What is Botulinum Toxin?
The cosmetic form of botulinum toxin is a popular nonsurgical injection that temporarily reduces or eliminates facial fine lines and wrinkles. The most commonly treated areas are frown lines, forehead creases, crow's feet near the eyes. Several other areas have been treated such as thick bands in the neck, thick jaw muscles, lip lines and gummy smiles.
Botulinum toxin is a purified substance that's derived from bacteria. Injections of botulinum toxin block the nerve signals to the muscle in which it was injected. Without a signal, the muscle is not able contract. The end result is diminished unwanted facial wrinkles or appearance. Commonly known types of botulinum toxin type A injections include Botox, Dysport and Xeomin.
Botulinum toxin can be used to
- Smooth crow's feet, forehead furrows, frown lines, lip lines and bunny lines
- Diminish neck bands
- Improve the appearance of skin dimpling of the chin
- Lift the corners of the mouth
- Soften a square jaw line
- Correct a gummy smile
Botulinum Toxin cost
The cost of botulinum toxin injections can vary. The average cost of botulinum toxin injections (e.g., Botox) is AU$10. It is based on a few factors such as how advanced the fine lines and wrinkles are, how aggressively you want to treat the areas of concern and therefore the amount of product used.
Botulinum Toxin Candidates
Smiling, frowning, squinting and even chewing—basically any facial movement—can eventually lead to one of the most common signs of aging – wrinkles. They can make you appear tired or even angry when you are not. One of the quickest and safest remedies to remove wrinkles is an injection of botulinum toxin type A.
Botulinum toxin can be combined with other cosmetic skin procedures—such as chemical peels, laser treatments, dermal fillers or microdermabrasion—to further improve your results. This combination of therapies can even help to prevent the formation of new lines and wrinkles.
Botulinum Toxin Recovery
No anesthesia is required. There is no down time or recovery time for botulinum toxin injections.
You may resume normal activities immediately.
One note of caution: Don't rub or massage the treated areas after the wrinkle treatment because it can cause the botulinum toxin to migrate to another area of your face. If this happens, you could have temporary facial weakness or drooping.
Botulinum Toxin Result
You may notice results within a few days, but it can take up to a week to see the full effect. This improvement typically lasts about three to four months.
When the effects of botulinum toxin begin to fade, your muscle reactions and the wrinkles will return.
