Botox®/ Bocouture®/ Vistabel®, Dysport®, Azzalure®

Botulinum is a protein derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. At present, 5 preparations from 3 manufacturers with the active ingredient botulinum type A for wrinkle treatment are approved in Germany.

Botulinum inhibits the transmission of movement from the nerve cell to the muscle (blockade of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine), whereby the contraction possibility of the muscle weakens depending on the dosage or completely fails (feel, touch and temperature sensation remain unaffected).

The effect of the substance is limited to a narrowly defined area where the Botulinum was injected. It takes 2-14 days for the drug to develop in the muscle, and the maximum effect is observed approximately 4 weeks after the injection. Long-term effects are almost impossible with dosages used in the aesthetic field. Once the effect starts, it lasts for weeks to months. After about 3 months, the effect of botulinum begins to reduce. However, it will take about 6 months to completely diminish.

The art lies in not making the face look mask-like or unnatural, but to make it look fresher and relaxed – everyone wants a natural look and no one wants to be asked if they had something “done”.

Which wrinkles can be treated?

There is a rough distinction between static and dynamic facial wrinkles. Static facial wrinkles are caused by gravity and are mainly smoothed out with fillers. On the other hand, dynamic wrinkles caused by activities of facial muscles are the field of the application of botulinum. Often these dynamic wrinkles are transverse wrinkles on the forehead, wrinkles around the eyes, wrinkles between the eyebrows but also around the mouth, nose, chin and neck. These wrinkles can ingrain themselves in the skin to an extent that they do not disappear even in state of relaxation.

Further information on this topic from the German Society for Botulinum therapy (DGBT)…