While we’re young and collagen is plentiful, our facial gestures disappear quickly after each muscle shift.
But as we grow older, the skin’s return to a neutral state becomes slower.
Eventually, the repeated gestures we make as we frown, squint or laugh remain visible even when we aren’t doing these things.

We tend to call the grooves left behind “wrinkles”, even though wrinkles appear in several different ways and for different reasons.
To help the skin retain its elasticity and bounce back after a gesture that leaves this particular type of wrinkle, it helps ease the intensity of the muscle contraction that causes the gesture in the first place.

That’s how botulinum toxin type A, or Dysport, helps restore the youthful appearance of the skin.
Not to be confused with dermabrasion, exfoliation, or any other treatment of the skin itself, botulinum toxin type A relaxes and softens the gestures which, over time, deepen the grooves in the skin’s surface. This softening effect smooths the wrinkles that appear around the eyes, forehead and mouth, and can actually prevent these areas from developing deep wrinkles from the start.

Is Botulinum Toxin Dangerous?

The injection of botulinum toxin type A into the facial muscles using a very fine needle is neither new nor invasive.
-The procedure is FDA approved, nearly painless, and nearly risk free. Most of those who pursue this simple procedure step in and out of the clinic very quickly and start seeing results within ten days.

As with any procedure we discuss at AALI, botulinum toxin type A injections should always be performed by a licensed provider in a clinical setting.
Talk to your provider first if you’re taking any sleep aids, allergy medications or muscle relaxers, and let your doctor know if you’re allergic to cow’s milk.
If you experience any negative side effects or complications after the procedure, including breathing issues, trouble speaking or swallowing, bruising or swelling at the injection site, or headaches, contact your provider right away.

Each set of injections creates results that last for about four months. At that point, patients can decide whether to return for repeated treatments.
This simple procedure is often paired with an injection of dermal fillers, which we’ll discuss in a future blog.

Could botulium toxin type A be right for you? Contact our clinic to find out!