Bo.t.ulinum toxin works by blocking nerve impulses from reaching facial mimic muscles and causing these muscles to contract. The preparation contains specially prepared bo.t.ulinum toxin type A, which is a natural, highly-purified protein substance obtained from Clostridium bo.t.ulinum bacteria.
The correction treatment consists in injecting BO.T.OX into subcutaneous tissue and mimic muscles. Injecting the toxin in controlled small amounts into specific facial muscles relaxes expression lines.
The effects develop over 2 weeks from the injection (the full effects are only visible after 2 weeks from injecting the preparation) and last on average for 4 to 8 months, depending on the site of the injection, anatomical conditions and the patient’s lifestyle. In some cases, the effects may be visible for a longer or shorter period of time.Periodic follow-up treatments help to maintain the desired effect.
The following are contraindications to bo.t.ulinum toxin treatment:
pregnancy and lactation,
allergy to any ingredient of the preparation (including albumins)
neuromuscular diseases – e.g. Myasthenia gravis, Lambert-Eaton syndrome, Multiple sclerosis, history of such diseases in the family;
systemic infections and infections at the injection site,
antibiotic treatment – e.g. gentamicin, amicacin, streptomycin, kanamycin, anti-rheumatic treatment – e.g. penicillamine (Cuprenil®);
anti-malarial treatment;
immunosuppressive treatment – e.g. cyclosporin;
concurrent use of anaesthetic drugs – e.g. succinylcholine, tubocurarine.
Immediately after the injection, you must keep your head upright and you cannot lie down for 4 hours. It is extremely important as the injected preparation should not migrate outside the injection site. Migration of the preparation could cause unforeseen reactions from facial mimic muscles.
In some cases the injection might cause certain typical side effects associated with the treatment, such as bruising, swelling, pain and tenderness at the site of injection. Such side effects will usually disappear on their own within a few hours of the treatment. In some very rare cases, side effects caused by hypersensitivity to the preparation may occur, such as itching, swelling and skin redness at the site of injection or in the surrounding tissues. Such side effects may occur within a few days after the treatment or as late as after 2-4 weeks. These side effects are usually mild or moderate, self-limited and last for 2 weeks on average.
In some cases, where the treated wrinkle has been caused by very intensive action of facial mimic muscles, the effects of the treatment may be limited. In such cases, complete wrinkle correction will additionally require injecting a temporary filler such as hyaluronic acid. In the event of multiple repeated injections of bo.t.ulinum toxin, the organism might start to produce specific antibodies which might significantly reduce the action of the preparation and thus limit the effects of the treatment. There are also sporadic cases of patients who are naturally resistant to bo.t.ulinum toxin. In such patients wrinkle correction will only be possible if different methods are used, such as filling wrinkles with hyaluronic acid.
