Whenever you laugh, frown, concentrate or squint into the sun your facial muscles contract and your skin creases. As you get older your skin loses its elasticity and creases deepen into lines that become permanently etched on your face. Frown lines can become particularly noticeable at a relatively young age, creating a permanent angry or worried look.
Is Dysport Right For You?
Dysport is a protein extracted from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It has been used to treat a wide variety of neuromuscular disorders, for which it is licensed in over 60 countries. In New Zealand, Dysport now has registration approval under the Medicines Act for the treatment of frown lines and for excessive sweating under the armpits.
Tiny amounts of Dysport are injected directly into the facial muscles underlying the frown lines. It usually takes three to five small, almost painless injections between the eyebrows for an effective treatment. No local anaesthetic is usually required but if you are concered your doctor can numb the skin over the area before injecting. You can expect treatment to take around 10-20 minutes.
By temporarily immobilizing the muscles you use to frown, Dysport can smooth out lines, restoring a more youthful, less stressed expression. The lasting effect of treatment with Dysport can differ between individuals and in some cases additional treatments may be necessary. Speak with your doctor about the results you can expect with Dysport.
Risks
The most common side effects are temporary soreness or mild bruising around the injection site. Some people may experience a slight headache that lasts for several hours after treatment. In a very small percentage of cases there can be a complication called “ptosis” (a drooping eyelid) which may last a few days or up to 4 weeks. Rarely, an allergic reaction can cause a skin rash or “flu like” symptoms. Consult your doctor if you experience any troublesome side effects.
You should not have Dysport treatment while you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or at all if you have a neuromuscular disease.
Recovery Time
The procedure takes about 10 minutes, and under normal circumstances, the patient should experience no downtime. Effects usually take five–10 days to occur. Lines may continue to diminish for up to a week after your treatment.