Botulinum toxin injections in Slavuta

How botulinum toxin works

Botulinum toxin type A blocks the signal from a nerve to a muscle, so the muscle relaxes. The skin above it creases less, and expression lines smooth out. After a few months, the nerve endings recover, the muscle moves normally again and the effect gradually wears off.

People often call the treatment “botox”, after one of the brand names. At Viva Clinic, doctors use botulinum toxin type A products, including Dysport. The doctor chooses the product and the dose at the consultation. Units of different products aren’t interchangeable, so the dose is calculated for the specific product.

Botulinum toxin doesn’t add volume or fill deep folds. That’s what fillers are for, and they’re used in dermal filler treatments.

Botulinum toxin for excessive sweating

Botulinum toxin also blocks the signal to the sweat glands, so it’s used for hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating. The product is injected into the skin of the area that sweats most. People usually consider injections when antiperspirants don’t help and damp palms make it awkward to shake hands or work. For hyperhidrosis, the effect lasts longer than for wrinkles.

Sometimes heavy sweating is a sign of an illness or a side effect of medication. If you sweat all over your body or mostly at night, lose weight for no reason, or have a fever or a racing heart, see an internist or a family doctor first. In that case, the doctor looks for the cause and treats it first.

How the procedure works

First, you come in for a consultation. The cosmetic doctor examines your face at rest and while you make expressions, asks about illnesses and medication and checks for contraindications. Mention it if you take antibiotics or medicines that affect blood clotting, or if you’ve had injections before. It’s best to avoid alcohol the day before, so there’s less bruising.

Before the injections, your skin is cleansed of makeup and treated with an antiseptic. The doctor then injects the product with a very fine needle at a few points. Men may need a higher dose, because their facial muscles are usually stronger. The first changes show after 2–3 days, and the full effect after about 2 weeks. So before a wedding, photo shoot or other event, book at least 2 weeks ahead: by then any bruising will have faded too.

At the Viva Clinic aesthetic medicine center at 16b/3 Kuzovkova St, the injections are done by cosmetic doctors trained in injection cosmetology. This is a paid treatment.

What to avoid after botulinum toxin injections

You can go back to your usual activities right away. On the day of the procedure:

• don’t rub or massage the injection sites, and don’t rub makeup into the area;
• don’t lie down for a few hours;
• put off workouts, saunas, bathhouses and hot baths until the next day.

Plan any facial cleansing, peel or facial massage with your doctor, because you need a break between treatments.

Slight swelling, redness or bruising at the injection sites usually goes away within a few days. Some people get a headache. Rarely, a brow or eyelid droops. This is temporary, but tell the doctor who did the procedure.

Call an ambulance on 103 right away if you have trouble swallowing, speaking or breathing after the injections, your face, tongue or throat swells, or you notice muscle weakness far from the injection sites.