Botulinum toxin injection in Montreal

Its action and indications?

Botulinum toxin blocks the transmission of nerves that activate the expression muscles, such as those around the eyes and between the eyebrows.

This leads to a relaxation effect of these muscles and to a reduction of folds and transitional wrinkles associated with smiling, serious or angry expressions.

Also, the relaxation of these muscles increases the action of the large frontalis muscle of the forehead that is located above the eyebrows. This causes a slight elevation of the eyebrows and a brighter look.

Botulinum toxin has also another unusual indication: abundant sweating. This is a condition that causes severe embarrassment for an individual. It leads to wet clothing in the area of the underarms, often noticeable by other people. Excessive sweating can also be a problem in intimate relationships, possibly causing the partner to be turned off, or the affected person to feel rejected and to lose self-esteem. To use Botulinum toxin in the armpits, the doctor has to locate the exact area responsible for the abnormal sweating. Then, few units of Botulinum toxin are used in each of many spots across the armpits. Some patients need a larger number of Botulinum toxin units than others. As well, the frequency needed for the repeated Botulinum toxin sessions may vary between 3 to 5 months in terms of intervals.

Another interesting area for Botulinum toxin use is the neck. As we age, some of us tend to develop prominent vertical folds on both sides of the midline of the neck, called ‘‘platysma folds’’. These represent the drooping of the tense edges of a large neck muscle called ‘‘Platysma’’, that lies underneath the cervical skin. Injecting these droopy borders of the platysma leads to their relaxation and renders them less visible. Also, injecting the ‘‘plasma’’ muscle in the upper neck, underneath the mandible, can increase the definition and youthful look of this area. This effect is often nicknamed the ‘Nefertiti look’, referring to the superbly attractive Egyptian queen known for her beautiful neck and exotic facial definition and contours.

The other procedures?

Botulinum toxin is very commonly combined with filler injections. The most popular combination is to have Botulinum toxin given around the eyes, and fillers injected in the lips and wrinkles above and below them (the nasolabial folds and the marionette lines).

Botulinum toxin has recently been combined with the latest generation of forehead lifts. There are basically two types of classical forehead lifts (also called ‘brow lifts’): the long-incision coronal approach and the shorter incisions ‘endoscopic’ approach. One of the traditional steps of these two approaches is the removal (resection) of the muscles responsible for the wrinkles in the glabellar region between the brows, mainly the corrugator muscles, the procerus muscle and the supercillii muscles. These muscles are called “brow depressors” because, when they contract, they pull down the brows. Therefore, by removing these muscles during the traditional forehead lift, the brows stay up, thus improving the effect of the forehead lift and fulfilling its goal. However, in some recent modifications of the forehead lift, like the «0.0.3» forehead lift introduced and taught by Dr. Fanous, the depressor muscles are neither cut nor removed. Instead, Botulinum toxin is injected into these muscles before and after the procedure to weaken them. This Botulinum toxin approach to forehead lift has the advantage of avoiding the asymmetrical expressions that may arise as a complication of cutting or ablating these muscles.

Botulinum toxin, as well, is often combined with peels, lasers and facelifts to enhance the rejuvenating effect of these procedures.