Botox and Collagen

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Botox & Collagen

What is BOTOX?

BOTOX is a brand name for a purified form of botulinum toxin type A, which is produced by the bacteria, Clostridium botulinum. It is an injection of an extremely small dose into specific facial muscles to stop the problem of muscle contraction.

How dose BOTOX work?

Facial expressions occur when the brain sends a signal to muscle tissues. The electrical message is transmitted from a nerve to the muscle by a substance called acetylcholine. BOTOX blocks impulses from the nerve to the tiny facial muscles that are related to expression lines by blocking the nerve from releasing acetylcholine. This relaxes the muscles to stop them from contracting, leaving the overlying skin smooth and unwrinkled. BOTOX works only on the treatment targeted muscle groups leaving the rest to function as usual thus producing normal facial expressions without the wrinkles.

What is the treatment like?

BOTOX is injected using a disposable syringe with a very fine needle. A very small amount of the BOTOX powder is diluted with saline and is injected precisely into several locations on the face. The pain associated with the injections is minimal. Many patients describe it similar to an ant bite sting lasting for a few seconds. No local anesthetic is required and you can resume normal activities immediately. Treatment takes around 15 minutes depending on the number of areas you wish to treat.

Where can it be used?

-Frown lines between the eyebrows

-Horizontal forehead lines

-Crow’s feet or smile lines around the eyes.

It is being increasingly used to reduce neck lines and the brow lifts to achieve a more youthful arched brow which rounds and softens the eye. Doctors have also reported good results in the nasolabial folds between the nose and mouth, perioral lip lines (‘’smokers lips’’) and chin dimpling or creasing.

How long will it last?

The advantage of BOTOX is that it is temporary. The effect lasts for 3-4 months or longer depending on the individual.

Is BOTOX a common cosmetic procedure?

It is the fastest-growing cosmetic procedure, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. In the United States 498,204 BOTOX procedures were recorded in 1999, a growth of 216%, making it the second most common cosmetic procedure after chemical peels.

Are BOTOX treatment safe?

The safety profile of BOTOX is considered to be excellent. It has been used on patients with various conditions for over 10 years in over 60 countries. The most common side effects are tenderness or bruising at the site of injection and, in some cases BOTOX can migrate and cause a temporary weakness in nearby muscles. In rare cases, there can be a slight and temporary drooping of an eyelid or eyebrow lasting 1-2 weeks.

Can BOTOX be combined with other procedure?

BOTOX is often used in combination with other facial enhancement procedures to improve the overall effect. Because it is a localized procedure, it does not interfere with other procedures such as collagen or laser resurfacing. In fact, studies have shown that CO2 laser resurfacing alone results in less improvement than when performed with BOTOX. You should always discuss combining BOTOX with other procedures with your doctor before proceeding.

Is it only for women?

BOTOX is equally effective on men and women. In fact, men increasingly seek out this treatment to leave them looking younger in the workplace. This is because it is effective for worry lines, therefore it is popular with many businessmen to give them a more refreshed and approachable look.

Is BOTOX suitable for my face?

To find out if BOTOX might work well for you, please consult with your doctor who is a trained professional and can judge the optimum treatment to enhance your appearance.

What is Collagen?

The skin is your body’s largest most visible organ and is composed of two layers

The uppermost layer of skin, called the epidermis, acts as a protective barrier. The epidermis controls the loss of water from cells and tissues, without it your body would quickly dehydrate. Just beneath the epidermis is the second layer of skin, called the dermis. This layer is composed primarily of a protein called collagen. Collagen forms a network of fibers that provides a framework for the growth of cells and blood vessels. As the primary component of the dermis, collagen acts as the support structure for your skin.

Why do wrinkles appear?

When your skin is young, the collagen framework is intact, keeping your skin moisturized and elastic. Young skin is resilient so facial lines that appear when you smile or frown simply disappears when you stop smiling or frowning. Over time, the collagen framework weakens and your skin loses its elasticity. Older skin is less resilient, so the facial lines that appear with a frown do not disappear when you stop smiling or frowning.

How does collagen replacement therapy work?

Collagen Replacement Therapy (CRT) replenishes the skin’s natural collagen support layer, smoothing facial lines and most types of scars. There are several different injectable filling material available currently, each differing in their filling effects, the durability of their results and their possible side effects.

How does collagen work?

The collagen material is injected into the skin with a very fine needle to create volume. It “fills” the wrinkles or scars and enhances the lips. The result is immediate, unlike deep facial folds, creams or laser treatment which are not effective as only filler material will restore this loss of issue. There are many other filling materials used such as hyaluronic acid or other types of collagen available, some at much lower cost. However their effects often last anywhere from 3 – 6 or at most up to 18 months. Collagen has been proven to be the most effective, lasting up to 2-3 years.

How long does the procedure take?

The procedure is relatively quick, taking about 5-10 minutes.

Is the procedure painful?

Generally, when the scars or wrinkles are injected there is minimal discomfort. However it is possible to apply a topical anesthetic locally prior to the treatment to minimize the discomfort.

Is collagen safe and effective?

Since 1994, collagen has been used successfully in over 200,000 patients world-wide with a minimal complication rate of 0.01 percent (1 in 10,000 procedures)

What are the possible “side effects”?

1.The initial natural swelling and reddening of the implantation site subsides within one day and occasional bruising disappears within 3-7 days.

2.The collagen implant may be palpable under the skin, but is not visible. This phenomenon usually resolves spontaneously within three months

3.Allergy to bovine collagen may be existent or may develop. The allergy rate in collagen patients is less than 0.1%, which is comparatively much lower than most other filling materials. However, unlike most other filling materials which require prior testing for allergies by an injection at the forearm weekly for 4 weeks, testing for collagen is not usually required.

4.Granuloma formation (development of lumps at the implantation site) is a rare but rather serious complication. Most granulomas resolve after a series of corticosteroid injections.

How much improvement can be expected and how long does it last?

It’s important to understand that treatment with collagen is highly dependent on the individuals themselves. The same amount of collagen that would give one person full correction may result in an inadequate or partial correction for another person depending upon a person’s facial structure and size. Collagen is not a form of permanent treatment. It is a capable of filling the area intended but it will be slowly be resorbed over time.