Do you notice lines on your face when you smile, laugh, or frown? Maybe you have noticed wrinkles in your skin that weren’t there before or experience facial “tics” or spasms. Many notice the effects of aging on their skin over time and seek a solution to get rid of them. If you are included in this group, you may have looked for a solution and found a treatment called Dysport. This is just one of the many cosmetic skin services we offer here at The Mack Cosmetic Center in Tampa, FL.
With so many other skincare treatments out there, you may wonder why people get Dysport. There are six top benefits that we will address to answer that question. But first, let us see what Dysport is and what you can expect from the treatment process.
What Is Dysport?
Dysport is an injection of Bobotulinumtoxin A, or ABO, which is a neurotoxin that blocks nerve activity in the muscles. This will cause a temporary reduction in muscle activity, preventing the contractions that cause frown lines.
How It Works
Because ABO is a neurotoxin, it keeps neurons from communicating with each other by inhibiting neuron control over the communication between neurons across a synapse. It does this by binding to the nerve muscles and blocking the transmission of signals between the brain and the muscle. This will keep the muscle from contracting.
The ABO is injected into the treatment site directly by a qualified doctor and relaxes the muscles instantly. This softens the skin’s surface, preventing further development of wrinkles and instances of spasms.
Where It Can Be Used
This injection is primarily used for the face to get rid of frown lines and wrinkles temporarily. However, it can also be used in other areas of the body to eliminate the appearance of wrinkles and aging, such as the neck, arms, and legs.
What Can Dysport Be Used for?
Besides being used in various areas of the body, this injection can also treat various conditions. These conditions include aging skin, limb spasticity, and cervical dystonia.
Aging Skin
Dysport is most commonly used as a cosmetic treatment for lines and wrinkles in the face as a result of aging. They are also used for dynamic lines, which are facial lines caused by repeated movements such as smiling, frowning, wrinkling the brow, and even laughing.
For example, one of the most commonly known problems is glabellar lines, the vertical lines that show up between the eyebrows because of frowning, scowling, or even concentrating. The injection keeps the muscles involved in these motions from moving, preventing the lines from getting worse.
The injection can also be used to prevent and eliminate droopy noses or mouth corners, crow’s feet, and sagging neck skin. It fills in the area around the muscles, reducing and gradually eliminating their appearance. This results in a smoother, more youthful look.
Limb Spasticity
Limb spasticity occurs when the nerve cells that carry messages from the brain to different parts of the body are damaged. When this happens, the affected limb muscles receive the wrong signals, which causes them to tense up and contract. These conditions lead to stiffness and tightness in the muscles, which can negatively affect your ability to perform even mundane tasks.
This can occur in both children and adults. Some common health conditions that cause limb spasticity include stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), and cerebral palsy. ABO injections can actually be used as a means of therapy to treat limb spasticity. A qualified specialist will inject the ABO directly into affected arm or leg muscles, allowing it to block those wrong signals from the brain temporarily.
This can keep the muscles from tightening and contracting for several months with each injection. This can be used for the upper and lower limbs for adults and for the lower limbs for children over two years of age.
Cervical Dystonia
Cervical dystonia (also known as spasmodic torticollis) is one of the many neurological disorders that can cause involuntary muscle spasms, which can have a negative effect on your quality of life.
This disorder causes the neck muscles to contract involuntarily, causing the head to twist or turn to one side and even tilt forward or backward uncontrollably. These spasms can be sudden and very painful. By injecting the ABO and blocking the movement of the muscles, you can have months of relief from the painful spasms that come with this condition.
Seven Top Benefits of Dysport
This injection offers many benefits, and that is why it is chosen by so many people as a preferred treatment. Patients love ABO injections because they are safe, non-invasive, convenient, versatile, and effective. They also love the cosmetic results and, in more serious cases, their improved quality of life.
1. It Is Safe
Though neurotoxins can be dangerous when injected in large amounts, they are very safe when injected in the small amounts needed for treatment. In fact, each injection usually only contains up to 0.05 milliliters of ABO. Therefore, you will not receive too much of the ABO and won’t have to worry about any negative effects on your muscles and skin.
2. It Is Non-Invasive
Because of the nature of the treatment, ABO injections are naturally non-invasive. There is no need for surgery to cut through tissues or skin to reach the muscles because the ABO is injected directly into the treatment site. This also means your recovery period and downtime after treatment is kept to a minimum.
