Botox remains one of the great techniques of aesthetic medicine but there are several factors to keep in mind so that the treatment is long-lasting and respectful of facial expression
It was the era of the 1990s when botulinum toxin treatments became popular in the United States, but, two decades later, the well-known Botox is still one of the most widely used medical aesthetic procedures to erase wrinkles. In addition to its efficiency in eliminating expression lines immediately and easily, this neurotoxin also has the advantage of being reversible and achieving a rejuvenating effect without the need to undergo surgery.
The technique is growing every year: the International Society for Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery announced that in 2017 botulinum toxin treatments had increased worldwide by 1% over the previous year, reaching close to 5 million. However, although many experts argue that there are few contraindications if the patient puts himself in good hands, there are several factors to take into account so that the treatment is long-lasting and respectful of facial expression.
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1. Not respecting post-treatment precautions
Although it is not necessary to rest after the procedure, the dermatologist lists the precautions that should be taken and respected in the moments following the intervention: “Afterwards, it is important that within 5 hours the area is not touched, not pressed, not supported… because if this is done, the diffusion can be altered and other muscles can be touched.
“Nor should exercise be done that day for the same reason, and it is important that the patient uses the same hands. The treatment evolves over time and it is good that the specialist knows you and adapts the need for treatment to your evolution.”
2. Going to a center without credentials
Another of the fundamental points when it comes to injecting Botox is the clinic to be chosen. Association of Plastic Surgery, warns that “in this field, there is quite a lot of intrusion. That is to say, there are doctors who, without being specialists in this field, offer these services, especially injectables. In this sense, our advice is clear: the person who is going to undergo this type of intervention should be well informed about the credentials of the professional who is going to attend them and confirm whether he or she belongs to a professional organization.
3. Not matching treatment to age
Yes, Botox works very effectively in eliminating wrinkles. However, after a certain age, other problems appear that should not be treated with this toxin, such as sagging, loss of skin density, or muscle strength.
For this reason, when these signs are noticed, it may be necessary to abandon botox, since it will not be able to achieve the expected results. As for the age at which the procedure can be started, dermatologists out that “both the current techniques and treatments, less aggressive and safer, with reversible results, allow for earlier initiation of aesthetic treatments, with 30-35 being a good age to start”.
4. Using it in areas that are not recommended
“In fact, there are areas where botulinum toxin is very delicate to use. First of all, its indication areas are limited to the upper third of the face, so any application outside that area is already a risk to be assumed by the physician,” explains the dermatologist. Some examples of these “delicate areas” are the lower eyelid, the neck or any area outside the recommendation limited to the upper part, as pointed out by the expert.
Hence the importance of placing oneself in the hands of professionals who have a thorough knowledge of the technique, since, as dermatologist explains: “Medical criteria prevail above all else. It is very important for there to be a relationship of trust and, if there is none, to establish it. The doctor listens to the patient, but must always opt for treatments that are balanced and natural, that do not look different, that do not have ‘another face'”.
5. Ignoring the risks
Putting yourself in hands of Botox professionals at Ethos Spa guarantees the use of top-quality materials, as well as qualified doctors who control the technique because it is not free of side effects. According to a dermatologist, “like any other treatment, botulinum toxin is subject to unwanted effects or unexpected reactions after its application. The complications derived from the treatment are associated with its action on a muscle other than the one desired and that we may have an unsightly effect or asymmetry”.
In addition, he warns that it cannot be used in pregnant women, in patients with neuromuscular diseases or if symptoms of allergy to the toxin, to egg albumin, or to some medications have occurred. Leaving complications aside, when the procedure is performed correctly, no alteration that is too noticeable should be noted: “There must be an improvement, a ‘good face’ appearance, but not an evident change with which you lose your own essence,” concludes dermatologist.
