Botox

Botox, one of the most common applications in the field of medical aesthetics, is used in the treatment of many neurological diseases. Botox, which is used in tic treatment, facial paralysis, migraine and tension-type pain, vaginism and even in the treatment of strabismus, is actually very important not only for the beauty sector but for the entire health sector.

What is Botox?

Botox is the short name for Botulinum toxin. Botulinum toxin, which is actually a purified protein, is a group of molecules produced by clostridium botulinum bacteria. The reason it is called and classified as a toxin is that it blocks the movement of certain types of nerves and can function as a “neurotoxin” in the body. It is the most preferred procedure among medical aesthetic procedures.

Botulinum toxin can be found in different forms, but the most commonly used forms are

1. Botulinum Toxin Type A (BTA): This type of botulinum toxin is the most widely used commercially. For example, it is marketed under the name “Botox”. It is often used for cosmetic purposes to reduce wrinkles.
2. Botulinum Toxin Type B (BTB): Type B botulinum toxin is less commonly used compared to type A. For example, it may be marketed under the name “Myobloc”.
3. Other Types: There are other types of botulinum toxin, but they are less commonly used and are usually under research for specific medical conditions.

The muscles that allow us to mimic are attached to the skin. Acetyl choline, which allows the muscles to move, passes from the nerve endings to the muscles. Frequently repeated facial expressions create lines on the skin to which the muscles are attached.

When Botox is applied to the muscle group whose movement is to be restricted, it prevents acetyl choline from passing to the muscles and blocks nerve signals. Temporary blocking of nerve signals limits muscle movements. Thus, wrinkles that appear and settle on the skin as a result of muscle movements can be softened, reduced or even eliminated.

Facial Application Areas of Botox

Forehead Botox

Wrinkles that disrupt the aesthetic perception by forming horizontally on the forehead area are eliminated with forehead botox.

Eye Contour Botox

It is applied for wrinkles around the eyes, also known as crow’s feet, which manifest themselves as lines lined up in a row around the eye area when we laugh.

Botox Between the Eyebrows

Also known as Glabellar Botox. The lines in the eyebrow area, also called Pharaoh lines, give the face a very harsh expression. They can be removed with botox between the eyebrows.

Lip Botox

It is applied to eliminate the lines on the lips. It does not have an effect such as plumping the lips.

Chin Botox

It is applied to remove wrinkles that appear on the chin tip.

Neck Botox

It is a successful technique used to eliminate the lines that appear parallel to each other on the neck area. With this method, neck fat and sagging are also prevented.

Gum Botox

It is a treatment method applied for people who have upper jaw structure problems and whose gums appear more than they are when they laugh. With the procedure, the problem is eliminated and the patient is given an aesthetic smile.

Botox Types and Botox Techniques

Today, Botox has gone beyond being applied for beauty purposes and has started to be applied for spiritual or health purposes. For this reason, the types of botox that have emerged are divided into 3 groups.

Psycho Botox

It is applied to remove wrinkles that occur as a result of frequent mimic use. It is the most common form of botox application. Since it is basically applied to make the person feel better and happier, it is defined and classified as psycho botox.

Smile botox

It is commonly requested by service sector employees. It is applied to provide a more friendly expression.

Botox for therapeutic purposes

It is a type of botox applied to people with sweating problems, migraine problems, teeth grinding or facial paralysis. It is completely therapeutic.

Botox in Sweating Treatment

When the body temperature rises, signals sent by the brain automatically activate the sweat glands. Sweating is a defense mechanism that the body produces to cool itself down. However, excessive sweating is normally a very challenging and uncomfortable situation in social life. Botox is an effective and trouble-free method in the treatment of sweating

It can be applied to hands, feet and armpit areas. Unlike other techniques, botox applied in the treatment of sweating is injected under the skin, not into the muscle. Armpit, hand and foot sweating botox completely ends the sweating complaint within 3-7 days after application. The effect of the treatment lasts 9-12 months.

Migraine Botox

Migraine botox can be performed as an alternative treatment for people with chronic migraine.

