The repetitive or sustained movement of the muscles of the face ends up leaving a definitive mark in the form of wrinkles and furrows on the skin. This type of wrinkle is especially common in women and men with a lot of facial expressiveness or who tend to maintain a tense base tone in their expression. The wrinkles that appear most frequently due to these reasons are those that are located horizontally on the forehead, vertically between the eyebrows and radial at the outer corner of the eyes (‘crow’s feet’). This type of wrinkle can be superficial and appear only at the time of contraction of the muscles, or deep and constant even if the facial expression is not modified.
To treat these wrinkles and furrows, it is especially effective to relax the muscles through the use of botulinum toxin. This molecule allows the contraction of some selected facial muscles to be less intense and, therefore, wrinkles secondary to excess expression to disappear or decrease. The effects of botulinum toxin are perceptible after 24 hours, and optimal 15 days after treatment. Its duration varies between patients, with an average of about 6 months being accepted.
If the application of botulinum toxin is precise and meticulous, very positive results can be obtained with a very natural result, having discreetly eliminated wrinkles without modifying the expression of the face.
→ Botulinum toxin is approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration, USA) for the treatment of facial wrinkles due to its quality and safety profile.
Bibliographic references
Cartee TV, Monheit GD. An overview of botulinum toxins: past, present, and future. Clin Plast Surg. 2011 Jul; 38(3):409-26, vi.
Feily A, Fallahi H, Zandian D, Kalantar H. A succinct review of botulinum toxin in dermatology; update of cosmetic and noncosmetic use. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2011 Mar; 10(1):58-67.