Botulin treatment – wrinkles off

When talking about botulinum toxin, the term “Botox” is often used. However, Botox is actually just one brand name of botulinum toxin. The same compound is sold under other names as well. The term “Botox treatment” refers to botulinum toxin treatments using any brand of botulinum toxin. On the City Clinic website, the term “Botox” refers to all botulinum toxin products.

Botulinum toxin, has revolutionized the treatment of many diseases. For some conditions, botulinum toxin is even the only solution. Botulinum toxin is used to treat various diseases and health conditions, including:

Premature ejaculation
Torticollis
Muscle spasms
Limb stiffness
Teeth grinding
Excessive sweating
Tic disorders
Botulinum toxin has been used to treat diseases for decades. The drug’s aesthetic purposes were discovered in the late 1980s.

Botulinum toxin is a medication, so it has been scientifically researched. Research has been ongoing, and the results have been documented. Clinical trials have provided a wealth of information that can be utilized in both healthcare and aesthetic medicine.

Botulinum toxin is a medication produced in laboratory conditions by purifying the protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Like other medications, when properly dosed and used correctly, botulinum toxin is a very safe substance.

Yes — temporarily. Botulinum toxin reduces or fades wrinkles for a few months. Botulinum injections temporarily paralyze muscles that are “culprits” for skin wrinkles.

Typically, botulinum toxin is used for forehead horizontal wrinkles, forehead worry lines (“Sibelius lines”), and crow’s feet around the eyes. A skilled injector can also use Botox for chin shaping, lifting the corners of the mouth, smoothing vertical upper lip lines, and evening out neck “rings.”

If wrinkles and lines bother you, botulinum treatment may be suitable for you. Occasionally, health conditions may be a contraindication for botulinum treatment. Therefore, the practitioner performing the procedure should be informed of any illnesses or allergies you may have.

Aesthetic botulinum treatments are more commonly performed on women than men. However, botulinum treatment is an excellent option for enhancing a man’s appearance as well. In the United States, botulinum treatments have been performed on over a million men. The clear effectiveness of botulinum and the speed of the treatment appeal to many male patients in Finland as well. At Cityklinikka, approximately one in ten botulinum treatments is performed on a male.

Botulinum is a nerve poison. As with other chemical compounds, the phrase “amount makes the poison” applies to botulinum as well.

What does the phrase “amount makes the poison” mean?
There are many chemical compounds in our bodies and in the environment that are dangerous in large quantities. For example, alcohol is a nerve poison, but it can sometimes be consumed when the amounts remain small. Even water, which is vital for humans, can be toxic if consumed in excess.

Botulinum is also dangerous if it enters the body in large amounts. Therefore, botulinum treatment can only be safely performed by a doctor or a nurse working under a doctor’s supervision. When the amounts are small, there is no risk of poisoning.

Neurological diseases are treated by injecting 20–400 units of botulinum into the human body at a time. A doctor who treats wrinkles typically injects 20–50 units into the muscle.

Only if thousands of units of botulinum are injected into a person’s vein does the substance become toxic. The amount makes botulinum poisonous too.

Botulinum is a medication. However, it is important to remember that Botox is a prescription medication. A doctor knows how to use medications properly. All botulinum treatments should be performed under the supervision of a doctor experienced in botulinum treatments. If a nurse performing botulinum treatment does not have a supervising doctor, the client may not be in safe hands.

It should also be noted that if the injection is not precise, botulinum can temporarily relax adjacent muscles. For example, an injection given to the wrong part of the face can cause temporary drooping of the eyelid.

The result of botulinum treatment typically lasts on the skin for an average of 3–6 months.

If metabolism is slow, the results may be visible for up to a year. On the other hand, if the patient engages in a lot of physical activity, exercise habits may affect the duration of botulinum results. Many sports activities accelerate metabolism for several days. If you want to ensure good durability of botulinum, it is advisable to take a few days off from exercise both before and after botulinum treatment.

