Botox (botulinum toxin) in Medellín

Botox is the name almost everyone uses, but Botox® is a brand. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains that the name became the common way to refer to all botulinum toxin products. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), it's a purified substance that comes from a bacterium. It blocks the signal from the nerve to the muscle, so the muscle stops contracting for a while. Your doctor decides which product is used in your case, and at what dose, at your consultation.

It's most often used to soften lines on the forehead, between the brows and around the eyes (crow's feet), the ones that show with your everyday facial expressions. It's also used for teeth grinding (bruxism), excessive sweating and brow shaping. Each area has its own injection points: the ASPS explains that the number of injections depends on your features and how deep your lines are. When she examines you, your doctor decides whether to treat your case with botulinum toxin, and how.

Botulinum toxin works on the muscle, so it's for the lines that show up when you make facial expressions. If what bothers you is something else, a different treatment may be the right one:

• If there's volume loss, deep folds or hollow under-eyes, we look at hyaluronic acid fillers.
• If your skin has lost firmness or there's mild sagging, we consider collagen biostimulators or a thread lift.
• If the issue is extra skin on the eyelid, we evaluate eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty). That one is an operation.

At your consultation, we'll tell you which of these is right for you, or whether a combination is.

According to the Botox® Medication Guide approved by the FDA, it isn't given if you're allergic to any of its ingredients or to another botulinum toxin, or on an area with a skin infection. For cosmetic use, it also isn't recommended for anyone under 18. You also need to tell your doctor if:

• You're pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy.
• You have a disease that affects your nerves and muscles, such as myasthenia gravis.
• You have, or have had, problems with breathing, swallowing or bleeding.
• You've had facial surgery or already have a drooping eyelid.

Every procedure has risks, and this one does too. The ASPS lists these, among others:

• Bruising and pain where the needle went in.
• Redness.
• Headache, nausea or flu-like symptoms.
• Temporary weakness or drooping in part of the face.
• Very unlikely: the toxin spreading beyond the treated area and causing trouble breathing or swallowing, muscle weakness or trouble speaking.

Before you decide, your doctor goes over each one with you.

For your appointment, bring a list of everything you take, including aspirin, blood thinners, vitamins and herbal supplements, as the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends. Also tell us if you've had botulinum toxin before, and which product. Afterward, don't rub or massage the area: according to the ASPS, the toxin could move to another part of your face. Your follow-up visit is 15 days later.

If you notice double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, or trouble swallowing, speaking or breathing, get medical care right away. According to the FDA, these symptoms can appear anywhere from hours to weeks after the injections.