In order to get rid of wrinkles, people are ready for a lot. This explains the popularity of Botox injections. Pharmaceutical companies position drugs containing botulinum toxin as safe for health. And since those who want to prolong their youth are usually active, sociable and lead a secular lifestyle, recently advertising has emphasized that Botox injections are not a reason to infringe on oneself in some way and completely abandon alcohol for a while.
On the Web, you can even find studies by some French scientists who claim that in the evening after a rejuvenating procedure, you can celebrate the return of beauty with a glass of champagne. To understand whether the frivolous French are right, let’s figure out what Botox is and what effect it has on the body.
History and properties of Botox
Botulism is a serious infectious disease, which even in our time sometimes leads to death. The causative agents of the disease are the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, which secrete the toxic substance botulinum toxin. It blocks muscle stretch receptors, causing the muscles to relax.
In the second half of the 70th century, American doctors tried to create a drug based on botulinum toxin for the treatment of strabismus. Along the way, it turned out that with the help of injections of microdoses of a toxic compound, it is possible to achieve relaxation of certain muscles and smooth out fine wrinkles on the skin. Since the XNUMXs of the XX century, preparations with botulinum toxin have been used in cosmetology. The first of them was called “Botox” (Botox), later its analogues appeared: “Dysport” (European name – Azzalure, France), “Xeomin” (Bocouture, Germany), “Myoblock” (USA), “Relatox” (Russia) , Neuronox (South Korea), Lantox (China). The word Botox has become a household name, denoting any drug with botulinum toxin.
The effect of the use of Botox is temporary and lasts, depending on the drug and the individual characteristics of the body, 3-6, sometimes up to 9 months. During this time, the toxin is completely eliminated from the body, muscle receptors regain sensitivity, and mimic wrinkles appear. For their smoothing, a repetition of the procedure is required.
To prevent the face from turning into a frozen mask, the cosmetologist must select the injection site with pinpoint precision. The procedure is a bit painful. If the patient has a low sensitivity threshold, the doctor uses a special anesthetic gel.
Usually, doctors recommend not drinking alcohol and antibiotics for 2-3 days before Botox injections.
After injections it is forbidden:
- for 5-6 hours – go to bed;
- on the day of the procedure – do gymnastics, bend over intensively (for example, sweep), work at the computer, touch the areas where Botox was injected with your hands;
- 2-3 days – take antibiotics and drugs that change the composition of the blood;
- 10 days – visit the sauna or bath;
- within 2-3 weeks – drink alcohol.
Combination of alcohol and Botox injections
Already from the name of botulinum toxin it is clear that it is a poison. Even in microdoses that are relatively safe for health, Botox injections are a serious test for the body, in particular, for the central nervous system. But alcohol is also a poison that affects the nervous system. It is difficult to predict how an organism will behave in which two different toxic substances enter.
Under the influence of alcohol, blood vessels dilate and blood circulation accelerates. As a result, botulinum toxin can migrate and end up in the wrong place where it was originally intended.
Migration of botulinum toxin often provokes complications:
- ptosis (drooping) of the eyelids;
- swelling;
- blockade of the circular muscle of the mouth (due to which the lips lose their sensitivity);
- asymmetry of facial contours, distortion of its shape;
- “stone mask”
In addition, alcohol sometimes weakens the effect of Botox, and the rejuvenation effect lasts less than if the patient was completely sober.
The reaction of the body to the combined effect of alcohol and Botox is strictly individual. In some cases, as French scientists promise, nothing terrible happens when drinking alcohol after injections, in others, the patient had to spend considerable time and money to eliminate cosmetic defects. Is it worth it for the sake of momentary pleasure to expose yourself to the danger of appearing in public places with a swollen, frozen or unnaturally distorted face – everyone decides for himself.
The psychological effect of alcohol consumption cannot be discounted. Alcohol is liberating, and when one prohibition is broken, the patient is often disinclined to observe the rest. After drinking a glass of wine, a person will want to dance, go to the sauna with friends, or just out of habit touch the injection site with his hand. The consequences of such behavior can be very serious.
To exclude the possibility of a reaction of botulinum toxin with ethanol or its decay products (acetaldehydes), doctors recommend not drinking alcohol for 2-3 days before botox injections. This time is enough for the breakdown products of alcohol to be eliminated from the body.
Attention! Self-medication can be dangerous, consult your doctor.