What is botulinum toxin?

Botulinum toxin, better known by its commercial name Botox, is a toxic protein secreted by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The main effect of this natural substance, which causes botulism, is to paralyze muscles by blocking the release of neurotransmitters.

Botulinum toxin is best known for its use in aesthetic medicine, in the form of injections. In fact, its paralyzing properties are used to block the muscle contractions that cause expression lines, or dynamic facial wrinkles. It is therefore a highly effective anti-ageing treatment for localized wrinkles.

Other common uses of Botox are the treatment of hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) and the correction of square jaws, thanks to injections in the masseter muscle.

Which areas of the face are most frequently treated with botox?

Botox is mainly used to treat facial expression lines, the most common of which are :

• Horizontal forehead wrinkles
• Frown lines, located between the eyebrows
• Crow’s feet wrinkles, located on the outer corners of the eyes

What these wrinkles have in common is that they are caused by the expressions we most often display, which correspond to the contraction of specific muscles; hence their name. Over time, our expressions end up forming permanent creases on the face, contributing to its aged, tired or severe appearance.

Botox can also be injected into the masseter muscle, to correct an excessively square jaw. Excessive contraction of this muscle gives the jaw a prominent, masculine appearance. This request is generally made by women who wish to soften the contours of their face.

What are the symptoms of a bad botox reaction?

After a Botox injection, patients should avoid lying down for 6 hours, playing sports for 24 hours, and touching their face for 24 hours. If these precautions are not observed, the Botox can diffuse around the treated area, leading to (depending on the area affected): muscle weakness, lowering of the eyebrow, and even difficulty in swallowing or speaking.

Allergic complications are rarer, and manifest themselves through the following symptoms:

• Skin rash
• Fever
• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Flu state

Unfortunately, no test can detect an allergy to botulinum toxin, so you need to be very vigilant and consult your doctor urgently if such symptoms appear.

Why choose Dr Hayot for botox injections?

To achieve a natural result with minimal risk of complications, we strongly recommend choosing an experienced, specialized aesthetic doctor.

Dr Hayot has been performing Botox injections for over 25 years, and his watchword is naturalness. Whatever the reason for your consultation, injections are carried out only after a careful examination of the area to be treated, during your initial consultation.

Dr Hayot is an expert in injection techniques targeting dynamic facial wrinkles and the square jaw. In particular, he has perfected the micro-botox technique, which involves injections into the superficial layers of the skin. This technique presents fewer risks than conventional muscle injections.