What is Botulinum Toxin (Botox®)?
Botox® is actually a trade name for Botulinum Toxin type ‘A’ a medically prescribed substance injected into the skin which is known to inhibit muscle movement, and that can prevent facial wrinkles from developing or worsening. You might be surprised to learn there are seven main types of botulinum toxin, named type A–G! All of them have the same mechanism of action, although the ones we are going to talk about Type ‘A’ and ‘B’ are used for medical and cosmetic purposes. Not all facial wrinkles are alike and therefore there should not be a one size fits all approach to treating them.
The Difference between Dynamic Wrinkles and Static Wrinkles
Dynamic wrinkles are formed by facial movements, like squinting, smiling and furrowing of the brow. An example of a dynamic facial wrinkle would be the commonly referred to “crow’s feet” which can be caused by years of squinting at the sun. These types of repetitive movements cause the skin in that area to stretch. When we’re young, the collagen and elastin in our skin helps it to return easily to its original state. As we get older, the skin’s ability to bounce back becomes less.
Static wrinkles, however, remain on the face even after our facial muscles relax. An examples of static wrinkles include lines across the cheeks, and along the neck. Static wrinkles form once the skin begins to lose elasticity with age, inevitably the lines that nearly everyone gets. They are formed regardless of your muscle actions, though taking good care of your skin is always recommended. Laugh lines, marionette lines and the nasolabial folds are types of static wrinkles. Dynamic wrinkles can also become static ones.
As you age, collagen production declines and causes the skin to lose elasticity. As a result, dynamic wrinkles, such as smile lines around the nose and mouth will eventually become static wrinkles. Fine lines and wrinkles can be further emphasized by genetics, smoking, and a poor diet.
Botulinum Toxin Type ‘A’ and ‘B’
Types ‘A’ and ‘B’ are the most common ones and are used commercially for medical and cosmetic purposes to mostly treat Dynamic wrinkles. Botulinum toxin is also used to treat disorders of hyperactive nerves including excessive sweating, chronic migraine headache and some allergy symptoms.
Botulinum toxin A (Botox®, Azzalure®, Dysport®) is approved for cosmetic use and botulinum toxin B (Myobloc®) is used mainly for different types of muscle conditions. Both treatments can be used for non-surgical cosmetic procedures to reduce or eliminate frown lines and wrinkles and have very much the same effect, although the clinical effect of Myobloc® is shorter than Botox®. Myobloc® exhibits a faster onset of action and produces a greater area of diffusion than type Botox®.
Resistance to Botox®
The botulinum toxin that some Doctors might prescribe is Myoblock®, this is toxin – type B, it’s available for those who may have developed an immune response to Botox® that may reduce the effectiveness of treatment, in the rare event when Botox injections result in the development of antibodies. If you feel that you may have a resistance to treatments, I would first recommend speaking with your Cosmetic Doctor, they might like me, reccomemnd switching brands for a short period of time before exploring alternative treatments. Overall, there is no clinical evidence to support or contest the preferential use of one form of botulinum toxin over the other. In the U.S Botulinum toxin type B (Myobloc®) has not yet been FDA-approved for cosmetic use.
If you are thinking about a treatment for facial rejuvenation to treat dynamic or static wrinkles, a tailored approach to treating the whole face is recommended, Injectable dermal fillers, such as JUVÉDERM™ products and Teosyal® are used for addressing static wrinkles around the mouth, lip lines, and other facial lines. Depending on the product chosen, these treatments can help hydrate your face and stimulate natural collagen production to promote a healthier-looking and smoother complexion.
A Complimentary virtual consultation is available to ease and answer your questions and explain about the injectables that we use to create amazing natural results. If you would like a complimentary Aesthetics consultation to discuss treatment strategies you can book here
ABOUT BOTOX® CHELSEA,LONDON
Botox® is one of the most popular non surgical cosmetic treatments available in Chelsea, London. This prescription medication is administered to over 7 million individuals in more than 70 countries. The treatment applications for Botox are wide ranging, Dr Pamela Benito offers her patients some of the best BOTOX® treatments London has to offer, she typically uses Botox to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles on the forehead, between the brows, and around the eyes. Botox® treatments are carried out in Dr Pamela Benito’s private Cosmetic Clinic in Chelsea.
