects.
- It is not permanent: for those who intend to obtain permanent results, Botox is not the indicated treatment, since its effect lasts approximately 1 year and a half.
There are other less invasive and painless facial and body rejuvenation systems, such as radiofrequency and transdermal electroporation.
Radiofrequency stimulates collagen and elastin, helping to reduce wrinkles. And electroporation is able to fill wrinkles by introducing ultra-concentrated product.
Commitment to quality
This text on Botox has been written by professional editors. In addition, we have relied on experts in medicine, engineering and aesthetics as a source of information, as well as specific studies to maintain the quality of what we publish.
At Sisneo Bioscience we are committed to publish truthful and contrasted information. And to update or correct it as soon as new knowledge becomes available.
Among others, we have used the following sources:
- Javier Ráez Balbastre, Alberto Escudero Villanueva, Susan Díaz Reverand, Ina Hristova Dakova y Fernando García Monforte. «Toxinas botulínicas en medicina estética. Revisión sistemática» en Revista científica de la Sociedad Española de Medicina Estética, número 64. doi: 10.48158/MedicinaEstetica.064.01
