The Botulinum Toxin Type A (Botox™) is used to selectively paralyze some muscle portions to avoid contraction of certain muscle fibers, fading the terrible "wrinkles".
For this reason, we say that Botox™ is indicated for dynamic wrinkles, or those that only appear when we contract the muscles, like the crow-feet and forehead wrinkles.
These so-called "wrinkles" are those that deal with Botox® and have excellent result, the so-called static wrinkles, those that are always present, should be treated with Fillers, like Juvederm™.
The effect of BOTOX™ last for 4 to 6 months, and may vary according with muscle thickness and how much we use it, thus in men, usually, the effect duration is shorter.
Botox™ is usually mesured by points of puncture. Each point has 2 units of Botulinum Toxin, the necessary amount to paralyze a circle of 1.5 cm of diameter. Therefore, to treat the forehead and glabellar wrinkles (between the eyebrows) we need 10 to 12 points of application and crow-feet 8 points (4 on each side).
There are other applications for Botox™, such as excessive underarm sweating (hyperhidrosis). It responds very well to treatment with 10 points of application in each armpit. The effect of this application lasts around 10 months.
The Botox® can also be used to relax neck wrinkles (10 points of application) and lower the upper lip in the so called "gummy smile", when the upper gum appears during a smile. For this application only 8 points are needed.
We also have quite common non-aesthetic applications, to balance spastic contractions or from nerve paralysis. The result is amazing!