Posts

, ,

A Guide to Botulinum Toxin

It’s the injectable sweeping the world but what do we really know about the winkle buster that is Botulinum Toxin? In this blog we look at the facts & some frequently asked questions to get your knowledge tip top when it comes to one of the worlds most famous toxins.

What is Botulinum Toxin?

Used aesthetically to combat wrinkles Botulinum Toxin is a neurotoxin protein sourced from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It’s qualities help to relax muscles and reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Over time with extensive research and testing the injectable has proven to be able to also treat certain medical conditions.

How does Botulinum Toxin work?

Botulinum Toxin works by injecting controlled amounts of the product into the areas where you have active muscle movement. In line with our ageing process we gradually form wrinkles overtime. We develop these wrinkles as a result of repetitive active movement of certain muscle groups. The treatment works by relaxing the muscles which helps to prevent them from contracting and in turn slows down the formation of wrinkles and lines.

What is Botox?

Many use the word Botox as the name of the treatment when in fact this is just the name of one brand of Botulinum Toxin. Created by Allergan, Botox® is one of the biggest brands of Botox in the world. It would be the same as calling all vacuum cleaners a hoover… All brands of Botulinum Toxin hold their own qualities and names. Patients should be aware of the pros and cons of each to help them make an informed decision on the products used.

Are Botulinum Toxin injections safe?

Safety is incredibly important when it comes to aesthetic treatments and in order to ensure your safety it’s beneficial to know about the practice of injectables. Understanding more about this will help you to make informed decisions about your treatments.

In order for public use products need to have FDA approval. Each product approved by the FDA has gone through extensive testing in order for it to meet all guidelines and regulations set. Once given the FDA seal of approval the product is safe to use when administered by a professional.

We treat our models with Botox at Cosmetic Courses, the anti-wrinkle injection created by Allergan. The FDA have approved Botox for over 10 years.

Administered by a trained professional this procedure is safe and can achieve great results.

Are Botulinum Toxin injections permanent?

No, these injections are not permanent. On average Botox lasts for around 3 – 4 months post treatment and patients find they often need repeat treatments needed throughout the year. The right practitioner will guide you with your treatment plan to ensure your safety and achieve the best results.

Botulinum Toxin FACTS…

  • First used in the 70’s, the injectable was used to treat the medical condition of Strabismus.
  • Its journey in the cosmetic industry began in the 90’s where its wrinkle relaxing qualities were discovered.
  • Botulinum Toxin is manufactured by many companies but there are three main pharmaceutical companies used in the UK; Allergan, Galderma & Merz.
  • Headaches, excessive sweating and strabismus are some of the medical conditions which can be treated with the injectable.
  • Botulinum Toxin injections are popular with everybody, from women to men “Brotox” to business professionals “Protox“.
  • The number of women in the UK using anti-wrinkle injections has risen by 41% since 2011.

Botox Treatments at Cosmetic Courses

If you are considering Botox treatment and are looking for a high quality procedure without breaking the bank then having treatment with Cosmetic Courses may be the right option for you. All treatments are supervised by our team of expert trainers and performed by medically qualified professionals.

 

 

Register your interest today to become a Cosmetic Courses Model or give us a call on 01844 390110 to speak to our friendly customer service team.

/by
,

UK Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers present a multitude of options for those who are involved in the practice of aesthetics. The use of dermal fillers has grown tremendously due to the fact that they present a valid alternative to surgical procedures. While originally used as a treatment for lines and wrinkles, dermal fillers are now available for a wide variety of other aesthetic purposes.

Dermal fillers are now available that can help with things like making someone’s face more symmetrical, enhancing people’s lips, correcting tear trough, and much more. The extensive uses now applicable to dermal fillers has flooded the UK market with a variety of these kinds of products. There are now around 160 dermal filler products available throughout the UK, and the majority of these do not even require a prescription as they are classified as “medical devices”.

While there are not even ten of these products approved by the FDA for use in the United States, there is no regulation available in regards to these products in the UK. This means anyone can buy these products and inject themselves with the ingredients without really knowing what is going into their body. Since there are so many unlicensed products now available, this makes the job of anyone practicing aesthetics harder than it already was, because they will have to learn about these products to get an idea of which one may be the best option for their patients.

While various aesthetic injections have actually been available since the late 1800’s, the term ‘dermal filler” did not come along until the introduction of collagen practically a century later. This led to the revolution of non-surgical aesthetic procedures, with Botox and collagen injections leading the way. While collagen is still a very popular choice, the emergence of other dermal fillers, one of the most popular being hyaluronic acid, has made the choice of collagen less popular than it once was.

Due to the high safety profile provided by hyaluronic acid fillers, they have become the most popular dermal filler used in the UK. Because hyaluronic acid is something that is present in every living organism and is a naturally occurring substance, some form of this type of filler has been used by an estimated 30 million patients throughout the world. The versatility of this product is likely why it has become so popular, as it is available in a variety of thicknesses. Other types of dermal fillers include:

* Calcium hydroxlapatite
* Poly-l-lactic acid
* Polymethyl methacrylate
* Porcine collagen
* Polyacrylamide

/by
,

Botox – Brain connection

Botox, an incredibly popular drug sold by Allergan Inc., is used primarily in cosmetic procedures designed to reduce facial wrinkles and is derived from the deadly botulinum neurotoxin produced by the bacteria clostridium botulinum. A different version of botulinum neurotoxin, known as Myobloc, is used in medical procedures designed to reduce muscle stiffness and spasms in people with cerebral palsy. People who are exposed to this toxin through having infected wounds or eating contaminated food develop botulism. Botulism is a paralytic illness that can paralyze the respiratory system and result in death if not treated.

New studies have shown that Botox doesn’t just reduce wrinkles. According to a recent study published in the Journal of Neuroscience, Botox that is injected into a person’s face can move into the brain and damage the central nervous system. When Botox was first introduced to the cosmetic market, there were no warning labels or particularly nasty proven side effects. However, the FDA mandated that warning labels be added to Botox and Myobloc after people began reporting trouble breathing and swallowing after using the drugs. The FDA has mainly directed these warnings to people with neuromuscular problems, but also admits that other people may be at risk as well. Due to these concerns, the FDA has begun investigating Botox its potentially dangerous side effects.

In the Journal of Neuroscience article, researchers experimented on rats with Botox to observe its effects on the brain. The researchers found that when they injected botulinum toxin into one side of a rat’s brain, the toxin would make its way over to the other side of the brain. When they injected a part of the brain responsible for vision, the toxin made its way into the rat’s eyes. The effects of the toxin were long lasting – researchers still detected the effects up to six months later. The results of this study support concerns about the dangers of injecting Botox into a person’s face. Although Botox is one of the best selling cosmetic procedures today, maybe clients should reconsider getting Botox treatments before more information and research can be obtained on the dangers of this potentially damaging paralytic agent.

/by