Baby Botox

Baby botox is one of the botox application techniques. Botox is injected to the required points at a lower dose with a lower effect, allowing the facial muscles to move naturally but not wrinkling the skin to which they are attached. More natural results are obtained by personalized planning. It can be applied to vertical lines on the forehead, vertical lines between the eyebrows and crow’s feet. In Baby Botox, the dose should be adjusted for each injection.

Miminal Botox

Minimal botox is a botox technique that is individually designed by taking into account the structure of the skin, age, mimic use and skin condition, and injected only in minimal doses to the necessary points. It is applied to prevent a dull expression and an overly tense appearance that does not match the age.

Masseter Botox

Masseter Botox is a technique applied to the lower part of the face to reduce the masseter muscle or to eliminate the problem of teeth grinding. It is popularly known as clenching botox. It is a botox technique that targets a more proportional and oval face shape by making the masseter muscle, which causes a masculine appearance in the lower part of the face, look thinner. In fact, it is a technique applied more for treatment purposes.

Preventive Botox

It is also known as preventative botox. It is applied to prevent the effects of aging and to protect the skin early. in this technique, minimal dose injection is applied. It is known that Hollywood stars, especially at a young age, have it done to protect their dynamic facial structures.

How is Botox applied?

First of all, a detailed evaluation interview is held between the client and the doctor. A treatment plan is drawn up in the light of the information received from the person. In the evaluation; it is learned whether botox application has been performed before, and if so, whether the result meets the expectation.

Before proceeding to the application phase, the area to be injected is cleaned and numbed with anesthetic cream. After making sure that the area is numb, some of the diluted drug is injected into the muscles that cause wrinkles. Staying in an upright position for 1-2 hours after the application will allow the drug to hold in the injected area.

How long does the effect of Botox last?

Is Botox a permanent method? The question is a matter of curiosity for many people. Today, it is not possible for Botox to give a permanent result. The effect, which starts to be seen significantly on the 3rd day after injection, reaches its peak on the 15th day. Although the effect of the procedure varies from person to person; in the first applications, it usually starts to lose its effect gradually after the third month.

After 6 months, it loses its effect completely. It has been observed that if the injection is repeated regularly, it maintains its effect longer in the long term. It may be necessary to repeat the injection process more frequently in people who use facial muscles very often and make a lot of facial expressions and in people with large facial muscles.

How often is Botox application repeated?

It is possible to inject botox as the procedure loses its effect. Since the duration of the effect of the procedure varies according to individuals, it is not possible to give a precise time about this. Because everyone’s metabolic rate and muscle structure are different, this cannot be generalized. Therefore, the repetition time can be determined individually.

Is Botox Harmful to Health?

Every substance taken into the body as a medicine can have more or less harm. In order to understand whether a drug is harmful or not, it is necessary to examine the effects and side effects in long-term use. Botox, which has been applied to many patients for almost 30 years, not only for cosmetic purposes but also for therapeutic purposes, has not seen a toxic case so far, although it is applied with higher doses when used for therapeutic purposes.

Although rare, the procedure may cause temporary tissue damage, loss of sensation and eyelid drooping. If the needle tip hits a capillary during injection, bleeding and bruising may occur. In order to avoid such undesirable situations, it should be made sure that it is applied by experts.

Complications after Botox

• Eyebrow or eyelid drooping
• Failure to close the eyelid or difficulty in closing it
• Double or blurred vision
• Decreased lacrimation
• Difficulty swallowing
• Speech difficulties
• Difficulty in making some sounds
• Complications such as allergic reactions (itching, rash, difficulty breathing, redness) are very rare but serious complications that can occur. For this reason, care should be taken to ensure that injections are performed by specialized physicians or dermatologists.

Things to Consider After Botox

Touching or Massaging the Injection Sites: Avoid touching, rubbing or massaging the areas where Botox is injected. This can cause the toxin to spread to unwanted areas and affect muscle function.

