Forehead and botulinum toxin

PRODUCT AND MODE OF ACTION

BOTOX®, VISTABEL® and DYSPORT®, are the three common commercial names for type A botulinum toxin.
This molecule transiently inhibits the electrical conduction between the nerves and the muscles, in other words it weakens or blocks (depending on the dose) the muscle action that causes the wrinkle.

AREAS AFFECTED

The vertical wrinkles of the forehead (glabellar lines) are the official aesthetic indication for VISTABEL®. Recent interest in this product in the field of aesthetics concerns all wrinkles, those of the forehead as well as crow's feet and platysmal bands (neck bands).
Its use, which is very widespread, requires above all experience and competence on the part of the practitioner.
Other areas of the body benefit from it considerably (lip depressors), but should only be treated by an experienced practitioner.

The interesting possibility of treating excess sweating of the hands and underarms should be mentioned, which in spite of being fairly costly and lasting around six months, gives patients who are affected by this condition considerable freedom.

This extraordinary medication was used originally for medical conditions such a strabismus, spasmodic torticollis and blepharospasm from the 1980s onwards, but since its use in aesthetics, it has been widely demonized in the media, where one sometimes hears comments that are as silly as they are unfounded.

INJECTION AND DURATION

The injection takes a few minutes after meticulously choosing the injection sites. The effects appear within the first few days and stabilise after 3 weeks, after which it is possible, without risk of overdosing, to practice a (free) 'refresher' session, which is sometimes required to get the  perfect result. The effect of botulinum toxin lasts between 3 and 6 months, depending on the particular case (it is rare for a patient not to respond to the product). This duration varies according to the product used, the dose and the patient.

PRECAUTIONS AND SIDE EFFECTS

With the exception of pregnancy, there is only one contraindication for the injection of botulinum toxin: myasthenia.
A few rare transient side effects are possible, such as accentuation of the angle of the eyebrows and droopy eyelids, which can last for a few weeks, as well as headaches of varying severity.
There are no permanent side effects.
It is worth noting that while botulinum toxin sometimes causes headaches when injected, certain patients such as those with severe myopia have it injected purely to relieve the headaches caused by the permanent tensing of the muscles of the forehead.

CONCLUSION

Botulinum toxin represents a major contribution to the aesthetics of the forehead and eyes. Its efficacy and its safety mean that a forehead lift can be delayed or avoided. When used in combination with wrinkle-filling products, it allows very satisfactory results to be obtained, even in the long-term, and the 'zen' effect of the look that it gives is very much appreciated by patients.