Botox® or
Botulinum Toxin injections have been used commercially since 1987. The
toxin selectively attacks the neuromuscular endplate which connects the
nerve to the muscle. We use Botox cosmetically to weaken the muscles of
facial expression which are responsible for most of the lines around
the eyes and elsewhere on the face. When we started doing this the dosage
regime was fairly harsh and facial movements were severely restricted.
The current trend is for a softer more natural look which allows us to
achieve a significant line improvement whilst maintaining normal facial
expression. Botox therapy
can be adjusted on an individual basis to produce almost any sort of
look the patient desires..
The most important aspect of Botox therapy for the patient is its safety record. It is not possible for Botox to produce a permanent effect. The muscles of facial expression recover completely in approximately 3 to 4 months. This is both a plus and a minus. The plus is the safety, the minus is that you will need to repeat the Botox treatments approximately every 12 weeks.
Botox can also be used to treat excessive sweating (known as Hyperhydrosis). In this instance Botox is used to treat the neuroendocrine end plate which is attached to the sweat glands. This effect lasts a lot longer at approximately 6 months.
For more information regarding Botox please contact us.