Botulinum toxin treatment

Treatment of wrinkles with botulinum toxin is, since its beginnings in the late 90s, one of the stars of cosmetic procedures worldwide. It was the Americans who labeled it a "lunchtime procedure" because it's the kind of procedure you do in five minutes, on your lunch break.

The speed of the procedure, the fact that it does not require subsequent recovery and last but not least the fact that it can remove several years from the face in a few minutes make botulinum toxin injections for cosmetic purposes gain more and more fans every day.

Botox is made from botulinum toxin type A, which injected in very small doses into certain facial muscles blocks nerve signals to them, preventing them from contracting.

Botulinum toxin treatment works effectively on dynamic wrinkles. Most commonly treated are horizontal wrinkles on the forehead, vertical wrinkles between the eyebrows and fine wrinkles at the corner of the eye, popularly called "labia-gasta".

Injections are made with a very fine needle. A treatment session lasts a few minutes and does not require anaesthesia, but on request the specialist can apply an anaesthetic cream to minimise the unpleasant effects of the injections. Immediately after the procedure, the treated area will be slightly red. You should not lie down horizontally, nor bend your head for at least two hours, in order to prevent the botulinum toxin from migrating to areas other than those targeted. For the same reason the treated area should not be rubbed or massaged on the day.

The results start to be visible after five days, because the toxin needs some time to work, but the maximum effect is reached no later than 10 days post-injection. Depending on the body, the substance lasts around 3-4 to a maximum of 6 months.

For safe results and optimal effects, Botox injection requires precision and a very good knowledge of the facial anatomy. Although Botox injections can be done at any time of the year, regardless of the season, it is ideal to do them in spring, when the sun is warm and we tend to get sunburn.