Why is Botox not losing ground and patients want to change their face with these injections? There are many reasons for this, one of them is replication. Is the drug as safe as advertised? Let's understand, because he alth must be taken care of. The article details the composition of Botox, as well as other important nuances of the procedure.
Components
What is included in the anti-aging drug? The composition of "Botox" is as follows:
- The active substance is botulinum toxin type A, which is also called hemagglutinin. One bottle of the drug contains 200 or 100 units of action.
- Human serum albumin. Auxiliary substance. There are 1 or 0.5 milligrams for 200 and 100 units.
- Sodium chloride. One vial may contain 1.8 or 0.9 milligrams.
"Botox" is available in the form of a lyophilisate, which is necessary for the preparation of an intramuscular solution.
There is no reason to panic yet, but you are not yetknow the nature of the main substance of the drug. Botulinum toxin is a strong poison. For this reason, there are many contraindications.
Pharmacological properties
But still, it is not enough to know the composition of Botox, you need to understand how it works. The molecule consists of two chains: light and heavy. They connect through a disulfide bond.
In the first stage of action, the toxin molecule binds to the presynaptic membrane. At the second stage, the toxin in a bound form penetrates the cytoplasm of neurons by endocytosis. At the final stage, prolonged chemodenervation can be observed.
Knowing the composition of "Botox", we can assume its therapeutic effect, and it consists in the fact that the muscles relax greatly after the injection. Reinnervation occurs in the denervated muscle. The latter means that lateral processes of nerve endings are formed. The process begins twelve weeks after the injection. This is the best way to restore muscle contraction.
Before you decide on injections, you should understand that the effect is very unstable and regression occurs after some time. At this point, the primary neuromuscular transmission is activated.
Pharmacokinetics
We figured out the composition of Botox, let's move on to the action of the medicine. It starts at the injection site. Studies have been carried out, as a result of which it was confirmed that the reverse axonal transport of the active substance, as well as presynaptic uptake from the injection site, is not very important. If you follow the recommended doses,then the composition of "Botox" for the face will not do harm. A safe drug is being used now.
Antibodies to botulinum toxin are formed not so often - in 1-5%. If Botox is administered in large doses, rest intervals are not observed, then more antibodies are produced. This leads to a decrease in the effectiveness of therapy.
Indications
Fairly obscure medical terms, let's use understandable words. The composition of Botox for the face has become safer, but this does not mean that it can be used thoughtlessly. There are indications for which injections are made, and we will now look into them:
- Deep wrinkles in areas of the face. We are talking about nasolabial folds, frontal lobes. Sharp depressions near the bridge of the nose are also subject to Botox correction, they are also called “rabbit” wrinkles.
- Excessive sweating. Oddly enough, botulinum toxin injections also help with excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis).
- Age-related changes in the face. These include a "leaky" oval, which is corrected through Botox lifting. Often women choose beauty injections instead of a surgical lift and are satisfied.
These are the most common reasons for the introduction of the drug, but few people know that Botox is also used for other problems:
- Hemifacial spasm.
- Blepharospasm.
- Paralytic strabismus or strabismus.
- Cervical dystonia (spastic torticollis).
- Local muscle spasm in cerebral palsy. Appointedchildren over two years of age.
- Focal hand and wrist spasticity in stroke survivors.
Contraindications
The composition of "Botox", a preparation for the face, is quite harmless, however, it can not always be used. Meaning:
- Breastfeeding and pregnancy.
- False paralysis or striated muscle fatigue syndrome.
- You can not conduct sessions during chemotherapy, while taking antibiotics. Cosmetologists do not conduct sessions even if the patient takes vitamins with calcium.
- Exacerbation of herpes.
- Premenstrual, menstrual period. Do not inject two days before the onset of menstruation and during bleeding. If a woman has menopause, then Botox injections will have to be abandoned.
- Hyperopia and myopia.
- With blood diseases or impaired circulation. This includes hemophilia.
- Infectious diseases and inflammation at the injection site.
- Hernias on the lower and upper eyelids.
