Learning from mistakes: reasons why Botox dissolves faster than usual

Botulinum toxin “freezes” the nerve endings and prevents the muscles from contracting - as a result, there are no creases left on the skin, it is smoothed out and remains perfect for a long time. At the same time, modern drugs even allow you to maintain facial expressions. This is why Botox injections have remained on the list of the most popular procedures for so long. But there are questions for them: for example, why Botox doesn’t last for everyone and how often it’s still worth topping it off. Below are errors that shorten the life of the drug.

Alexander Golovkov

dermatologist, aesthetic medicine clinic Aging Control

Side effects

The drug "Dysport" was developed by French scientists as an analogue of "Botox" to effectively combat expression wrinkles. There is 2.5 times less botulinum toxin in it than in the original. Therefore, it has a softer effect. Dysport has a higher diffuseness, which allows you to smooth out not only facial wrinkles, but also small wrinkles adjacent to them. It produces side effects less frequently than Botox, but they are still present.

Most often, after injections of the drug, patients encounter problems caused by the unprofessionalism of the cosmetologist:

• facial asymmetry;
• complete immobility of the forehead;
• drooping eyebrows and/or eyelids;
• unnatural facial expressions;
• difficulties with swallowing and articulation.

This happens when there is an overdose or incorrectly selected drug administration points. And in these situations, the patient does not want to wait several months for the botulinum toxin to come out on its own. He is ready to do everything to regain his previous appearance at least in a couple of weeks.

Features of Botox removal from different parts of the body

The structure, density and physical activity of muscle tissue in different parts of the body are not the same. This affects the rate at which the body cleanses botulinum toxin. The table below shows the average time for Botox to be removed from different areas of the body.

The rate of removal of Botox from different parts of the body is influenced by the patient’s lifestyle. Regular lymphatic drainage massages, the use of cosmetic masks, as well as a high level of physical activity accelerate the process of natural cleansing of tissues from botulinum toxin.

Taking antibiotics

Botulinum toxin is a waste product of a special group of bacteria. Accordingly, it can be denatured using antibiotics. Typically, tetracycline drugs are used for this, which are taken orally.

Only a doctor can determine their dosage and duration of use. This method is not the best, since the tablets seriously put extra strain on the liver and kidneys, but it is quite effective. It allows you to quickly destroy the remaining toxin, and then use other methods to tone the facial muscles.

It is also worth considering that taking this group of drugs quite often causes extremely unpleasant side effects:

• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea;
• destruction of tooth enamel;
• dizziness, weakness;
• increased blood pressure;
• dermatitis and skin itching.

The drugs are photosensitivity; when taking them, you should not sunbathe or stay in direct sunlight for a long time; under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, hyperpigmentation occurs.

Eliminating the consequences of unsuccessful Botox

Side effects require immediate intervention not only from cosmetologists, but also from doctors for the reason that the gel introduced into the lips begins to migrate, gather in lumps, even leads to the formation of bruises on the lips and treacherously interferes with normal facial expressions. It leads to thrombosis of small arteries, inflammation of the lips, their numbness, reduces their sensitivity, and, therefore, urgent restoration of blood circulation and “unloading” of the affected nerve is required.

Unsuccessful contouring occurs for several reasons - the incompetence of the cosmetologist, poor quality of the gel, individual intolerance, a peculiarity of the structure of the lips or a special reaction of the patient’s body.

Restoring the original shape of the lips is an art. It is a mistaken belief that “pumping out” the gel is as simple a procedure as introducing it through the same thin puncture.

To do this, a unique operation is performed in one procedure according to a special scheme. Removing the biopolymer gel as part of this operation is only part of the task. Excess mucous membrane hanging in the area of ​​the upper lip in the form of “curtains” is also eliminated. The biopolymer is removed through an incision on the inside of the lips so as not to damage the vessels and muscles of the lips and not leave a scar on them. After removing the polymer, the operation ends with the creation of a special, subsequently invisible, suture on the inside of the lip. Excess gel is removed not only from the upper lip, but also above it to avoid the “duck mouth” effect.

Unlike biopolymer, modern gel based on hyaluronic acid does not cause much concern, since it is considered not only rejuvenating, but also therapeutic (normalizes metabolism, tones the walls of blood vessels). True, external use of gel with hyaluronic acid unconditionally leads to positive results. It is another matter to use it for internal injections. Hyaluronic acid refers to drugs such as Surgiderm, Restylane, Juvederm 3, Teoseal or Bolotero.

