BOTOX BRIGHTENS

Botox, the anti-wrinkle America's favorite, who had six indications in France, including strabismus and spasmodic torticollis, pops the treatment of vertical wrinkles on the forehead.Permission marketing says "if they bring a real psychological impact."

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In the race for the rejuvenation, the "madness of Botox" does not spare France.Remember that local injection of botulinum toxin (Botox active ingredient) to remove facial wrinkles is not safe. This toxin was lethal poison until 1978 , the year in which, once mastered its dosage, it was used for therapeutic purposes. Only specialists are allowed to use it until today, only in the limit of six indications. Now, Botox is expanding its indications to the treatment of wrinkles as the laboratory Allergan received February 20, 2003 permission marketing, in that therapeutic class, its product Vistabel ® to botulinum toxin.The order of the doctors who had posted his opposition to wide use of this molecule will certainly re-emphasize his position.

But for now, everything seems to be well planned and supervised.

• Only physicians specializing in plastic surgery, dermatology, surgery of the face and neck and maxillofacial surgery, and of course, trained in this technique is very delicate, are entitled to the injections.
• The authorization of placing on the market (AMM) covers only the vertical lines on the forehead (glabellar lines) and only if they involve an important psychological impact on the patient.
• The consultation must take place in two stages to allow a patient warned to think carefully before making its final decision: the first appointment allows us to explain the technique, to announce the price, expected results and verify cons-indications. If the patient has not changed his mind, it was during the second consultation that intervention can take place.

Risk

Despite good efficacy (based on a clinical study conducted in the United States, 82% of patients would see a marked improvement one week after injection), this technique is very sensitive not without risk. The dosage and the injection must be very carefully adjusted according to each patient and, if the operation can paralyze the muscles of the eyelid , causing a droopy eyelid or worse, some motor muscles, causing a squint . Nearly a quarter of patients suffer side effects: headache, facial pain, redness. Fortunately, as a rule, these disadvantages are not permanent but transient.

Rejuvenation very ephemeral ...

Another point to make, not least, if the effects of Botox are visible from the first weeks, they have a limited period of several months (between two and four months) ... hence the need for multiple injections in a same person.

A price to cheer

And finally, the price: around 400 euro injection.