Lifting or Botox? What is right for you?

In childhood, we do not attach importance to how our faces look. But with the growth and development of cells in the body, irreversible processes occur. This leads to deterioration of the skin, accumulation of fat, the appearance of folds and expression lines. Upon reaching a certain age, each person realizes that now his face no longer looks like it did in childhood. But not everyone is ready to resort to plastic surgery in order to restore the former elasticity of the skin and remove the consequences of unaesthetic age-related changes. There are several ways to achieve the desired result, while avoiding contact with the scalpel.

Botox: how it works

Botulinum toxin type A has been known to the world for over 20 years. Initially, it was used to treat neurological diseases associated with movement defects: muscle spasticity, tics, tremors, etc., as well as various pain syndromes. The substance relaxed the muscles by blocking the nerve impulse that causes the spasm.

In the 90s. this property of botulinum toxin began to be tested on the muscles of the face. The drug has shown its effectiveness and safety in the correction of wrinkles, and has become actively used to combat aging. The principle of action remains the same - relaxation of the fibers by blocking muscle contraction in order to exclude the formation of kinks. Botox is the short name of the procedure itself, as well as the name of the brand that produces this cosmetic product. There are other drugs with botulinum toxin - Lantox, Dysport, etc.

Which zones to choose for correction

Botox injections help curb the appearance of wrinkles in areas of active facial expressions. These include the forehead, the area around the eyes, and the bridge of the nose. In these parts of the face, the remedy manifests itself best of all, without causing consequences. The drug is injected into the nasolabial folds, neck, chin much less frequently. The therapy can be performed at any age from 18 years of age and older. Experts advise to start doing botox when wrinkles are clearly visible at rest. It should be understood that this is not a method of prevention, but one of the ways to deal with existing creases.

Botox: benefits

This operation has many advantages. First of all, it is the safety of the botulinum toxin type A itself for the human body when used in small doses. Quite a long time has passed since its opening. Scientists managed to thoroughly study the remedy and identify side effects.

Other benefits:

• the skin becomes noticeably taut within a week after the injection;
• the price of the procedure is relatively low;
• muscles after blocking do not lose mobility while observing the intervals between procedures;
• the duration of the operation is on average 10-15 minutes;
• the drug is administered intramuscularly, so the pain is almost not felt.

The most important thing is that after stopping the administration of the drug, the skin does not sag, but becomes what it should be at the appropriate age;

Botox: disadvantages

Facial tissues are a whole system in which all muscles are interconnected with each other. Stretching in one place with Botox causes changes in another. The degree of deformation also depends on individual characteristics. Botulinum therapy is often carried out simultaneously in several areas, in combination with other procedures. For example, hyaluronic acid is additionally administered for volume. Botox in the nasolabial fold can lead to drooping of the corners of the lips, and when the forehead and bridge of the nose are blocked, wrinkles on the bridge of the nose. The success of the operation depends on the condition of the patient's skin and the skill of the beautician. Among the disadvantages is also the development of addiction to the drug due to the production of antibodies to it by the body.

What are the contraindications for botox injections

Therapy should definitely not be given to persons under 18 years of age, pregnant and lactating women. In these groups, the effect of the substance has not been investigated.

In addition, anti-aging injections are contraindicated:

• for serious diseases - oncology, autoimmune disorders, sclerosis, epilepsy, etc.
• for colds, allergies, inflammatory processes;
• before and after vaccination, in particular against coronavirus;
• with severe myopia, hernia of the upper and lower eyelids;
• with increased susceptibility to the substance.

When taking certain medications, Botox is also undesirable. For example, antibiotics, magnesia, quinidine and others.

Lifting: what is it

Quite a broad concept that combines several skin tightening procedures. Recently, non-surgical methods of rejuvenation with a lifting effect have become very popular. The simplest and most affordable methods are masks and creams with collagen, vitamins, hyaluronic acid and other useful additives, massages. More complex, but effective are procedures using a laser, plasma, needles, radio waves, etc.

How lifting works

All types of lifting can be conditionally divided into hardware and non-hardware.

Non-hardware braces include:

• plasmolifting - injections of plasma from the patient's blood are injected into tissues for rejuvenation;
• acupuncture - acupuncture in biologically active points;
• vector - the use of hyaluronic "threads" to support the skeleton of the face.

Hardware lifting includes:

• SMAS lifting - lifting the lower ⅔ of the face by heating the subcutaneous layer up to 60 degrees with ultrasound;
• RF-lifting - rejuvenation by means of radio waves;
• Laser lift - activation of skin regeneration using a laser beam.

Removal of wrinkles with the device is achieved by starting the natural processes of rejuvenation - the production of collagen, hyaluronic acid, elastin, etc.

Who needs a lifting procedure

The first wrinkles in women begin to appear from the age of 20. For some, they are more noticeable, for others less. It all depends on the individual. Hardware rejuvenation can be performed generally from the age of 25. But it should be borne in mind that each procedure has its own contraindications. For example, SMAS-lifting is acceptable from 35 years old, RF-lifting can be done from 25 years old, but not earlier.

Lifting: what effect to expect

Hardware rejuvenation has many advantages. This procedure is practically painless and safe. Ultrasound, laser, radio waves only stimulate the skin to produce the substances necessary for rejuvenation, and do not remove wrinkles in the literal sense of the word. Lifting helps to improve metabolic processes, blood circulation, lymph flow, etc. due to penetration into the deep layers of the dermis.

Which procedure to choose

Botulinum therapy and lifting have one significant difference. Botulinum toxin relaxes the muscles, smoothes wrinkles, but does not eliminate the wrinkling of the face that occurs with age. Hardware cosmetology copes better with such changes. If the creases on the face are not deep, then at first, injection therapy can be dispensed with. For more serious changes, it is worth resorting to hardware procedures.

Another difference is that the result from lifting lasts longer than from Botox. It also has a cumulative effect. In both cases, it is important to choose a reliable clinic and a good specialist who will select the correct method of rejuvenation for the patient.