You can get rid of cosmetic filler based on hyaluronic acid using hyaluronidase (longidase), a special enzyme that can remove hyaluron from tissues. The result of injection of hyaluronidase into the problem area can be observed after just a few days.

Getting rid of hyaluronic acid is much easier compared to “eternal” biopolymer gels, since hyaluronic acid is a more natural substance for the body. It is capable of gradually and independently dissolving over some time (6-9 months). To stimulate the non-surgical resorption process, regular injections of enzymes are made, Diprospan, Darsonval are used, or problem areas are exposed to phoresis and microcurrents.

It is useful to know that Botox is contraindicated for pregnant and breastfeeding women, those patients who take antibiotics, people with severe problems with blood clotting, and also if there are any rashes on the lips.

If you want to correct your lips just a little with the help of injection plastic surgery, without getting an asymmetrical “Siberian dumpling”, you should carefully choose a cosmetologist, carefully study the products he uses, just in case, ask how to remove Botox from your lips, and whether this is possible procedure in your region.

But it’s better to understand that it’s not worth subjecting yourself to surgery at a young age because of a momentary desire. Before you inject Botox, remember the old truth - what is natural is not ugly.

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Physiotherapy

This is a fairly comfortable and relatively safe method to quickly remove Dysport from the muscles and the entire body. Moreover, it is absolutely not necessary to go to the salon for expensive procedures. Inexpensive portable devices do the job quite well if you use them regularly.

The essence is to activate metabolic processes in the area where the drug is administered. This can be done using:

• "Darsonval" - a device that has a local irritant effect on the skin with a weak pulsed high-frequency current;
• microcurrents - they stimulate muscle contractions with their subsequent relaxation;
• galvanization - under the influence of direct current after applying a special gel, ions are produced that accelerate intracellular metabolism;
• ultrasound – sound waves of a certain frequency rock cells and activate metabolism;
• fractional laser - a high-intensity light beam divided into thousands of tiny beams creates micro-perforation of the skin, forcing cells to actively regenerate.

In this way, it is possible to eliminate the negative consequences of the introduction of Dysport in just a few procedures.

Why do static wrinkles appear on the forehead?

There are several reasons for the development of static wrinkles in the forehead.
The most common of them are: Age-related changes (natural decrease in the amount of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid in the skin over the years); Passion for tanning (solarium, prolonged exposure to the sun); Aggressive environment (frost, wind, dust); Heredity, individual characteristics of the body; Lifestyle (smoking, lack of sleep, chronic fatigue); Unbalanced diet, adherence to strict diets, frequent hunger strikes; Lack of proper skin care.

Massage

This is the cheapest, simplest and safest way to quickly remove Dysport from the facial muscles and restore their mobility. But you need to do the massage correctly. The standard stroking movements that many are accustomed to will not work. More active manipulations are needed here.

The diagram looks something like this:

• The forehead is freed from hair, securing it with a bandage.
• The face is cleansed of cosmetics and a massage cream or oil is applied (preferably with the addition of essential oils: rosemary, lemon, eucalyptus).
• Stroking movements distribute it well.
• Spiral-shaped massage lines warm up the skin well.
• Then it is intensively tapped and pinched for 2-3 minutes.
• Confident movements with slight pressure along the massage lines accelerate lymph flow.
• By pressing biologically active points (their diagram is easy to find on the Internet) they stimulate metabolism.
• Finally, soothe the skin with soft stroking movements.

Ideally, after this, it is advisable to wash your face and wipe your face with ice cubes. By the way, if you do such a massage at least every other day, then it is quite possible to do without Botox, Dysport and similar drugs for quite a long time.

It is only important to remember that you can start doing it no earlier than 5-7 days after the injection, otherwise it will contribute to the spread of Dysport to neighboring tissues.

When is botulinum toxin eliminated naturally?

The gradual elimination of botulinum toxin from the human body begins immediately after its injection into the muscle tissue area. An immediate reaction of the immune system occurs, the cells of which are active in cleansing tissues from the action of biological poison.

Natural removal of Botox preparations takes at least 3-4 months. depending on which part of the body the injection was given. This is the minimum amount of time it will take for immune system cells to get rid of the properties of botulinum toxin.

Alcohol

The most popular, but rather dangerous way to get rid of Dysport. It is indeed an antagonist of botulinum toxin and promotes its denaturation. But it greatly increases the risk of complications and side effects. Moreover, alcohol works successfully only on the first day after injection of the drug, when the final result of its administration is still difficult to assess.

Why do doctors always warn about the incompatibility of ethyl alcohol and neurotoxin type A? Mainly due to the fact that both of these substances directly affect the central nervous system, and in a depressing way.