- Assessed hypersensitivity to facial formulation.
- Botox should not be done with severe gravitational ptosis of facial tissues.
When to use with caution
What is included in Botox for the face, we already know and even noted who should not use injections. This does not mean that there are no options. There are some situations when the use of the drug is possible only after consulting a doctor. We are talking about the following states:
- Severe atrophy or weakness of muscles thatit is supposed to work with a solution.
- Clinical and subclinical signs that neuromuscular transmission is impaired. The category includes Lambert-Eaton syndrome, myasthenia gravis.
- Peripheral motor neuropathic diseases like motor neuropathy or amyotrophic sclerosis.
Dosage and method of administration
The first thing to say is that Botox is restored with only 0.9% sodium chloride solution, which is suitable for injection. The solution is injected very carefully into the vial, while the latter must be gently rotated and in no case shaken. Violent shaking will denature the medication.
If the solution is ready for use, then it has no color, or yellowish. There are no foreign particles in the liquid, but slight scattering can sometimes be observed. The finished product is stored for no more than a day in the refrigerator. Storage temperature should be 2-8 degrees.
What is included in the "Botox" for the face? When a milliliter of solvent is added to the solution, the concentration becomes 10 action units per 0.1 milliliter. It is important to understand that the units of action in different botulinum toxin preparations are not interchangeable.
The solution is injected using an insulin syringe, which does not remove the needle. To make injections without consequences, it is not enough to know just what is included in Botox for the face. It is important to find a specialist who will do everything right. The person to whom you entrust your face must have permission from the manufacturer, as well as take special courses. To inject the solutionsterile conditions are required, and therefore the drug is not suitable for home use.
The doctor selects the dosage and injection sites for each patient personally. The choice depends on where the muscle activity is located. Sometimes electromyography is used to determine the exact location.
When no improvement is observed after the first procedure, a month later, studies are carried out that confirm the effect of the toxin. The reasons for the lack of effectiveness are then established. These may be incorrectly chosen injection points, an incorrect injection technique, or an insufficient dose. The specialist also evaluates how appropriate it is to continue using the drug.
Injections in the frontal area
The composition of the drug "Botox" only, at first glance, seems simple. In fact, the solution requires special storage conditions, as well as administration techniques.
How is the injection done? First, the desired area is thoroughly cleaned. It doesn't matter if there is makeup on the face or not. It is necessary to clean even the skin without makeup, as the face can be oily, dusty or dirty. An alcohol solution is used for processing.
The forehead is conditionally divided into several parts: central, lateral, lower and hairline. First of all, injections are introduced into the central zone. How does this happen? The beautician grabs the skin in the middle of the forehead. As a result, a small fold is obtained, the thickness of which does not exceed 5 millimeters. The needle is inserted until it stops, so that it rests on the bone. As soon as the specialist feels that the needle has reached the bone, he immediately releases the skinand slowly injects the drug.
If after removing the needle from the puncture there is blood, it is stopped with a cotton swab dipped in Chlorhexidine. The next injection point is planned at the same level as the previous one. All actions are repeated. How many injections are required depends on the neglect of the situation and the depth of the wrinkles.
The composition of the drug "Botox" is extremely simple, but the solution has side effects. For example, the formation of a bump at the injection site. This should not be scared, because the drug dissolves on its own.
Where are injections allowed?
We have already figured out what is included in Botox, it's time to talk about where injections are allowed. To begin with, it is important to disassemble the methods of administration. So, injections can be subcutaneous and intramuscular. When is what used?
If the patient has excessive sweating, the drug is injected subcutaneously. The same method is chosen by cosmetologists if the client has small facial wrinkles.
As for intramuscular injections, they are used to correct facial contours or complex nasolabial folds. Botulinum toxin is injected only into the muscle zone of the lower part of the face. The method is also suitable for the correction of deep wrinkles in the area of the superciliary arches or on the bridge of the nose.
Electromyography is used to determine the injection sites. This is what is called a study on muscle responsiveness. In order not to confuse the places, they mark with a felt-tip pen.
