Botulinum Therapy has become an essential procedure in the field of aesthetic medicine. Botulinum toxin is one of the most effective cosmetic products for smoothing superficial and deep wrinkles.
However, do not forget that botulinum toxin in its natural form – one of the strongest organic poisons known to mankind.
To prevent dangerous complications after injections, botulinum toxin preparations should be used competently and responsibly.
On estet-portal.com read about which mistakes in the use of botulinum toxin can lead to serious consequences for the patient, as well as how to cope with the undesirable consequences of botulinum therapy.
What is botulinum toxin: the mechanism of action of the substance
Botulinum toxin – is a protein neurotoxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. The mechanism of action of the substance consists in the blockade of cholinergic impulses to the sweat, lacrimal, salivary glands, as well as to smooth muscles due to impaired release of the mediator acetylcholine into the synaptic cleft.
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Thus, there is a pronounced muscle relaxation at the injection site of the botulinum toxin preparation.
3 months after the procedure in denervated muscles, the formation of lateral processes of nerve endings occurs and, as a result, the restoration of muscle contractions.
However, collaterals are only partially effective and regress rapidly while primary neuromuscular transmission is activated.
The effectiveness of the botulinum therapy procedure lasts no more than 6 months.
The drugs used in botulinum therapy usually contain pure neurotoxin group A or B, as well as human serum albumin. 
The main causes of complications after botulinum toxin therapy
Undesirable effects after injections of drugs containing botulinum toxin can have several causes.
The most common are:
1. Mistakes and incompetence of a specialist conducting botulinum therapy: violation of dilution proportions, excess dosage, injection of the drug into an area not intended for this. The most serious complications include: hypertonicity, edema, asymmetry and ptosis, and infection;
2. Patient's mistakes - non-compliance with the proper rehabilitation period: incorrect body position immediately after the procedure, alcohol abuse, thermal and massage procedures for injection sites.
Botulinum toxin: why poison has no analogues among drugs
Immune response of the patient's body and side effects of the drug
In addition to the human factor, the cause of complications after botulinum toxin therapy may be the immune response of the body and the particular effects of the toxin.
Among this group of complications, diffusion of the drug into nearby areas should be distinguished. This, in turn, can cause paralysis of the mimic muscles, ptosis and lacrimation.
Local post-injection reactions include: microhematomas, skin rash, pain, itching and swelling.
In some cases, respiratory failure, diplopia, dysphagia, general malaise, nausea, flu-like syndrome may occur.
In response to the ingestion of a toxin, the formation of antibodies to the drug after repeated injections may occur.
More details you can learn how to avoid the formation of antibodies to botulinum toxin preparations in the article
Immunogenicity of botulinum toxin preparations: how to avoid the formation of antibodies
As a rule, side effects and most complications after the administration of botulinum toxin preparations disappear on their own.
In case of complications such as edema and ptosis of the upper eyelid or corners of the mouth, physiotherapy methods are used, namely:
• lymphatic drainage procedures;
• massage of problem areas;
• microcurrents and myostimulation;
• hot compresses and masks.
The drugs are also used: ipidacrine and prozerin to eliminate residual effects after blockade of the neuromuscular transmission.
Despite the negative effects of botulinum therapy, which are not experienced by everyone, with the help of botulinum toxin, you can get rid of not only mimic wrinkles, migraine and hyperhidrosis, but also eliminate strabismus, blepharospasm, cervical dystonia and other pathologies.
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