What is Botox injection?
Marketed under the name Vistabel or Botox, botulinum toxin is a substance with a muscle relaxant effect. Introduced subcutaneously via injections, this product reduces muscle contraction, responsible in the long term for the appearance of certain expression lines (frown lines, forehead wrinkles, crow's feet).
In aesthetic medicine, botulinum toxin injections are recommended for the treatment of wrinkles in the upper part of the face (forehead, inter-brow area, corner of the eyes). By relaxing the muscles, botulinum toxin helps to open up the orbicularis muscle and raise the eyebrow. The result: brighter, younger-looking eyes.
Botulinum toxin injections: practical information
Botulinum toxin is widely used to treat facial aging. This unavoidable phenomenon is completely natural. With age, skin cells renew themselves less rapidly and the body's production of collagen declines. As a result, skin becomes thinner and more fragile, and wrinkles appear. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, stress and lack of sleep can accelerate skin aging.
Unlike facelifts, botulinum toxin injections do not require hospitalization or anesthesia. It is a non-invasive aesthetic medical procedure. Results are comparable to a brow lift, since chemical denervation of the muscle replaces surgical sectioning. However, the effects are limited in time. The product remains in place for an average of 5 to 6 months, depending on the area treated.
For long-lasting results, repeat injections or a facelift should be considered. Clinique du Lac's aesthetic surgeons can advise you and provide you with all the information you need.
Botox injection: objectives and principles
Botox injections can visibly reduce or prevent the appearance of expression lines.
These wrinkles are caused by skin ageing and repetitive movements: frowning, orbicular opening, squinting. Botulinum toxin is injected between the nerve-muscle junction, reducing muscle contraction (muscle relaxant action). The aim is not to make all wrinkles disappear, but to visibly reduce them, for a "youthful glow" effect. Botulinum toxin, unlike hyaluronic acid, is not a dermal filler. However, it is possible to combine the two products for a tenfold anti-wrinkle effect.
The botox surgeon's expertise guarantees a natural result. Treatment must be gradual, to avoid over-correction (a frozen face).
Botulinum toxin injections are also used to treat perspiration.
Injection: a medical procedure performed without surgery
Based on the principle of subcutaneous injection, treatment with botulinum toxin does not require hospitalization for patients. It is an aesthetic medical procedure, not a surgical operation. The absence of surgery facilitates the treatment protocol. The procedure is fast and takes place without anesthesia, on the Clinique du Lac's premises. Once the injections have been completed, the patient can return home and resume his or her daily activities, following a few precautions detailed by the doctor.
Botulinum toxin injection: procedure
Attentive to your needs, the Clinique du Lac's aesthetic surgeons welcome you for an initial consultation.
At this appointment, the specialists draw up a precise diagnosis and define the treatment protocol (number of syringes, areas to be targeted). On D-Day, the patient is taken to the clinic and comfortably reclined for the injection session. No anesthesia is required. A topical anesthetic cream may be applied. Using a very fine needle, the practitioner injects botox into the forehead, around the eyes or between the eyebrows, depending on the areas targeted. The procedure itself takes just a few minutes.
Rates for botulinum toxin injections
A botox injection syringe costs 380 euros. The number of syringes required varies from patient to patient. Depending on the corrective action required for your face and the desired result, Clinique du Lac's specialists in surgery and aesthetic medicine will draw up a personalized estimate.