Chemodenervation

Injection of botulinum toxin A, derived from the neurotoxin produced by Clostridium Botulinum, has revolutionized aesthetic surgery, becoming the most common cosmetic procedure in the United States and an important gateway for further cosmetic surgeries. The neurotoxin acts on the neuromuscular junction, blocking the release of acetylcholine to induce flaccid paralysis. This neurotoxin, when properly targeted, can result in the selective weakening of certain facial mimetic muscles resulting in the amelioration of dynamic rhytids. Intradermal injection also retains the added benefit of sebaceous gland atrophy, which can simultaneously improve skin texture. Comprehensive anatomic knowledge serves as the foundation for effective neurotoxin injection and is critical to avoiding possible complications including facial asymmetry, ptosis, dysphagia, or dysphonia. As the market for these neuromodulators continues to grow in the United States and across the globe, proper technique has become an essential key to the success of any clinical aesthetic practice.