If you ask about the most popular cosmetic injectables for skin rejuvenation, Botox will surely be at the top of the list. This solution is perfect for individuals who want to prevent dynamic wrinkles that are typically caused by one’s active facial movement. Botulinum toxin type A acts in the following way: after the injection is performed directly into the muscle, the solution has to reach the nerve ending of the targeted area to numb it and stop its contraction. This way, a person gets a more relaxed appearance for some time (typically, three to four months, but it varies from patient to patient). However, what to do if a person shows signs of botulinum toxin resistance? How do we act to provide a safe and successful experience in the clinic and achieve the desired results without considering invasive treatments? In this article, we are going to mention all the essentials about Botox resistance, so let’s dive into the discussion together!
The Definition of Botox Resistance
Botox resistance is a condition where a patient has developed neutralizing antibodies that do not allow botulinum neurotoxin to demonstrate its effect properly or when their bodies metabolize Botox too fast, so it cannot provide proper results. As a result, people don’t get the desired appearance, or the effect wears off too quickly, making previous treatments a completely useless waste of money. This issue is quite rare: specialists claim that only 1 of 10.000 patients can develop true Botox-neutralizing antibodies in their immune system. However, there are other reasons for botulinum toxin type A resistance, so let’s have a closer look at those as well to understand the topic better.
As aesthetic practitioners, you must understand the importance of high-quality Botox to use in your clinic. It also influences the outcome of the treatment and your patients’ well-being, so do not underestimate reliability of your supplier. Buy botulinum toxin products from a trustworthy company to ensure the experiences in your clinic are positive and one-of-a-kind.
Botox Resistance Causes
Being botulinum toxin resistant is not the only reason for Botox injections not working. Below, we are going to list some other issues that can affect the way a person reacts to the treatment:
- Frequently-repeated injections. Most patients who get an immune response to Botox just use the solution too often, which causes the body to start developing neutralizing antibodies that don’t let botulinum toxin work properly;
- Too much Botox is used for the treatment. Clinical trials have shown that if a person uses too much Botox on a regular basis, it may lead to botulinum neurotoxin type A immunity. To avoid this issue, it’s better to administer lower doses of the solution plus avoid frequent injections;
- The addition of accessory non-toxic proteins. Most botulinum toxin-based products used in clinical practice contain additional proteins to improve the solution’s stability. However, there is an exception that should be mentioned: Xeomin. This brand goes through a special purification process so that all the unnecessary proteins are removed from its composition thus only active neuromodulators remain;
- Improper storage of the product. Botox must always be refrigerated at the temperature recommended by Allergan, otherwise it can degrade and lose its effectiveness;
- Incorrect injection technique used during the treatment. Each person is unique, so the administration technique must be picked based on a patient’s needs, aesthetic desires, skin and body peculiarities, and some other essential factors. If a specialist tries to treat everyone with one technique – they’ll probably fail;
- Neurotoxin impurities in the product. Specialists must use only high-quality injections to provide safe treatment to their patients. If Botox is bought from an unknown company that may sell counterfeit medications – the results may turn out not as good as expected.
Before the injection, a patient must discuss all the treatment nuances with a specialist to consider all the risk factors, possible complications, expectations, and other essentials that are vital for a positive experience in a doctor’s office. That’s the best way to tailor a treatment plan according to one’s needs and present conditions.
The Main Signs of Botox Resistance
The main thing you should remember if you try to understand whether a patient suffers from Botox resistance is that time should help you understand all the signs. As all botulinum toxin products require a week or two to demonstrate maximum improvement, it may be difficult to define Botox resistance immediately. However, if after 4 weeks there are no signs of improvement, or if the results are barely there, there is a chance a person may not react to the treatment properly. In this case, a person should contact their doctor immediately to inform them about their suspicions.
Under normal circumstances, the nerve endings will be paralyzed, this way reducing the number of wrinkles when certain areas of the face are moved. If four weeks after the administration session has passed and there are no signs of improvement, the chances are it’s a case of Botox resistance.
What to Do if Botox Doesn’t Work for a Person?
There are a few things a person can do if they are Botox resistant:
- Talk to a doctor about an additional treatment. Sometimes, a bigger dose may be a good solution, so schedule an additional appointment to make Botox’s effect more intense;
- Try the services of another healthcare provider. Sometimes, doctor’s techniques vary, so maybe the specialist you’ve picked is just not the right one for you. Try to schedule an appointment with another specialist to get a second opinion on your case;
- Consider an alternative treatment. Some other cosmetic procedures may provide a more long-lasting effect than Botox. Dermal fillers, mesotherapy, thread lifting, and numerous others are perfect for facial rejuvenation and should be definitely considered as an alternative.
How to Overcome Botox Resistance?
The best way to overcome Botox resistance is to switch to a more pure form of botulinum toxin (for example, Xeomin) or make a long pause before trying Botox again. If you decide to switch to Xeomin, there are a few things you should remember: the effect of this injectable may last for up to six months, approximately two weeks are required to see the improvement, and maintenance treatments should be performed at least once every eight months.
Besides, there are also other treatments that can be considered as an alternative to therapeutic protein products: dermal fillers, mesotherapy solution, PDO threads, and numerous others available on the market. Just find a supplier with high-quality products – that is the most important thing when it comes to Botox treatments.
To Sum Up
Botulinum toxin resistance is not a common issue, and it’s one of the reasons why it’s not discussed that often amongst people. There are multiple reasons that may cause this issue, but the main one is using this solution too often, often enough for the body to start producing botulinum toxin-neutralizing antibodies that don’t let Botox work properly. If this happens, people may consider one of these options: to wait for at least six months before trying to use Botox again or switch to Xeomin, which is purer and thus is less likely to trigger such a reaction in the organism. Of course, there is also always an option to try other aesthetic treatments, as there are plenty of those on the market. That’s it for today’s discussion. Hopefully, you’ve found answers to all your questions here.
