Smoothing Skin Texture

Posted Thursday, September 13, 2007 to PROCEDURES > Face

Posted by The Original Anti-Aging & Cosmetic Surgery Magazine

Tony Norton discusses a method of minimizing wrinkles with botulinum toxin.

Skin is our most visible organ. No matter how hard we try to hide our age, the condition of our skin is always a give-away. And as a gauge for age, there is no more telling location than the face. Wrinkles, lines and lack of elasticity are standard symptoms of the aging process, which is accelerated by various factors including sun exposure, smoking, poor nutrition and, significantly, repeated muscle contraction.

Every time you smile, laugh or frown, underlying facial muscles contract and expand to cause wrinkles. The most effective methods of facial wrinkle reduction in the past have been the facelift, collagen injection and laser resurfacing. While being very successful, these procedures can be intimidating for many. The decision to undergo facial surgery is always going to be difficult.

But recently a minimally-invasive procedure has become immensely popular. The procedure, known as cosmetic denervation, involves the injection of a product called Botox (botulinum toxin) into the facial muscles to reduce the appearance of worry lines, crow's feet and other dynamic wrinkles. Botox is particularly effective on horizontal forehead lines and wrinkles between and around the eyes (crows feet). It is also being used increasingly for brow lifts and neck lines. Interestingly, the product was developed from a purified strain of the toxin that causes botulism (food poisoning), but is perfectly safe when injected in minute quantities.

Botox was the second fastest growing cosmetic procedure in the US in 1999. The popularity of this procedure is easily understood. It is a super-quick, painless, non-surgical cosmetic treatment that smoothes out facial lines, leaving the patient looking naturally refreshed. The results are temporary. Two to three times a year, or every four months is the standard treatment pattern, although less frequent visits are required after a certain number of treatments.

Successful use of this product has caused a shift in the thinking behind cosmetic facial enhancement. The traditional approach of attacking wrinkles and the aging face with one-off, invasive, surgery-based procedures later in life is being replaced with the idea of a maintenance-based approach. Instead of waiting till wrinkles become too set-in or defined, you can combat the problem earlier and with less pain or stress by having regular Botox treatments. The absence of any major side effects or down time makes this an easy and attractive option. The other benefit is that the results of this procedure are effective and noticeable without dramatically changing your natural facial structure. The classic post-facelift 'startled' look is not a factor and unlike lasers, Botox does not cause changes in skin pigmentation.

So, exactly how does it work? Botox combats dynamic wrinkles by binding to motor nerve terminals in the body to prevent the release of a chemical known as acetylcholine, which causes muscle contractions. When injected locally into a muscle, Botox produces a reversible paralysis of that muscle, effectively relaxing the muscles that contribute to facial line expressions. Botox works with precision in and around the facial muscle injected. The fine disposable syringe used to inject Botox is much smaller than the needle used of routine blood tests, so there are only a few seconds of mild discomfort. Many patients liken it to an insect bite or sting. The entire procedure takes only ten minutes and the patient can resume normal activities immediately. The cosmetic effects of Botox are usually noticeable within one week of injection.

The safety profile of Botox is encouraging. It has been used for patients for more than 10 years in over 60 countries. The most common side effects are tenderness or slight bruising at the site of injection, and in some cases, the Botox can migrate and cause a temporary weakness in nearby muscles. In rare cases, there can be a slight and temporary drooping of an eyelid or eyebrow lasting one to two weeks. A doctor can prescribe eye drops to reverse this side effect. The risk of this happening depends on the muscles you choose to inject - your doctor will discuss this with you before treatment. At worst, these side effects will last no longer than a few weeks. There have been no permanent side effects of Botox reported to date.

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