Botox injections for aesthetic uses

Procedure steps

Dr. Petit will begin with questioning your medical histories in order to eliminate one of the following contraindications to Botox:

• A neuromuscular transmission disease (myasthenia, Lambert- Eaton syndrome).
• A known hypersensitivity to botulinum toxin.
• A pregnancy or a current breastfeeding.
• Taking some medicines: aminoglycosides, ciclosporin, antirheumatic medicines (D-penicillamine, tiopronin), anticoagulant medicines.
• Coagulation disorders.

He will listen to you in order to understand your discomfort and your requests relating to our face.

He will carry out a clinical examination of your face at rest in order to evaluate your wrinkles, and to note possible asymmetries relating to the eyebrow positions, the opening of the palpebral fissures, the position of the external canthi (corners of the eyes) and of the labial commissures. Then, he will carry out a dynamic clinical examination of your face during the conversation (spontaneous mobilization) and during the forced contraction of the muscles of facial expressions, in order to visualize your expression wrinkles and to evaluate the strength and the position of your muscles. This accurate analysis of your face is essential to suggest a “tailor-made” treatment adapted to your functional anatomy.

• Dr. Petit will give you information on possible actions in the face area and on main injection risks, so as to make an informed decision.

Good candidates for botox injections are those wishing

• To treat their expression wrinkles:

In the upper third of the face: the horizontal wrinkles in the forehead, the vertical and horizontal glabellar wrinkles between the 2 eyebrows, and the oblique crow’s feet wrinkles in the external corners of the eyes.
In the middle third of the face: the lateral wrinkles of the nose (“Bunny Lines”).
In the lower third of the face: the vertical little wrinkles in the upper lip region.

• To raise their eyebrows.
• To treat a gingival smile (upper gum too visible when smiling).
• To elevate their labial commissures (corner of the mouth).
• To treat their platysmal bands (in the neck area).

Recommandations before botox injections

• 3 days before the injections: Discontinuation of medicines which increase bleeding: (aspirin, anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant medicines) in order to reduce the occurrence of ecchymosis, which can lead up to the diffusion of toxins within the risk areas and complications.
• 1 hour before the injections: it is possible to apply « Emla » cream to your skin without makeup in the injection areas planned, in order to reduce pain relating to the injections.

What to expect after botox injections

A redness of the skin, ecchymosis (bruise), an oedema (swelling), the fast occurrence of headache constitutes possible adverse reactions after Botox injections. The latter are usually moderate and resolvent within a few hours to a few days.

In the first hours following the injections, it is recommended not to lie down.
In the first days, you will have to avoid facial trauma, excessive massages or facial manipulations, which may facilitate the non-desirable diffusion of the toxin in the risk areas.

The discontinuation of medicines which increase bleeding: (aspirin, anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant medicines) is also advocated.

A socio-professional eviction is not necessary.

Risks after botox injections

The complications of Botox injections are rare.

Local and general complications can be distinguished.

Local complications

The local complications are mainly due to the diffusion of the botulinum toxin at a distance from the injected area. They are transient owing to the action reversibility of the botulinum toxin (lowering of the eyebrow, palpebral ptosis, diplopia, dry eyes, ectropion). They are avoided by good injection practices but also by your compliance of the recommendations before and after Botox injections.

General complications

The general complications are exceptional (allergic reactions, nausea, dizziness, flu syndrome).

Result in the short term and in the long term

The beginning of action of the Botox depends from one patient to another (a few days on average). Its efficiency is fully installed at the end of 10 days. At this stage, you will have another consultation with Dr. Petit to assess the result and if necessary, he will perform a possible additional injection in order to harmonize it.

The duration of action of the Botox is from 3 to 6 months.

The sessions of Botox injections do not have to be repeated before a minimum period of 3 months, in order to prevent the occurrence of a resistance to the product.

The Botox injections for aesthetic uses are a reliable technique enabling an aesthetic enhancement in the short term and preventing the ageing in the long term.