• Strenuous Exercise: Avoid strenuous physical activities, heavy lifting or intense exercise for at least 24 to 48 hours after treatment. This can help prevent migration of the toxin and reduce the risk of side effects.
• Lying or Bending Over: Avoid lying flat or bending over for several hours after treatment. This can help prevent Botox from spreading to areas not intended to be active.
• Alcohol Consumption: It is recommended to avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours after Botox treatment. Alcohol can increase blood flow to the face and potentially affect the distribution of the toxin.
• Saunas and Hot Tubs: Avoid saunas, hot tubs and hot showers for the first day or two after treatment. Excessive heat can potentially cause the toxin to spread.
• Blood Thinning Medicines: If you are taking blood-thinning medications, discuss with your healthcare provider if you need to temporarily stop or adjust your medication before and after treatment.
• Sleeping Position: Sleep with your head elevated the night after treatment to help prevent Botox from spreading to unwanted areas.
• Facial Treatments: Avoid facials, chemical peels, or other facial treatments for at least a few days after Botox treatment.
• Supplements and Herbs: Some supplements and herbs can increase the risk of bruising. Check with your healthcare provider before taking any new supplements or herbal products after treatment.

Botox for Men

Although it is thought that Botox is more demanded by women; it is actually a highly demanded application by men. Forehead botox, neck botox, masseter botox (teeth clenching botox), botox between the eyebrows, armpit botox (for sweating treatment), migraine botox and crow’s feet botox are among the botox techniques that are highly demanded by men.

What are the most common side effects of Botox?

Botox may cause temporary side effects in some bodies. These side effects may be as follows;

• Temporary edema, slight bruising or pain may occur at the injection points. These side effects disappear spontaneously within a few days. If needed, applying an ice compress will relieve the area.
• Some people may experience mild headache after the application. It usually ends in less than 24 hours. Painkillers can be taken if needed.
• There may be a temporary eyebrow twitching. If it lasts longer than a few days, it can be corrected with a small injection.
• In the first few days after the application, a feeling of numbness may be perceived in the application area. This is actually a change in sensation caused by botox.
• Mild nausea, vomiting and dry mouth are among the rarest side effects.

What are the Benefits of Botox?

It offers several benefits for both medical and cosmetic purposes. Some of the benefits of Botox include:

Cosmetic Benefits:

• Wrinkle Reduction: Botox can reduce the appearance of wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing facial muscles. It is especially effective in the treatment of forehead lines, crow’s feet and frown lines between the eyebrows.
• Youthful Appearance: Botox can help achieve a more youthful and rejuvenated appearance by regulating facial expressions.

Medical Benefits:

• Migraine Treatment: Botox can be used to treat chronic migraines by reducing the severity and frequency of headaches.
• Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis): Botox can effectively reduce excessive sweating by temporarily blocking sweat glands.
• Eye Disorders: Botox can be used to treat eye muscle imbalances such as strabismus (crossed eyes) or to lift drooping eyelids (ptosis).
• Muscle Spasms and Disorders: Botox can help manage conditions such as cervical dystonia (neck muscle spasms) or spasticity, which includes muscle stiffness and involuntary contractions.
• Urinary Incontinence: Botox can be used to treat overactive bladder muscles that cause urinary incontinence.

Daily Activities After Botox

After Botox, there are some activities in our daily routine that we are afraid of botox damage:

Sleep after Botox

Sleeping position is very important after Botox treatment. Using a pillow on your back and keeping your head elevated can prevent the toxin from spreading to unwanted areas.

Coffee consumption after Botox

It may be better to avoid excessive caffeine intake during the first few hours after Botox. Coffee can have diuretic properties and increase water loss from the body. Therefore, if you drink coffee, remember to drink plenty of water.

Water Consumption after Botox

It is important that your body is well hydrated (water balance) after Botox treatment. Adequate water consumption can help your body absorb and process the toxin.

Taking a Shower after Botox

It is recommended to avoid things like extremely hot water or steamy baths for the first few hours after Botox treatment.

Wearing Glasses after Botox

Since eyeglass frames can put pressure on the face, it is helpful not to wear glasses for the first few hours after treatment or for as long as your doctor recommends.

Eating after Botox

It is important to avoid putting pressure on the injection sites. It is therefore recommended to avoid excessive jaw movement or chewing for the first few hours after treatment.

Using Moisturizer after Botox

It is often helpful to use moisturizer after Botox, provided it is gentle, because the skin may become dry or sensitive after treatment.

Exercising after Botox

It is recommended to avoid intense or excessively vigorous exercise for the first few hours after Botox. Activities such as walking or light yoga may be preferred.

Frequently Asked Questions

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