Facial Botulinum Toxin

Botulinum toxin is produced from a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. It is used to remove the wrinkles and lines that form on different parts of the face, and it is one of the aesthetic methods applied most often to the face, in Türkiye and in the world.

It is used above all for the horizontal lines on the forehead and the wrinkles around the eyes. It also treats the lines between the brows, on the neck, at the sides of the nose, above the lip and on the chin.

How it works

When people express emotion, the nerves release a chemical called acetylcholine. It attaches to receptors on the muscle cells of the face. Those receptors make the muscles contract, and the expression forms.

Botulinum toxin stops the nerves releasing acetylcholine. Facial botulinum toxin is the injection of the toxin under the skin, into the muscles of expression in the area where moving lines and wrinkles form. It weakens those muscles, so the skin is no longer folded by them. The aim is to remove lines that are not deep, and to prevent the wrinkles that would otherwise form.

Who it suits

It can be given to any healthy person between 18 and 65, apart from women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

The effect lasts 4 to 6 months. Repeating the treatment, staying out of the sun and using moisturising creams all lengthen it somewhat.

The areas

• Forehead. For the horizontal lines that give an angry look. It is applied to the vertical muscles under the skin, at up to 4 points.
• Around the eyes (crow’s feet). For the lines that give an old and tired look. It is applied to the muscles under the skin, at 2 to 4 points.
• Between the brows. For the vertical lines that give a tense and angry look. It is applied to the horizontal muscles under the skin, at 5 to 7 points.
• The upper sides of the nose (bunny lines). For the lines that run towards the eye from the upper part of each outer wall of the nose.
• Lip lines. For the vertical lines above the lip, which are commoner in smokers.
• Corners of the mouth (marionette lines). For the lines that run down at a wide angle on each side of the mouth. It is also called the smiling face treatment.
• Combined. The right amount applied to several moving areas of the face at once.

The procedure

The toxin is injected with fine needles into the muscles under the skin. It takes 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the area treated.

The area is numbed with anaesthetic gel and cream, so there is no pain during or after the procedure. Mild burning and stinging can be felt. A cold compress is applied to the injection sites.

What can happen afterwards

Numbness, pain, inflammation, redness, bruising, swelling and bleeding at the treated area are rare, and so are a dry mouth and pain in the head and the neck. Patients with allergies can have itching, weakness, dizziness and a rash.