Botox, a drug from Allergan, is actively used in cosmetology and clinical neurology. Currently, Botox is used to combat facial wrinkles. In this area, the drug has become so popular that it is now considered a household name. With the light hand of consumers, most analogue drugs are also called Botox. But this is fundamentally wrong and in the circle of professional cosmetologists is considered a gross mistake. In the article, we will take a closer look at the Allergan company's tool - Botox. Instructions for use, manufacturer, features and contraindications are presented below.
General information about the manufacturer
The American company "Allergan", which is now known throughout the world, was established back in 1948. And initially, its activities were aimed at the development of antihistamines for the successful fight against various allergic reactions. Now the company's activitiesvery diverse:
- Preparations for the treatment and care of delicate skin around the eyes.
- Remedies for urological problems.
- Products for the elimination of various skin defects.
- Drugs for effective weight loss.
- Various developments in the field of cosmetology and aesthetic medicine.
So, the country of origin of Botox from Allergan is the United States of America. And first of all it is used for aesthetic purposes. Although for medical reasons it can also be used if needed.
In the Russian Federation, the product is approved by the Ministry of He alth and is used to remove wrinkles (superciliary and interbrow), and it has also shown itself effectively in the treatment of muscle spasms.
Composition of the product
Having briefly reviewed the description of the drug from "Allergan" "Botox", let's dwell on the composition of the product. It contains only three main components:
- Sodium chloride.
- Botulinum toxin type A complex.
- Human plasma albumin.
"Botox" from "Allergan" (manufacturer - USA) is of several types, and they are all designed for different purposes. As for cosmetology, in this case, Botox Cosmetic is used to eliminate wrinkles. The active substance of this drug is onabotulinum toxin A. The peculiarity of this substance is that when the drug is injected into the muscle, it immediately loses its tone and relaxes. After a while, it completely stops contracting, even if a person consciously tries to strain it.
Mechanism of action
So, we have considered the drug of the company "Allergan" - "Botox" (the country of origin, a brief description and composition are indicated above). Let's take a closer look at how it works. The main result of Botox is the smoothing, disappearance of mimic wrinkles that appear due to frequent involuntary or voluntary muscle contraction. Under the action of the drug, the muscles relax, stop tightening the skin, so it smoothes out.
Elimination of wrinkles - this is what Botox from Allergan is used for in the first place. But without side effects, albeit the most harmless, can not do. In the case of fighting mimic wrinkles, a side effect is the inability to contract the recently "chipped" muscles. It would seem that ordinary emotions, but they manifest themselves a little unnaturally, because it is difficult for a person to completely control his facial expressions. But since not all muscles are chipped in a row, some mobility is preserved. It all depends on the professionalism of the master who will carry out the procedure. The better the work is done, the less side effects will be noticeable.
Now let's take a closer look at when Botox from Allergan begins to act. Usually the effect is observed approximately on the fourth day after injections. But for everyone the result comes individually. For some, it may be the next day, while for others, on the contrary, the desired effect occurs after 10 days.
It should be noted that the action of "Botox" is not permanent, it has a time limit. ATOn average, the effect lasts for 3-4 months. Scientific studies have shown that it is during this time that all nerve endings deactivated by injection are replaced by new ones.
Indications for the use of the remedy
So, we have reviewed a detailed description of the drug "Botox" from "Allergan", its composition and mechanism of action.
For cosmetology and medical therapy, the indications of the drug are slightly different. Let's take a look at cosmetics first. In this area, Botox is used when:
- Due to constant voluntary or involuntary muscle contraction, deep wrinkles appear on the face and neck. Most often, this tool is used to combat wrinkles on the forehead, bridge of the nose, eyebrows, as well as to eliminate "crow's feet" near the eyes and "rabbit lines" on the nose.
- After healing of deep wounds, unattractive scars remain - in this case, Botox does a great job and eliminates traces of injuries.
- There are various defects in large skeletal muscles. These include too prominent and massive looking muscles, as well as protruding muscle fibers.
Wrinkles that appear due to age, due to the drying of the skin, are not an indication for the use of Botox. In this case, hyaluronic acid comes to the rescue. But to find out the true cause of wrinkles, you need to see a professional doctor.
As for therapeutic practice, in this case Botox is used in the following conditions:
- Tonic blepharospasm - closing of the eyelid due to the fact that the circular muscle of the eye is constantly tense.
- Hemifacial spasm - various spasms of any facial muscles.
- Cervical dystonia - spasms of the neck and shoulders that cause changes in posture, constantly raised shoulders, and head tilt to the side.
- Chronic migraine.
- Adult urinary incontinence caused by overactive bladder detrusor syndrome.
- Syndrome of "horse foot" in babies with cerebral palsy.
- Spasms of hands and wrists in people who have had a stroke.
But botulinum therapy in this case helps to cope only with the symptoms, and does not affect the cause of the pathology.
Contraindications to the use of the drug
We reviewed Botox from Allergan: description, properties, composition and indications. But this is not a harmless tool that everyone can use. Therefore, we will dwell in more detail on contraindications. Many of them are determined using the principle of excessive safety net, and many cosmetologists refute their manifestation in practice. But nevertheless, there is a list of contraindications, which is confirmed in practice and which must be strictly observed.
Among them:
- Allergic reactions to egg white, because Botox contains albumin protein.
- Pregnancy.
- Skin infections where the drug is planned to be injected.
- Age up to 2 years. Previously, "Botox" was banned for practice in pediatrics, but the drug has successfully shown itself in the treatment of children with cerebral palsy,therefore, from the age of two, it is approved for use.