If the patient wants a worthwhile result, then it is necessary to find out from the beautician not only which composition is better for Botox, but also which schemethe introduction he plans to adhere to. The latter depends on which zone needs to be corrected:
- To correct longitudinal wrinkles on the forehead, injections are made into the central zone, as well as points that are located at a distance of one and a half centimeters from it.
- Creases on the bridge of the nose are removed by making injections into the side faces. There are no clear recommendations on the distance in this case, the beautician selects it individually
- Speaking of subcutaneous injection, we mean that a centimeter range is taken for injections.
What happens after injections?
The chemical composition of "Botox" causes the imposition of some restrictions after injections. However, this is common to all drugs.
So, what should you limit yourself to:
- Alcohol must be avoided for seven days after the injection, as it reduces the effect of Botox to zero.
- Physical activity is also contraindicated for the first time. This is due to the fact that the solution will spread. First of all, you should give up bending forward and lifting weights.
- Direct sunlight and hot environments should be avoided. If it's windy outside, then you should also take care. The reason for this is the wounds after punctures. They can become inflamed when contaminated with dirt.
- We'll have to give up makeup while the punctures heal.
- When washing, it is also better to refuse additional funds, preferring clean water.
The use of "Botox" in cosmetology has already become a common thing, andbecause some clients do not take the procedure seriously. Perhaps this happens because they do not know what processes occur after the injection. Let's lift the veil a little.
Two days after injection, the drug begins to work. Because of this, the mask effect remains on the face for some time. This happens because the muscles relax. Time will pass and the feeling will become familiar. You can’t get rid of it, because it is precisely due to relaxation that a tightening occurs.
Swelling is often observed among the side effects. It subsides on the fifth day after the injection and does not require any additional measures.
Frequency of procedures
In the instructions for the use of "Botox" it is written that the correction with the drug can be carried out no earlier than two weeks after the first injection. Sometimes it is necessary, because not always a beautician can immediately work out the desired area.
As for full-fledged injections, they are done no more than once every six months. The drug has a cumulative effect. This means that after the next procedure, the toxin is absorbed more and more slowly.
Dynamic wrinkles are corrected first. These include paws around the lips, wrinkles around the eyes and other signs of aging. Injections in these places are allowed to be done every 90 days. Static wrinkles such as nasolabial folds or sagging cheeks should be corrected no more than once every six months.
Effect Duration
We have already talked about the method of using Botox and even found out in which cases one or another is used. But about how long the effect lasts, speechnot yet.
Specialists say that the drug stays on the face for three to six months. This is due to the condition of the skin and, of course, the age of the patient.
So, on the lips and in the corners of the mouth, the toxin will last from four months to a year. Superciliary arches and crow's feet will be smoothed out for six months. Cheekbones and chewing glands will also retain the effect for six months. With nasolabial folds, everything is more complicated, the effect of the toxin can last for two months, or maybe for six months.
Remember that the figures are averaged, they are taken on the basis of the results of the use of "Botox" in cosmetology. How it will be in your case is unknown.
What is forbidden
To maintain the effect of injections, you must follow the rules. Some of them are described above, and we will talk about others now.
It is impossible after the procedure to specifically strain the muscles that have undergone injections. But this does not apply to the time immediately after the procedure. At this moment, on the contrary, you need to grimace with might and main in order for the drug to be better distributed.
Don't take antibiotics as they can deactivate the toxin. By the way, touching the skin and scratching it is also not worth it.
If you want to clean, then you will have to do this only with soft preparations that do not contain abrasive particles. In the first week after the injections, you can not do facial massage.
Consequences of beauty injections
The consequences of using Botox can be very sad if you do not properly care for your face. The toxin can harm the bodygreat harm. What does this mean:
- Displacement of parts of the face. This can happen when piercing the eyebrows. In this case, one eyebrow goes down and the other goes up. This is due to the fact that the drug has spread or the procedure was carried out by an amateur.
- Quincke's edema. This is a very dangerous allergic reaction that can lead to death. Allergy occurs directly to the toxin.
