Botox & Hyaluronic: 8 myths and truths

Greek women have proven that they love pampering and cosmetic procedures, and despite the crisis, they have no problem spending.
Botox and the Hyaluronic Acid, were "embraced" warmly from the first moment, however there are women who have not clarified what exactly they need for their beauty.
Let's then see in which cases Botox is used and in which hyaluronic acid is used, as well as the myths that circulate about these two very popular preparations, with the help of Dr. Amalias Tsiatoura, who is a Dermatologist Venereologist, Scientific Director of Cosmetic Derma Medicine.
With botox, expression wrinkles are prevented and treated: forehead, mid-frow, eyes and neck.

On the other hand, hyaluronic acid is the solution for mouth and cheek wrinkles, while at the same time it is used to increase the volume of the lips and cheekbones.
How is the treatment with Botox and how with hyaluronic acid?

In the face, the action of botox is to temporarily and locally inactivate the mimic muscles of the face. It reduces movement in the small muscles, that is, muscles that cause expressions, such as anger, sadness, surprise, wonder, etc. These muscles contract to create wrinkles and that's exactly where botox targets. With botox, in the right dose and right place, these wrinkles are softened, without losing our expressiveness.

Because botox acts locally at the point where it is applied, it can be applied preventively even to young people in whom wrinkles, due to their increased expressiveness, have formed but have not yet settled and become permanent. This technique is known as "baby botox" a technique in which smaller doses of botox are used which has an inhibitory effect on the permanence of wrinkles. On the contrary, in older people, who have already formed deep wrinkles, botox has a lesser effect, as the skin, which now has reduced elasticity, has already "creased" into the wrinkle from the chronic contraction of the mimic muscles. In this case botox cannot perform as satisfactorily as in younger people.

Hyaluronic acid is injected under the skin thus filling the wrinkles of the lips, around the mouth, but also giving volume to the cheekbones and lips. Hyaluronic acid treatment is quick, painless (under local anesthesia) and safe.
How often should each treatment be applied?

Botox is good to be applied about 2-3 times a year (in special cases up to 4 repetitions per year may be needed). It has been established that the most frequent application, before the end of three months, can be perceived by the body's immune system as a booster dose with the appearance of neutralizing antibodies, which is the only case of reduced duration or effectiveness of the substance. The effect of hyaluronic acid treatment lasts from 6 to 18 months from its application.

Myths and truths about Botox

1. TRUTH: botox is derived from botulism toxin, the action of which is responsible for botulism, a serious disease acquired from eating improperly preserved canned and cured meats.
   But it is a big MYTH that the botulinum toxin type A contained in botox in the form of the purified toxin is harmful and dangerous for the human body. Clinical studies conducted over the last 11 years of botox use in cosmetic medicine show that side effects from botox are few and only transient, with the most common being a mild headache and a feeling of heaviness in the forehead after application that subside soon and diminish after repeated applications of the substance to the face.
2. MYTH: Botox can alter and distort facial features or "freeze" expressions. TRUTH: Botox reduces the contraction of the muscles that move the skin, resulting in a softening of fine lines. When the substance is injected at the correct anatomical points and in the correct dose, facial expressions and features are not altered, but are enhanced, as the face appears more rested and refreshed.
   3. TRUTH: duration of action of botox is transient, fully reversible and ranges from 4 to 6 months on average with a slight mobility that can appear as early as the 3rd month. Therefore it should be repeated 2 to 3 times a year. 2. MYTH: after many applications the effectiveness or duration of botox decreases. TRUTH: There is no limit to the number of treatments one can have. On the contrary, according to a study on a large number of patients published in 2011 in the authoritative scientific journal of the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery, the timely and consistent repetition of the treatment every 4-5 months leads to a greater reduction of wrinkles each time, greater satisfaction of the "patients" and longer duration of the effect which in some cases can reach up to 7 months.
3. MYTH: if someone decides for some reason to stop botox treatment the aging process will be accelerated and the image of their face will deteriorate.
   TRUTH: After botox wears off, the face will simply gradually return to its original, pre-treatment state as the muscles begin to move normally again.
4. MYTH: the need for botox treatment is determined by age.
   TRUTH: There are faces with hyperactive muscles and strong expressiveness that need botox already at the age of 20, while sluggish faces may not show expression wrinkles before the age of 30-35. Therefore the condition of the face and not the age determine the need for the application of botox treatment. The only thing that is certain is that early treatment acts preventively on the appearance and establishment of wrinkles and maintains the young face for many years. Its preventive application botox in the 20-30s it is often referred to as "baby botox" and is constantly gaining ground.
5. MYTH: botox is the magic solution that will eliminate wrinkles at any age.
   TRUTH: When wrinkles are severe enough, have settled in and become permanent, or when there is sagging of the skin, botox, in addition to a more relaxed appearance, will not completely erase the wrinkles. In these cases, the combined use of hyaluronic acid will be required. For this reason, botox as a monotherapy is not indicated for ages over 65.
6. TRUTH: the procedure of applying Botox in aesthetic Dermatology is quite simple, short and the person can return to their daily activities immediately afterwards. Of course, this applies when the application is performed by a specialized Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon and in an appropriately equipped clinic, as it is a purely medical treatment.
7. TRUTH: botox is an extremely sensitive substance to high temperatures. Its effect is reduced to improper preservation, improper dissolution of the drug, as well as remaining dissolved for a long time before its use. It is necessary to choose a doctor's office and clinics with experience in the application of many treatments that can certify the authenticity of the medicine. It is also very important for the patient to follow some simple instructions (e.g. avoiding exercise and rubbing the area for three twenty-four hours), so that the duration of action and the effect of botox are optimal.
8. TRUTH: It is true that botox is an expensive drug. Therefore, the cost of treatment is relatively high. The choice of cheap solutions and "offers" is dangerous, as in these cases the origin and quality of the drug is dubious, its dissolution - dilution is not correct and the result will be poor and short-lived at best. When choosing a medical treatment the main criteria should be the experience of the doctor and the safety of the treatment. In non-genuine preparation there are serious and incalculable risks to our health.
   Acropolis from www.onmed.gr