In addition, patients who are taking aminoglycosides, macrolide antibiotics in parallel, should be discontinued or reduced in number. These funds increase the effect of Botox, and it is impossible to predict the consequences of such an increase.
Instructions for use
Next, let's take a closer look at the Botox instructions from Allergan: the procedure for injections and proper preparation for the procedure.
The first injections of Botox can be carried out already at the first appointment with a beautician. The main thing is that before botulinum therapy, it is necessary to accurately find out the causes of the occurrence of certain wrinkles. Then it is very important to develop a scheme for the administration of the drug and plan its consumption.
In addition, it is very important to choose a professional cosmetologist to avoid unpleasant consequences, such as "Mephistopheles' eyebrows", "dull face" and many other unpleasant phenomena that cannot be eliminated in a short time. Botulinum therapy requires a highly qualified cosmetologist, as only he understands the anatomy of the face and determines exactly which muscles to inject into.
In a professional salon, the patient must be told about all the possible consequences and give consent to the use of Botox to sign.
As for the procedure itself, the patient must be seated in a chair. So it will be more convenient for the doctor to adjust and control the height of the head and the angleher tilt.
Botox solution is diluted from the powder with the help of normal saline. The amount of powder depends on the specific procedure, and in each case, the doctor individually selects the dosage.
After diluting the powder, the beautician draws the resulting solution into a syringe. The skin of the patient's face is treated with a freezing gel or a special anesthetic is used for local anesthesia.
Then begin to gradually inject the drug into the muscles. The injection site should be lightly pressed with a finger. In some muscles, you can enter the drug several times during the entire procedure. The amount of the drug injected into the muscle depends on many factors: the strength of muscle contraction, the severity of wrinkles, the proportion of dilution of the drug.
After the procedure, the skin of the face should be wiped with a damp cotton swab. Within a few minutes, the cosmetologist observes the condition of the client. If there are no allergic reactions, then the procedure can be completed. All this lasts from 10 to 40 minutes.
After injections, barely noticeable red dots remain on the skin. They disappear, as a rule, a day after the procedure. The first 3-4 days after botulinum therapy, you need to carefully monitor your condition, and at the first sign of side effects, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Side effects
Next, let's take a closer look at the side effects of botulinum toxin therapy and talk about how to respond to them.
All side effects of "Botox" are divided into systemic andlocal. The latter include various disorders in facial expressions and the condition of those muscles that were injected. These changes in the muscles can negatively affect the patient's appearance and even some bodily functions.
Some of these side effects include:
- Swelling of the face.
- Raising the corners of the eyebrows.
- Distortion of facial features. In addition, symmetry is distorted when any emotion is shown, such as when smiling.
- Blepharoptosis (drooping eyelid). Sometimes it is possible to completely close the eye.
- Inability to swallow (dysphagia).
- Reducing the frequency of blinking the eye. Sometimes this can cause the cornea to dry out. Then it is necessary to drip moisturizing drops into the eyes.
- Paralysis of treated muscles. Most often, such a consequence occurs due to doctor's mistakes, but a correctly performed procedure does not guarantee that there will be no paralysis.
- Violation and deterioration of the jaw muscles. This can cause problems with eating and speaking.
Today, there are specially designed drugs that can correct side effects after botulinum therapy. But the best prevention of such unpleasant phenomena is still considered to be the high professionalism of the doctor, the absence of errors during the procedure and the beautician's good knowledge of the anatomy of the facial muscles.
As for systemic side effects, they include:
- Headache after injections.
- Flu-like and respiratory syndrome.
- Allergic reaction.
- Nausea.
Such symptoms are extremely rare, but they do occur. Therefore, a professional cosmetologist should warn the patient about them in advance. Headache and allergies may occur during the procedure. Moreover, allergic reactions develop extremely quickly, and therefore the doctor should always have adrenaline on hand to prevent possible dangerous consequences.
The rest of the side effects, if they do occur, then disappear on their own after three to four days. Despite everything described above, the drug "Botox ("Allergan") reviews of cosmetologists is mostly positive.
Price issue
Botox can now be found on the free market. It can be purchased at cosmetic stores, pharmacies, online stores. The cost of one bottle is about 12 thousand rubles. But at the same time, an independent purchase of this tool cannot be called expedient. After all, injections should still be done by a qualified doctor. And in special clinics and salons, purchases are made at wholesale prices and in large quantities.
In addition, one should take into account the fact that one patient is not injected with a whole vial, but only a part of the drug. Therefore, the cost of the procedure compared to the price of a whole bottle is quite low. For example, the elimination of "crow's feet" in the corners of the eyes costs about 5-7 thousand rubles.
How to avoid counterfeiting?
Branches of the Allergan company are located in different countries. To the Russian and European markets "Botox"produced in Ireland. In addition, production facilities are located in California and Turkey. But about the latter country, it is not known for sure whether Botox is produced there, because the company is also engaged in the manufacture of other pharmaceuticals.
It is strongly not recommended to buy cheap Botox, because in this case the risk of getting a fake increases significantly. Moreover, not all clinics agree to perform the procedure on patients with their own drug.
Injecting yourself to save money is strictly prohibited. There is a high risk of damage to nerves and blood vessels, and it is even possible for the drug to enter the bloodstream and develop botulism. Therefore, it is necessary to contact a specialized clinic, where a professional cosmetologist, having studied the anatomy of the face, knowing the instructions for the use of Botox and the specifics of the administration of the drug, will make injections.
Reviews
Despite the possible side effects, "Botox" ("Allergan") reviews are mostly positive. The effect after the procedure is quite fast. An increasing number of women decide to remove unpleasant wrinkles, so the procedure is rapidly gaining popularity. The main thing is to follow all the rules before, during and after botulinum therapy.