If you give an injection while drinking alcohol, you may experience:

• hallucinations;
• deep fainting;
• loss of orientation;
• convulsions;
• double vision;
• articulation disorder;
• nausea and vomiting;
• severe swelling.

In severe cases, breathing may even stop. When alcohol is taken after the introduction of a neurotoxin, the negative reaction of the body is weaker, but it is still present. And first of all it is expressed in signs of general intoxication and intestinal disorders.

Contraindications

The entire rather long list of contraindications to drugs containing botulinum toxin can be divided into two large groups: categorical and relative. The first prohibit the procedure once and for all. The latter allow it to be done some time after certain external or internal factors cease to influence.

Categorical

Strict contraindications mainly include various chronic and systemic diseases. Botox injections are not given for:

• insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus;
• oncological and autoimmune diseases;
• serious endocrine disorders;
• cardiovascular problems;
• high myopia;
• liver and kidney failure;
• hemophilia and other blood diseases;
• pathological fear of syringes;
• epilepsy and severe mental disorders;
• myasthenia gravis (congenital muscle weakness);
• moles and nevi in ​​the injection area;
• age-related muscle ptosis;
• tendency to form keloid scars;
• chronic alcoholism and drug addiction;
• individual intolerance to the drug.

In this case, injections can cause severe side effects and a sharp deterioration in the patient’s condition. Sometimes, passionately wanting to improve their appearance, clients try to hide the presence of serious health problems from the cosmetologist. This should not be done under any circumstances - a good doctor will always suggest an alternative method of rejuvenation that will not harm.

There are also age restrictions. Botox injections are only allowed for medical reasons in patients under 18 years of age. In order to prevent wrinkles, it is recommended to start using it from about 30 years of age.

After sixty, this method should be abandoned - the body’s defenses are reduced and it is extremely undesirable to introduce toxins into it, even in microdoses.

Relative

There are also a number of situations when Botox injections will have to be postponed for a more or less long period. They are not recommended for:

• severely weakened immunity;
• hernias and swelling under the eyes;
• exacerbation of chronic diseases;
• elevated body temperature;
• severe cough and runny nose;
• active viruses and infections;
• violation of the integrity of the skin;
• inflamed or purulent acne;
• recovery after plastic surgery.

Cosmetologists try not to give beauty injections during menstruation. They are not a direct contraindication to Botox for the face, however, the sensitivity of the skin during this period increases and the pain will be much stronger. In addition, the likelihood of hematoma formation and severe swelling after injections increases.

Birth of a child

There is still ongoing debate about whether Botox can be administered during pregnancy. Experts clearly say no. But women continue to assure each other that it is completely safe. This is also taken advantage of by unscrupulous advertisers who insist that the harmful effects of Botox on the fetus or the body of the expectant mother have not been scientifically proven.

Naturally, no one will allow such clinical studies on pregnant women. But such experiments were carried out on animals, and the number of miscarriages and babies with congenital defects in the group exposed to Botox injections was significantly higher than in the control group. Would you risk experimenting on yourself and your unborn child?

When planning a pregnancy, doctors recommend stopping all injection procedures three months before stopping contraceptives. At the very least, within a month! And you can return to such procedures six months after giving birth or two months after stopping breastfeeding, if it lasted longer.

Summing up

Conclusions that Dysport was introduced unsuccessfully should be made no earlier than 10-14 days after the procedure. During this time, up to 90% of negative reactions and side effects disappear almost completely on their own. And the patient himself has time to get used to the slightly changed facial expressions.

But if he still decides to remove its remains from the body using any of the methods listed above, it is advisable to first contact a specialist and not do anything on his own. After examination, he will assess the condition of the skin and muscles and tell you how best to act in each specific case. Incorrectly carried out correction can only aggravate the situation.

Reduce effect

If the patient does not urgently need to remove Botox, but the effect of the session is perceived as excessive, you can do without salon procedures and the use of medications .

It is enough to increase physical activity:

• start the day with exercise;
• sign up for strength and cardio training at the gym;
• visit a bathhouse or sauna (once a week for a month is enough).

These measures will increase blood circulation in tissues and lymph, which, in turn, will help to more quickly reduce the effect of Botox. Additionally, it will be useful to use enterosgel in a dosage of 1 teaspoon in the morning and evening, an hour before meals or an hour after it. This drug has the ability to bind and remove toxins and foreign substances from the body, moreover, it has no contraindications.

You can learn how Botox is done in the neck, face, armpits, lips, forehead, nasolabial folds, as well as for the eyes and eyebrows.