Dermal Fillers

Dermal Fillers & Botox Injections

Wrinkles are a part of ageing process. they can be due to sun damage, excessive muscle contraction due to expression like frowning and laughing. Wrinkling due to frown lines, forehead lines and crow’s feet can be improved by botox. Botox is also used to treat excessive sweating in the armpits and palms.

About the Injection:

Botox is the trade name for highly purified Botulinum toxin Type A, produced by bacteria called Clostridium botulinum. Several types of toxins have been identified, but type A, which is used commercially, is the most potent. Botox injections are the best known of a group of medications that use various forms of botulinum toxin to temporarily paralyze muscle activity. This toxin is produced by the microbe that causes botulism, a type of food poisoning. Botox was the first drug to use botulinum toxin. Other products now include Dysport, Myobloc and Xeomin. Each is a little different, particularly when it comes to dosage units, so they aren’t interchangeable.

Indications:

Botox injections are noted primarily for the ability to reduce the appearance of some facial wrinkles. They are also used to treat such problems as repetitive neck spasms (cervical dystonia), excessive sweating (hyperhydrosis), overactive bladder and lazy eye. Botox injections may also help prevent chronic migraines in some people.

Procedure:

Botox is injected directly into the muscles with a very small needle. Injections are needed at specific side on the area to be treated. For treating excessive sweating in the armpits it is injected directly into the excillary skin. Local discomfort may occur but no sedation or anesthesias are required. Normal activities can be immediately resumed. Injections may be required during the follow up.

Results:

Botox usually takes effect 24-72 hours after injection, with maximum effect at about 1 to 2 weeks. Its effects generally last for approximately 4-6 months. When injected into the muscles that are responsible for expression wrinkles, it gives the face a more relaxed and smoother appearance. Sometimes longer lasting effects (9-12 months) are seen after treatment of excessive sweating. When a gradual fading of treatment effect is noticed you may return to have another treatment.

Contraindications:

Neuromuscular disorder like myasthenia gravis
Patient on muscle relaxants and antibiotics like aminoglycosides
Pregnancy and breast feeding
Bleeding disorder

Dermal Fillers

They are also called soft tissue fillers as they are used for augmenting the soft tissues. They are used for the treatment of firmly established wrinkles and the larger lines (nasolabial folds).

They restore the volume and add structure. You can smooth out finelines, fill the deeper lines (nasolabial folds) and troughs(under the eyes) and effectively augment the facial bony structure.

Many options are available in fillers depending upon how long they last as well as how they feel. Soft fillers(as for the lips) have a shorter duration of effect while the long lasting ones are suited for deep lines and are not felt on touch.

Indications:

Wrinkles due to sun damage
Vertical wrinkles around the mouth
Crow feet around the eyes
Tear trough
Fine wrinkling of the upper eyelids
Certain kind of scars

This kind of resurfacing can be done at any age. Fillers can be done at the same time during the aesthetic surgery such as facelift or eyelid surgery.