What is Muscle Relaxing Injections?

Muscle Relaxing Injections are a muscle relaxant treatment for frown lines, forehead lines, crow's feet and excessive sweating (hyperhydrosis) and are commonly referred to a Botox. Botulinum Toxin Type A (Botox®, Dysport®) is a registered brand of muscle relaxing treatment.It has been used successfully and safely for more than 15 years in many medical disciplines, such as Neurology and Ophthalmology.

The Benefits of the Muscle Relaxing Injections / Botox®

Botulinum Toxin relaxes the muscles that cause frown lines, forehead lines and crow's feet. It can be used also to reduce marionette and chin lines, and to soften neck wrinkles. Facial lines seem to disappear or diminish dramatically after the treatment. You can resume normal activities immediately. It only takes 2-3 days for the injections to begin to take effect - 7 days for full effect. Treatment lasts from 3-6 months. No anaesthetic is required. A microneedle is used to reduce discomfort to a minimum.

How do Muscle Relaxing / Botox® Treatments work?

Facial expressions occur when the brain sends a signal to muscle tissue. Botulinum Toxin blocks impulses from the nerve to the tiny facial muscles that are related to expression lines. This relaxes the muscles to stop them contracting, leaving the overlying skin smooth and unwrinkled. Botulinum Toxin works only on the specific muscles injected leaving surrounding muscles to function as usual, producing normal facial expression without the wrinkles. It cannot "freeze" your facial expressions because it only works where you want it to.

How are Muscle Relaxing / Botox® Treatments is performed

Botulinum Toxin is injected using a disposable syringe with a very fine needle. A very small amount of powder is diluted with saline and injected very precisely into several locations on the face. For frown lines, crow's feet and forehead lines, 3-5 injection sites are required. For excessive sweating several injections are required. Treatment takes around 15 minutes, depending on the number of areas you wish to treat.

New uses for Botulinum Toxin

Migraine

Like many other discoveries in medicine (such as penicillin), the use of Botulinum Toxin for the prevention of migraine came about accidentally. Several patients treated for cosmetic purposes who also happened to have migraines, reported that their migraines improved following the injections into forehead and brow muscles. Several scientific studies have been published regarding this new application of the Botulinum Toxin, and more are currently being developed.

The result is that most patients note a reduction in migraine episodes of 80-90%.

Facial Blushing

An exciting new use of Botulinum Toxin. Excessive facial blushing can be emotionally challenging as well as socially and professionally disruptive. In the past 2 years, it has been observed that the use of injections of Botulinum Toxin can reduce those symptoms effectively for up to 6 months.

Mandatory Medical Statement

Botox® and Dysport® are Prescription Only Medications, containing 100-500 units of clostridium botulinum Type A toxin complex per vial. They are used for facial lines reduction. They should be administered only by a Physician trained in the procedure.

Cautions : people with defective neuromuscular transmission disorders, presence of infection at site of injection, glaucoma, pregnancy and lactation.

Possible side-effects include: Slight discomfort from the needle, small bruise at the site of injection, redness. There is a very small risk of infection from the use of injectables. A rare side-effect is temporary drooping of the eyebrow or eyelid, which may last 3-6 weeks/months.

Note : The treament effects usually last 3-6 months and, after this time, further courses of treatment could be necessary. Speak to the Doctor about your own situation.

Information provided by Medical Aesthetics UK www.medicalaestheticsuk.co.uk