Botox® Treatment by groisman & laube
The gentle intervention for a smooth skin
Botulinum toxin A – also designated as Botulism toxin or botulin but best known by its brand name Botox® – is a modern and particularly effective method of wrinkle treatment. Botox® consists of the bacterial poison (toxin) botulinum toxin A which is produced by the bacterial strain of clostridium botulinum and is manufactured biotechnologically for medical purposes. The medical doctor J. Kerner has recognized the connection between muscle paralysis and the consumption of spoiled foodstuffs already in 1920 and has called the cause “Wurstgift = sausage poison” [sausage = botulus (lat.)]. The highly effective prescription BTX-A has been approved as an active substance since 2006.
Botox® mode of action
Botulinum toxin A – also designated as Botulism toxin or botulin but best known by its brand name Botox® – is a modern and particularly effective method of wrinkle treatment. Botox® consists of the bacterial poison (toxin) botulinum toxin A which is produced by the bacterial strain of clostridium botulinum and is manufactured biotechnologically for medical purposes. The medical doctor J. Kerner has recognized the connection between muscle paralysis and the consumption of spoiled foodstuffs already in 1920 and has called the cause “Wurstgift = sausage poison” [sausage = botulus (lat.)]. The highly effective prescription BTX-A has been approved as an active substance since 2006.
Range of applications for botulinum toxin A
In our practice here in Frankfurt we are using Botox® primarily for treating wrinkles in the top third of the face. Typical areas of application are wrinkles caused by facial expressions, such as those angry ones on and over the bridge of the nose, concentration and worry wrinkles on the forehead, but also crow’s feet near the eyes. These wrinkles influence the whole facial expression since they may cause the face to look sad, tired or angry. The application of Botox® serves to smooth out wrinkles and contributes essentially to giving your face a lively and relaxed appearance.
Course of the Botox® treatment
First the face is checked thoroughly, simple tests assess elasticity of the skin and inflammatory processes are ruled out. Then the doctor treating you, Dr.Dr Laube, will determine together with you which areas of the face should be injected with botulium toxin. Normally no further diagnostics are required in these cases.
In order to record the condition of the facial skin prior to the intervention a photo documentation is made of the facial area to be treated. The extent of measures to be taken depends on the consistency of the skin and the depth of the existing wrinkles.
The injections are made with extremely thin needles, cause barely any pain and take only a few minutes. If a particularly sensitive patient wants it, a local anesthesizing ointment can be applied to the skin in advance, but in most cases this will not be necessary. Immediately after treatment you have the opportunity to counteract swellings and hematoma by applying a silicone mask that is connected to a cooling apparatus. After the treatment you should not lie down for approximately four hours and on the day of treatment you ought to avoid major physical strain. In this way you are going to prevent an unintended spreading of the injected medication.
If a proper dosage is applied, a masklike appearance is avoided so that the original facial harmony can reappear.
Side effects of the therapy
Generally, a Botox® treatment is well-tolerated. But there may be minor side effects that will, however, quickly regress:
- During the course of the therapy it is possible that the body creates antibodies against botulinum A which may cause a treatment resistance. If this happens, Dr. Dr. Laube will be able to use another toxin preparation as an alternative.
- Overly strong paralysis of the muscles treated may appear as an undesired but reversible effect. But if the treatment is performed by an experienced facial surgeon, this is considered improbable.
- Poisoning is nothing to worry about since the substance is adminstered only in a highly diluted form.
- Minor hemorrhages and hematoma are possible since the injection may occasionaly hit a blood vessel.
- Reddening and swellings may appear at the points of injection but due to follow-up treatment with the cooling mask these can be kept down to a minimum.
- Since the effect of Botox® is not permanent because the body eliminates the toxin gradually there will be no permanent side effects.
Contraindications for botulinum treatments
In the following cases an anti-wrinkle treatment with Botox® is not advisable:
- During pregnancy and breast-feeding
- Allergies against a component of the Botox® solution to be injected
- Inflammations in the facial region to be treated
- Malfunction of blood coagulation
- Pathological disorder of muscle activity
- Intake of Marcumar (blood-thinning medication)
- Intake of certain antibiotics
