Botox in geneva
What is botox?
Botox, the commercial name for the active ingredient botulinum toxin, is the most widely used aesthetic treatment in the world.
Initially used for medical indications (neurology, ophthalmology….), botox is now widely used in medicine and cosmetic surgery.
This substance, which comes in powder form, temporarily reduces the contraction of the targeted muscles.
How does botox work?
In the face, the muscles are intimately linked to the skin. Each time the muscle contracts, the skin follows. This causes wrinkles to appear, first dynamically (expression lines), then statically (rest lines).
Botox works by preventing the release of acetylcholine, the signal needed for muscle contraction, at the nerve endings. The muscle can no longer contract, the skin relaxes and wrinkles disappear.
Its action is both aesthetic and functional :
♦ Treatment of expression and rest lines caused by muscle contraction.
♦ Treatment of hyperhidrosis.
♦ Repositioning of anatomical structures: nose tip lift, eyebrow lift, etc.
♦ Medical treatments in the field of neurologists and ophthalmologists: spastic paralysis, blepharospasm, etc.
Does botox give a frozen or natural appearance?
Botox injections can give a natural result or freeze the person, depending on the patient’s wishes and the medical technique used.
Some patients prefer to be completely frozen, American-style, although a natural result is the most popular.
On the doctor’s side, errors can be made at the time of injection in terms of diluting the product, locating the points injected and the quantities used for each point. This lack of technical mastery is responsible for:
♦ a frozen appearance.
♦ excessive blocking of expressions.
♦ diffusion of the product with multiple consequences: blocking of the smile, drooping of the eyebrows, drooping of the eyelids, etc.
What is the difference between botox and hyaluronic acid ?
Hyaluronic acid is a gel used to fill hollows, add volume or lift the skin. It has no effect on the muscles, which continue to contract after the injection. The result is immediate.
Botox is a powder that is reconstituted with physiological serum so that it can be injected. Botulinum toxin can only correct wrinkles caused by muscle contraction.
The result begins to be visible two days after the injection and is maximum seven days later.
For wrinkles caused by muscle contraction, the first-line treatment is botox. If the wrinkle persists, hyaluronic acid can be injected to make it disappear.
At what age should botox injections be started ?
It all depends on the problem to be treated. Excessive sweating, for example, can be treated even at the age of 18.
The laboratory advises against using botox before the age of 18 and after the age of 65.
In the field of aesthetics, the indication is the appearance of static wrinkles. The age at which wrinkles appear varies from person to person and is linked to the individual’s expressiveness.
If we intervene too late, the skin will show breaks that can be improved but not erased.
The best indication for botox is prevention. You shouldn’t wait for wrinkles to appear, but intervene before they do.
The botox boom: botox in figures
Botox is the most widely used aesthetic medical treatment in the world. In second place are hyaluronic acid injections and in third place laser hair removal.
In 2012 in the USA, almost 3.3 million people received it: 2.9 million women and 340,000 men.
In Europe, the annual growth rate was 8.9% over the period 2019-2025..
When should botox injections be used ?
Horizontal wrinkles on the forehead must be treated naturally so as not to freeze the patient.
This treatment is only effective if the masseter muscle is strong. A wide jaw due to an imposing bone structure is not an indication.
The eyebrows are lifted by blocking the two lowering muscles of the eyebrow, which are also responsible for the frown lines and crow’s feet.
The tip of the nose is lifted by injecting botox into the lowering muscle of the nasal septum.
Botox procedure
The face is analysed at rest and with expressions. The examination is important for identifying muscle balances, spotting any asymmetries and identifying certain technical adjustments to be made according to the patient’s anatomy.
There are different brands of botox. I use Azzalure from the Galderma laboratory, a toxin which, according to studies, has the longest shelf life.
The principle of the treatment is muscle blocking: we don’t inject the wrinkle but the muscle. Precise points adapted to the patient’s anatomy are injected.
The injection is rapid. A very fine needle is used. No anaesthetic is required, the injection is virtually painless, and the product contains no anaesthetic (unlike hyaluronic acid). A warming sensation is felt when it is administered.
Botox aftercare
Patients are made aware of the importance of following certain instructions in order to avoid complications.
We recommend:
♦ On the day of the injection: avoid touching the injected points, shampoo, tilting the head.
♦ The two days following the injection: avoid all sporting activities, eyelash and eyebrow care, hair dyeing.
♦ For one week: to avoid sauna, hammam, UV cabin, massages and facial steams
Contraindications
Contraindications include:
♦ Pregnancy and breastfeeding.
♦ Neuromuscular or neurological pathologies, such as myasthenia.
♦ Known allergy to botulinum toxin type A or egg (some brands contain albumin).
♦ An infection at the injection site.
Combination with antibiotics of the Aminoside class is not recommended as these increase the effect of the toxin.
What are the risks of botox?
The side effects are as follows:
♦ Headache, a side effect lasting no more than a few days.
♦ Dry eyes.
♦ Ptosis (drooping) of the eyebrow or upper eyelid: these complications are due to a technical fault or failure to observe post-injection precautions.
♦ Asymmetry: an asymmetry present before injection cannot be completely corrected.
For injection in the fine lines of the lips (which I advise against): discomfort when swallowing or abnormal lip movements.
♦ Nausea, dizziness, flu-like syndrome: these symptoms last a few days.
Normal side-effects
The classic after-effects are minimal:
♦ Small swellings at the injected points, lasting about ten minutes.
♦ Localized redness at the injection points, its duration does not exceed one week.
Results
The result begins to be visible two days after the injection and is definitive seven days later. The effects last five to six months.
The result can be adapted to the patient’s wishes. Some prefer the complete disappearance of wrinkles to the natural result; others want their eyes to look more open, others want to retain a little mobility in all the muscles (the actors, for example)…
I always respect the patient’s choice, but I strongly recommend a natural result.
Prices
Type of consultation
Prices generally charged
Botox upper face
For women 1 zone: 300 CHF, two zones: 450 CHF, three zones 600 CHF
For men 1 zone: 350 CHF, two zones: 500 CHF, three zones 650 CHF
Botox masseter/bruxism
500 CHF for the 1st bottle, 350 CHF for each additional bottle. One to three bottles are required
Botox perspiration
500 CHF for the 1st bottle, 350 CHF for each additional bottle. One to three bottles are required