Botox (Botulinum Toxin) Application

Botulinum toxin application, known as Botox for short, is one of the most preferred minimally invasive cosmetic applications all over the world. It is obtained from bacteria called Clostridium Botulinum under laboratory conditions. There may be misinformation among the public that it is obtained from snake venom. It can be performed not only for cosmetic but also for many medical reasons.

In the first years of its use, it was used for the treatment of eye problems such as blepharospasm and nystagmus, and its aesthetic use was tried for aesthetic purposes when it was accidentally noticed that wrinkles around the eyes were reduced. Today, it is most commonly used to reduce facial wrinkles that occur dynamically, that is, when we move our muscles, to reduce excessive sweating of the skin in certain body parts (such as face, hair and hands), and in the treatment of Masseter muscle (jaw) hypertrophy caused by clenching teeth.

Cosmetic Botulinum Toxin Application to the Face Area

Botulinum toxin application in the face area is most commonly used to reduce wrinkles on the forehead (frontal region), mid-brow (glabella) and around the eyes. The toxin applied to the muscles in this area shows its effect between 4-10 days and eliminates the lines that are not visible in the normal resting position, which we call dynamic lines that occur when we move our muscles. The effectiveness usually lasts for 2-4 months. There are people who extend up to 6 months. The effect of the application does not disappear suddenly, it gradually decreases. The lines we call “static” wrinkles, which are also present in the resting position in people who start to apply toxin at an advanced age, do not disappear with botulinum toxin application. For this reason, it is recommended that patients who are considering application should have it regularly starting from their 30s. The application performed with approved products, by specialist physicians and under sterile conditions does not cause any harm. Although some people want applications such as only forehead, only mid-eyebrow or only around the eyes, this is not recommended. Since the frontal muscle, procerus and corrugator muscles are interconnected, a decrease in the function of a certain muscle here may cause the others to overwork, that is, to be hyperkinetic, and in this case, more mimic wrinkles than normal occur in certain facial areas.

Botulinum Toxin Application to the Masseter Muscle

In applications to this muscle, the function of the masseter muscle, one of the largest chewing muscles, is reduced. In patients with complaints of teeth clenching and teeth grinding, these complaints decrease in the first stage, while the result is more successful in repeated applications. As the masseter muscle is used over the years, it hypertrophies and causes a square appearance in the jaw area. One-time botulinum toxin application reduces muscle activity but does not immediately eliminate the square appearance. In repeated applications before the muscle function is completely restored, the hypertrophied masseter muscle shrinks over time and the angular jaw appearance decreases, at the same time, complaints such as clenching teeth gradually decrease and may disappear.

Botulinum Toxin Application in Sweating Complaint

Today, there are still not many options for treating sweating. While excessive sweating may have hormonal causes, it is often not due to a specific cause. Among surgical and non-surgical treatment options, sweating botox is often preferred as it is a practical application that takes about 15 minutes. Sweating Botox blocks the nerve impulses that cause excessive sweating to the sweat glands in the sweating area. Before the treatment, the area to be treated is numbed with local anesthetic creams. After sweating botox daily life can be returned. The effect of sweating botox starts in 7-10 days and the duration of effect is approximately 6 months. Sweating Botox is the most preferred method of excessive sweating treatment today with its minimal risk, practical, easily applicable and effective.

Who cannot have botulinum toxin application?

-Pregnancy

-Breastfeeding mothers

-Botulinum toxin allergy sufferers

-People with neuromuscular diseases such as myasthenia gravis

-Those with inflammatory disease or infection in the area to be treated

-Those with body dysmorphic disorder

-People with neurological diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

-Those taking certain medications (such as aminoglycosides)

-Those with serious clotting disorders

Possible side effects

-Allergic reaction

-Blepharopitosis (eyelid drooping)

-Eyebrow drop

-Development of antibodies against botulinum toxin (causes it not to work)

-Small hematomas at injection sites