- Mask effect. After the muscles have not worked for a long time, they forget what to do. The face in this case seems lifeless, no emotions are reflected on it.
- Sagging muscles, weakening the natural turgor.
On the Internet you can see photos of the consequences of the use of Botox, which will forever turn away from cosmetic procedures. But you should not be so categorical about injections, because you just need to choose the right cosmetologist. If beauty injections cause strong concerns, then you can use generics.
Analogues
Although the safety of the Botox solution has long been proven, some patients are still afraid to use the drug. For this reason, specialists often use an analogue of the solution. There is an opinion that they are not so harmful. What is considered analogues:
- "Dysport". It is a version of hemagglutinin. It is used not only for the prevention of wrinkles, but also for the treatment of muscle spasms. The drug relaxes the muscles, besides it has a pronounced muscle relaxant effect.
- Relatox. Russian-made drug fromtype A toxin. It costs much less than the original, but is in no way inferior in effect.
- Xeomin. German-made solution, an alternative to Dysport. Muscles do not get used to the drug, and the effect remains for a long time. Because of this, the price of the drug is twice as high as that of the original.
Botox Treatment
Indications for use are wrinkles, but injections should not be done at home. What about those who cannot or do not want to visit a beautician? You can use masks with the effect of botulinum toxin for care. Naturally, there will not be the same effect as injections, but there are no side effects whatsoever.
There is no drug directly in the masks, because when it comes into contact with air, it stops working.
There are some of the most famous brands that women have proven effective:
- "Botox Active Expert". The most famous of all skin care products. She is able to tighten the oval of the face, correct deep wrinkles in the nasolabial folds. The composition of the mask includes sakura honey extract, hyaluronic acid, peanut oil and shea butter.
- Dizao Boto Mask 8. Can be called heavy artillery in the fight against wrinkles. The composition contains tocopherol, petroleum jelly, aloe extract, green tea extract and mineral compounds.
- "Evalar Cream Tsi-Klim bot effect", as well as "Tsi-Klim Botox". It contains a unique peptide argilerin complex. The ingredient can not only moisturize the skin, but also relax the muscles, which is very similar to the effect of Botox. The cream also containshyaluronic acid, D-panthenol, lecithin, rice extract.
- "Nano Botox". The facial serum is enriched with synthetic peptides and silver ions. With the help of the drug, you can get rid of small mimic wrinkles.
- Shary. Korean-made anti-aging elixir contains hyaluronic acid, argireline and a complex of plant extracts.
As a rule, such masks are not very cheap, and therefore you can try to make homemade ones. Of course, the result of using Botox and the mask will be different, but it's still better than nothing.
Folk recipes
A potato starch mask helps with wrinkles. It does not dry out the skin, does not clog pores and contains only natural ingredients.
So, you will need a tablespoon of potato starch. It must be dissolved in one hundred milliliters of water. It is important to mix the starch thoroughly so that no lumps remain. Boil 50 milliliters of water and pour into the starch mixture. Cool the gruel and add chicken yolk to it.
The mask should be applied to the décolleté and face and kept for half an hour. You can make a mask every three days.
The difference between analogues from the original
First of all, generics differ in cost. The same "Dysport" costs twenty dollars per ampoule, while "Botox" is twice as much.
Drug tolerance is also different. Some do not cause an allergic reaction due to the fact that the concentration of "Botox" there is small. The higher the concentration, the more likelyconflict with antibodies.
If "Botox" keeps the effect up to a year and appears about a week after the injection, then the effect of analogues lasts only three months. But visible changes occur the very next day.
To do or not to do beauty injections, everyone decides for himself. We advise you to study all the information about injections and choose a real professional. If you entrust your face to the hands of an amateur, then he alth problems cannot be avoided.
Are you afraid of the consequences? Start with cosmetic masks that give a similar effect. It is possible that it will not come to injections. It is not worth resorting to beauty injections if the skin condition does not require drastic measures. But as an alternative to surgical intervention, Botox is still better. Do not treat injections as a trifle, study different opinions and, if possible, reviews. So you will admire the effect for a long time.
