What is botulinum toxin?
Many people think that Botox® is the name of the treatment when it is, in fact, a brand of Botulinum Toxin made by the Allergan company. There are other brands of Botulinum Toxin such as Dysport® and Azzalure® amongst others which are also used as anti-wrinkle treatments. These are cheaper to buy than Botox® but there is not any robust evidence that they are inferior. I happen to use the Botox® brand because it is the most researched Botulinum Toxin and I both trained and train other doctors with it, so I am very familiar with its effects. Fact of the day, all the Botox® in the world is made in Westport, Ireland.
What is Botulinum Toxin?
Botulinum Toxin is neurotoxin, that is to say, a toxin that effects nerve function. It is produced by the bacterium, Clostridium Botulinum. Wrinkles form through repetitive muscle contraction. Each person’s muscles are slightly different, which is why I tailor every treatment to the person in front of me. Our muscles pull on the skin as they contract, so over time we develop creases or wrinkles in the skin. By temporarily blocking the nerve signal, the muscles relax, and the overlying skin isn’t pulled on, thus reducing wrinkles. Botulinum Toxin is a muscle relaxant, it is used for other conditions such strabismus (an eye condition), migraine and excessive underarm sweating.
Is it safe to get Botulinum Toxin injections?
It is very safe and has been the subject of rigorous research. At the time of writing there have been 2258 peer-reviewed research papers on Botox (scientific name ‘onabotulinumtoxinA’). In the US alone, 7.7 million Botox procedures were done in 2019[1]. Other Botulinum Toxin brands have also undergone extensive research, albeit on a much smaller scale. Botulinum Toxin has been used for 50 years for medical conditions and about 30 years in aesthetic medicine. There have been more than 100 million anti-wrinkle procedures done thus far, so it is very well tested!
How long do the results last?
The results are not permanent, typically the results last 3-4 months. This is true of the majority of people. Anecdotally I have noticed that clients with an underactive thyroid tend to get longer results, whilst those who come back earlier tend to be people who exercise a great deal, such as daily gym goers and long distance runners. Claims that results typically last six months are simply untrue and I can only assume this is for marketing purposes as it not the case typically. The time to come back is when significant movement comes back.
Would you like more information or book an appointment?
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Text or Call on 086-7225735 (086-SCALPEL)
Email me at : DrLucey@TheBeautyDoc.ie
You can make an appointment at my Dawson St Clinic or I can come to your home by appointment.
I perform several different treatments including Anti-Wrinkle Injections, Lip, Cheek and Jaw Fillers, Profhilo and Fat Dissolving Injections. Feel free to make an inquiry or have a free consultation.
Reference : https://www.plasticsurgery.org/documents/News/Statistics/2019/cosmetic-procedure-trends-2019.pdf