Botulinum toxin A for cosmetic use is marketed in different brands, including Botox and Dysport. It is one of the most popular and commonly performed non-surgical aesthetic procedures worldwide. Botulinum toxin A is a powerful agent that blocks the actions of the mimetic muscles of facial expression. As a result, the pulling action of the muscle on facial skin is reduced and this diminishes the dynamic wrinkles on the face. The main application of botulinum toxin A is wrinkle reduction in the forehead and around the eyes as well as rejuvenation in the middle and lower thirds of the face. Patients with square face often have bulky masseter muscle around the angle of the jaw. Selective use of botulinum toxin A can reduce the size of this muscle, thus altering the facial contour from square shape to a more oval shape. Other clinical use of botulinum toxin A include facial nerve disorders, upper eyelid asymmetry and excessive sweating in the armpit and palm. Botulinum toxin is also affective in treating platysma bands in the neck.
With appropriate training, botulinum toxin A can be administered safely and rapidly. The procedure is relatively painless and there is no recovery time.The effective period of the use of botulinum toxin A is usually between 3 to 6 months.
