What is Botox?
Botulinum toxin is a drug that gently reduces the activity of certain muscles by injection to counteract and prevent age-related changes. Colloquially, one speaks of “Botox”, which is a brand name for botulinum toxin. In addition to “Botox”, there are products from different manufacturers that have different names. Botox, Bocouture, Dysport, Azzalure, Netybo, Vistabel, and some more.
The effect: the reflection in the mirror shows a rejuvenated, refreshed and more positive appearance. In addition, it has also been proven in studies that through the improved appearance, through a positive feedback with our fellow men, for example, depression is positively influenced.
Doctors have been working with botulinum toxin (Botox, BTX) in medicine for decades. This is not a neurotoxin, as is often erroneously reported, but a drug. As is known with all medicines, the dose makes the poison.
The treatment of the frown line is one of the most common areas of injections in the upper third of the face. A very common wish of our patients is to have more kindness conjured back into their face and look a little fresher. The frown line is formed by a total of 3 muscles that form both a horizontal or vertical wrinkle. In whichever direction the frown lines are formed, we always perceive them as negative due to genetics.
The aim of Botox treatment is to prevent the formation of wrinkles and to reduce the existing frown lines by reducing the range of motion of the 3 muscles.
Would you like to have your frown lines injected?
First, Dr. Bartsch will assess whether the wrinkle is static or dynamic and analyze the degree of expression (grade 0-4). For wrinkles caused by dynamics, the cause must be treated. Botulinum toxin leads to a calming of the muscles, this calming leads to less movement and thus to fewer wrinkles. First, the muscle should always be calmed by means of Botox, only then can it be evaluated whether hyaluronic acid can also be injected to fill an existing deep wrinkle.
There are different injection points, which are adapted to the individual expression of the musculature. After a treatment with botulinum toxin, slightly reddened injection points and a small elevation due to the injected liquid are seen for a short time, which disappear after 30 minutes. The treatment of frown lines is performed on an outpatient basis and takes only a few minutes.
The “”t is not immediately visible, unlike fillers. The effect starts about 2-5 days after the treatment and lasts between 3 and 6 months – depending on the region, the amount of Botox used, the individual strength of the muscles and especially the expectations each person has. The curve shown shows why some people feel that the effect is diminishing after 2 months. After 2 months the effect is about 80% and therefore the area is no longer completely blocked.
We recommend to repeat the treatment in intervals of 3-6 months according to personal needs.
What are the risks of an injection in the frown line?
If Botox is injected too much or too deep, it can cause a drooping eyelid or make the face look too petrified. Such undesirable reactions caused by botulinum toxin treatment disappear on their own after a few weeks or months.
Facts about botulinum toxin:
Excessive dilution can result in a lower dose and thus less effect. The duration of effect is often reduced as a result.
Technique is important. Botulinum toxin can only work on the muscle. If half of it has landed in the fatty tissue, the effect cannot last long.
An effect for more than 4-5 months is not realistic – caution is advised with products containing complex proteins, as the effect can diminish with repeated use – we use the pure, active ingredient Bocouture® from Merz.