If botulinum treatments are done several times, the muscles become accustomed to the resting state, and the treatment result lasts longer than the first time. If treatments are started preventatively, even before the formation of actual wrinkles, wrinkles may not form at all. Preventative treatment for wrinkles is not very common in Finland. Botulinum treatment is sought when existing wrinkles are desired to be eliminated.

Yes and no.

Botulinum treatment visibly smooths wrinkles. Another person who undergoes botulinum treatments may guess that you have had botulinum treatment. After the procedure, your expression appears fresher, more rested, and younger. However, botulinum treatment does not make anyone look “processed” if the procedure is done correctly.

The effectiveness of botulinum gradually diminishes over the following months after the treatment. There is no sudden sagging even if you were to completely stop getting Botox treatments. As botulinum breaks down and exits the tissues, muscle activity returns, and the skin looks the same as before the botulinum treatment.

Micro botulinum, also known as meso botulinum, is a technique developed for the treatment of superficial wrinkles and expression lines, which is also excellent for treating oily skin and reducing enlarged pores. In micro botulinum treatment, a diluted solution of botulinum toxin is often combined with other active ingredients (such as antioxidants, vitamins, or moisturizing agents). The solution is injected under the skin through multiple injections. From the patient’s perspective, micro botulinum treatment resembles mesotherapy.

Micro botulinum treatment differs from traditional Botox treatment mainly in four ways:

Botulinum concentration in the solution – in micro Botox treatment, less botulinum is used than in normal botulinum treatment.
Treatment target – in traditional botulinum treatment, botulinum is injected into the muscle, while in micro botulinum treatment, the focus is mainly on the dermis of the skin.
Injections – in traditional botulinum treatment, the substance is injected into the muscle with a few injections, whereas in micro botulinum treatment, there may be even several dozen injections.
Result – traditional botulinum treatment prevents the treated muscle from moving for 3–6 months, while micro botulinum treatment smooths the skin but does not prevent facial expressions.

The Nefertiti Lift is a new botulinum treatment designed to tighten the neck and jawline. During the procedure, Botox is used to relax the muscles that pull the skin downward. As these muscles relax, the lifting muscles are able to elevate the tissues more effectively. The result is a moderate lifting of the lower face.

Botulinum can be used to slim down the lower face. In the treatment, the substance is injected into the thickest part of the masseter muscles. When the muscles relax, they also shrink. This procedure is beneficial for patients whose masseter muscles are slightly wider than normal. You can feel the muscle yourself by biting your teeth tightly together. If the masseter muscles enlarge and become firm when biting teeth together, this procedure may be appropriate.

In facial slimming, the effectiveness of botulinum treatment starts slightly later than in other botulinum treatments. The result becomes clearly visible only six weeks after the treatment. However, the treatment result also lasts longer than usual, on average 6 to 18 months. The result is usually evaluated three months after the treatment, at which point more Botox may need to be injected into the muscle.

The best results are achieved by performing the treatment 2 to 3 times every three months. Once the desired outcome is achieved, maintaining the results requires 1 to 2 treatment sessions per year.

Botulinum toxin is a prescription medication. Only doctors and nurses under their supervision are allowed to perform botulinum treatments. At Cityklinikka, all doctors and nurses perform botulinum treatments. Nurses always work under the supervision of a doctor.

Since botulinum toxin is a prescription medication, it is subject to pharmaceutical laws and regulations.

All medications have side effects, and botulinum is no exception. However, the side effects of botulinum are minor and temporary. When treating the forehead, 1–5 percent of patients may experience slight drooping of the upper eyelid or eyebrow. This side effect usually resolves within a couple of weeks. Bruising is another known side effect. Some patients are more prone to bruising than others. Bruising can be prevented by starting the use of bruise cream before the procedure day. It is advisable to use bruise cream for at least a week after botulinum treatment.