BTX
BTX
BTX is an innovative injection therapy that relaxes the muscles under the skin by blocking nerve activity in the muscles. Once injected, it inhibits the contraction of the muscle cells making them less strong, resulting in a more youthful appearance (reduced fine lines and wrinkles) or slimmer jawline (V-shape face).
BTX remains the mainstay of treatment for dynamic wrinkles, the lines that form during facial movement. These commonly include crows feet, frown and forehead lines. Results can last for several months, ensuring that you maintain a fresh, vibrant look.
Treating Individuals, Not Age
Growing in years looks different for everyone. Some women in their 50s might have very few expression lines while someone in their early 20s can have deep expression lines. It is important to get an assessment to determine the best treatment for you.
Look Natural With BTX
One of the biggest misconceptions and concerns surrounding BTX is the fear of a fake-looking frozen face. With BTX, it is important to remember that the results are dose-related. If too much product is put in, expressions will be blunted, and the skin may develop a smooth, shiny appearance. The vast majority of patients want a very natural result, so we put in only what is needed to achieve that. This way, some expression is retained, avoiding that undesirable shiny appearance.
For patients who want a more “rested” look, the dosage is adjusted accordingly.
Things to Consider Before Getting BTX
- First - Your BTX specialist should be a registered medical practitioner. They must be familiar with facial anatomy and procedures associated with injectables. Before you begin the procedure, it’s best to ensure the individual administering injectables has the credentials necessary to properly treat you.
- Second – A BTX procedure only takes a few minutes. Sometimes, a topical anaesthetic is applied to the skin. A fine needle is used to inject BTX into specified muscles of the face to achieve the desired effect. You can expect a very mild discomfort and a wait of about a week for the full effect to manifest. The procedure is bearable even without numbing cream; an ice pack may be applied for better comfort. Before your procedure, you should avoid anti-inflammatory medications and supplements like ibuprofen, Advil, Motrin, Vitamin A, fish oil, flax oil, Vitamin E, Vioxx, and others for at least 2 weeks.
- Third – BTX injections typically follow a pattern of injections strategically placed in 3 to 4 main areas that include the forehead or the area around the eyes. A skilled and experienced doctor may make more injections depending on the desired results and condition of the skin. If any areas bleed after an injection, pressure may be applied to the area.
- Fourth - There are many different brands of BTX available on the market. At VIDASKIN, we only use FDA-Approved brands of BTX which have been clinically tested for safety and efficacy.
Is BTX Safe?
Neurotoxins have been used in hospitals since 1977 and within the medical aesthetics industry for over 20 years. There are 70 countries in which BTX is widely used, and 6 million patients a year have treatment in the USA alone.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) first cleared this particular brand of neurotoxin in 1989, making it the first approved form of wrinkle injection in the world that targets wrinkles and fine lines. These injections are a natural, purified protein that temporarily relax the facial muscles that cause fine lines and wrinkles. This injectable treatment is an established brand name and can treat conditions like hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), a wide jaw, and can even help to slim the calf.
Going Beyond Wrinkles
BTX does not just treat wrinkles, but also helps with jaw slimming, skin lifting, slimming bulky body muscles, excessive sweating and teeth grinding. Wrinkles and fine lines can be identified in two ways: expressive or static. Expressive lines are those which are evident when expressing emotion. Static lines are those which remain evident even when the face is relaxed.
The main areas that are affected by expressive and static lines that may benefit from an anti-wrinkle injection are:
Glabellar – Frown lines
The Glabellar is the area between your brows. Over time, some may find that there are deep lines that become quite prominent. The use of BTX can relax the muscle to stop you from overworking that area and reduce the appearance of that static groove.
Forehead – Horizontal lines
The Frontalis is the main muscle in our forehead and is responsible for the movement of our eyebrows. With repetitive action, we may start to see horizontal lines across the forehead. The use of BTX can relax the muscle to stop you from overworking that area and smoothen out the skin of the forehead.
Crow's Feet
The Orbicularis Oculi is the muscle overlying our eyes. Crow's Feet are lines that occur next to the eyes when we smile due to the contraction of the Orbicularis Oculi. BTX can help to relax the Orbicularis Oculi to soften these lines.
Bunny Lines – Top of the nose
Bunny lines are mostly evident when smiling. They form on the bridge of the nose, near the tear duct of the eye. If in doubt, picture a bunny scrunching up its nose. While it might not be an obvious area to treat, it can be a bugbear for those who do not like the way their smile appears in the mirror and in photos.
Brow – Lifting of the brow area
Surgery is usually the last resort for patients as they wish to get great results without going under the knife, which is completely understandable. BTX can be used as a non-surgical alternative for a brow lift by introducing the solution to key points, relaxing the muscles we use to frown, and lifting the weight that we naturally want to push down.
Jawline – Non-surgical reshaping
If your masseter muscle (the muscle that controls jaw movement) is particularly robust, it can make your jawline rather square. If you desire a slimmer, heart-shaped jaw, BTX is a possible treatment option. This is particularly favoured among women. BTX is also used to treat bruxism (jaw grinding) to relax overactive jaw muscles.