3. It Is Convenient
ABO injections are completed in-office without the need for overnight stays or hospitalization. One treatment session may take only 10-20 minutes with little to no downtime afterward. That means you can return to your normal activities or to work the very same day.
4. It Is Versatile
As mentioned above, this treatment can be used for multiple conditions and in multiple areas of the body. You can use it as a cosmetic solution for aging skin that is wrinkled, sagging, or has fine lines. You can also use it for more serious spasmodic disorders, such as limb spasticity or cervical dystonia. This allows you to treat several problem areas using the same product.
5. It Is Effective
Most patients see improvements in their skin as little as 2-3 days after treatment. Initial results can last up to four months before you may need another injection, so you only have to re-treat a few times a year.
6. It Provides Excellent Cosmetics
You can achieve a very natural-looking end result because such a small amount of ABO is injected. Frequently exercising your muscles after the injection will actually help the ABO to work into them, which will soften the muscles and smooth out the skin.
This helps you avoid the ill-reputed “frozen look” associated with other fillers that keep your muscles from moving naturally when adjacent muscles engage. So you can still smile, laugh, and frown naturally while enjoying the absence of lines or wrinkles.
7. It Can Provide a Better Quality of Life
Lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin can make you feel self-conscious as you interact with others or look in the mirror. This injection can boost your self-confidence and help improve how you feel about your appearance. And if you are experiencing more serious spasmodic conditions, the injection can be the therapy you need to find relief from spasms and painfully stiff muscles for months at a time.
What Are the Qualifications for Candidacy?
As with any treatment, there are some criteria you have to meet to qualify as a candidate. There are also some conditions that may disqualify you from eligibility for treatment.
Those Who Qualify
The ideal candidate for treatment will have sagging skin or wrinkles on the face, neck, or other body parts and would like to achieve a smoother, more youthful appearance. The candidate will be relatively healthy with moderate to severe glabellar lines.
For a person seeking the ABO injection as therapy for a muscle condition, he or she must be two years of age or older, depending on the health condition.
Those Who May Not Qualify
Any children that are younger than two years of age cannot use ABO injections as a treatment for spasticity. Adults with an allergy to cow milk protein, an allergy to any of the ingredients in the ABO, or a skin infection at the injection site also do not qualify as a candidate.
There are some conditions that may exclude you from candidacy, so it is important to consult with your medical doctor to see if you can complete the treatment. Some of these conditions include:
- Active cold sores
- Pregnancy/Breastfeeding
- Surgery in the treatment area
- Some neurological disorders
- Sagging eyelid folds
- Deep facial scars
- Mild glabellar lines
- Inflammation in the injection area
- Muscle weakness
- Thick, oily skin
These conditions may not necessarily exclude you as a candidate depending on your personal situation. That is why it is imperative that you consult with the doctor before treatment to discuss all allergies, medications, and conditions before proceeding with ABO injections. This ensures that treatment will be both safe and effective for you.
What to Expect From Treatment
It is important that you fully understand the treatment process so you can experience the best results possible.
Before Treatment
Before treatment, you will need to have an initial consult with one of our qualified experts. He or she will discuss your past and current health history, medications, and past treatment and surgical history in detail. The doctor will also examine your skin and determine your candidacy. If you are a candidate for treatment, the doctor will answer any questions you have and go over pre-treatment instructions. It is important to follow these instructions closely.
The Treatment Session
The doctor will apply a mild anesthetic before your injections. He or she will then inject the ABO in up to five areas around the forehead and eyebrows to treat your frown lines. If other areas are being treated, the doctor will inject the ABO directly into those muscles using the appropriate amount of ABO.
After Treatment
After the injections, you should use ice packs as directed and exercise the muscles around the treatment area(s) to work the ABO into the muscles. You can take Tylenol or another acetaminophen if needed. You also need to apply sunscreen on the days afterward. Most patients can return to work the same day.
You will be instructed not to rub or massage the area. Closely follow all other instructions given by the doctor regarding things to avoid in the days after treatment for the best results.
Get Rid of Lines and Wrinkles Today
Aging skin and muscle spasms can negatively affect your self-confidence and quality of life. We know how important it is for you to have the smooth, youthful skin that you desire. If you would like to know more about Dysport, contact us at The Mack Cosmetic Center in Tampa, FL to schedule an initial consult. We will be happy to help you take care of your skin.