Anti-wrinkle treatment uses Botulinum Toxin Type A (colloquially known as Botox) to relax specific facial muscles and stop the constant creasing and folding of the skin which causes fine lines and wrinkles. This is a very popular treatment for prevention or anti-ageing in both men and women. However in the recent years, there has been a upsurge of "Botox resistance". This occurs when anti-wrinkle treatments no longer have a marked effect on the person getting the treatment compared to before.
Why does "Botox Resistance" occur?
1. Accessory Proteins:
There are several Botulinum Toxin brands that are approved by the TGA. Almost all of them contain proteins that wrap the Botulinum Toxin molecule and acts as a preservative, improving its stability. When anti-wrinkle treatments are injected into clients' muscles, the clients' immune system will start to produce antibodies to neutralise these proteins. This is a normal process and usually doesn't affect the effect of the anti-wrinkle treatment.
2. Excessive Anti-wrinkle treatments: (Frequency & Dosages)
However, with excessive anti-wrinkle treatments done on the same muscle area, the clients' antibodies would have built up immensely. Upon injection, the antibodies will stick to the Botulinum Toxin protein molecule before it has a chance to act on the nerve and block nerve signals to the target muscle. Because of the fast action of their immune system due to too frequent exposure, these clients experience minimal to no change in their appearance. Such resistance typically develops in clients who have had anti-wrinkle treatments for an extended period of time or who naturally metabolize the neurotoxin very quickly.
Generally, follow-up treatments should be at least 3 to 4 months after the initial treatment as recommended by the pharmaceutical companies for repeat and maintenance treatments. This is notwithstanding top-up treatments that may be necessary 2 weeks after the initial treatment results have settled. Once practitioners are more familiar with your facial muscle strength after the initial treatment, maintenance treatments will rarely require any top-ups as there would be an individualised plan tailored for you.
At Radianne Skin, we use an anti-wrinkle product that is "naked", without the accessory proteins, thereby decreasing the incidence of anti-wrinkle treatment resistance significantly. The results after treatment is comparable, if not better, than any of the other similar products approved by the TGA. We are unable to state the product we use in our clinic here but please feel free to contact us via DM on Instagram or call 0478 555 494 to enquire and discuss any further concerns you may have.
Always consult with a qualified and experienced practitioner such as Radianne Skin for a personalized assessment and to determine the most suitable treatment plan based on your individual aesthetic needs and goals to prevent and minimise any potential tolerance and resistance to Botulinum Toxin for your anti-wrinkle treatments.
We are located in Melbourne CBD, central to many of Melbourne's suburbs in terms of accessibility. Book a comprehensive consultation with us now to discuss how we can assist you in achieving your aesthetic goals!
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