The quality of the medicine for the injection is crucial in aesthetic medicine. This is the factor every professional should consider in their work. Is the manufacturer reliable? Is the solution clear and without any precipitates? Is the expiration date okay? Is medicine stored correctly? Answer all these questions before botulinum toxin injections because, in this way, you will not only avoid unpleasant side effects and make the recovery period a lot shorter and problem-free but also enrich clients’ skin with useful proteins, vitamins, and other vital supplements.
But let’s get back to the storage rules. How to know that you are storing Botox, Dysport, other botulinum toxin type products correctly? What are the rules for reconstituted Botox? What is the protocol in cosmetic medicine? Let’s discuss that in this article.
What Is Botulinum Toxin?
Botulinum toxin is the toxin that appears from the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. This same toxin also causes a dangerous type of food poisoning – botulism. However, the study showed that, if a small dose is used, it is possible to cure some of the medical, health, and cosmetic (Botox) issues:
- Smooth out facial wrinkles and lines for some time;
- Cure hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating);
- Cervical dystonia (a disorder that provokes severe contractions in the neck and shoulders muscles);
- Blepharospasm – uncontrollable blinking;
- Chronic migraines;
- Overactive bladder.
Now we know a little more about botulinum toxins themselves, let’s read more about the Botox procedure according to the procedure protocol.
Procedure Protocol
Botulinum toxins in aesthetic medicine are used for patients’ skin rejuvenation and glabellar lines correction. As clinical research and surveys showed, Botox treatment is among patients’ favorite.
The Botox itself paralyzes the specific muscle(or few) or numbs facial nerve endings. The solution is injected into the treated area after careful skin cleansing. Sometimes, the anesthetic can be used if the client has very sensitive skin.
In general, it takes from four days to one week to see the full effect after you use Botox. The results remain from three to twelve months, depending on the treated area and type of medicine you have chosen. The common side effects are bruising, swelling, redness in the injected areas. Sometimes, headaches and upset tummy are possible. But it is all right, and there is nothing you can not control. Those symptoms should be gone within five days.
It is possible to prolong the results by repeating the Botox procedures every five-six months.
Why Do Injections Need Storage Rules?
Botox and other botulinum toxin-type remedies always have their storage conditions, temperatures, rules mentioned on their packaging. That is very important not only because it guarantees the product’s safety and reliability but also gives instructions for those who have never used Botox before.
Follow storing rules of the different Botox-type products mentioned below, and you will save both money and time in the future. Because the quality of the solution equals your patients’ happiness and good medical results.
How to Store Botox?
According to Allergan, Botox vials should be stored in the refrigerator at 2°C – 8°C. Sometimes, you can keep it in the freezer at a temperature not higher than 5°C. The standard durability of Botox’s shelf-life is thirty-six months from the manufacturing date.
You can’t wait for weeks after opening the vial. A traditional type b Botox should be used immediately after opening the vial and the drug’s reconstitution (or at least during twenty-four hours). However, as Allergan claimed, reconstituted Botox can be used for a much more extended period (from a few days to weeks).
There were researches conducted with volunteers on how effective fresh Botox, the one opened for two hours and for a week is. The results were even. That showed us that if the remedy was not reconstituted, it is possible to store it for later and, in this way, save yourself some money and product. However, you should still pay attention to its shelf-life. On BeautyDermal.com you can buy botox online safely and save up to 50%.
How to Store Dysport?
Unopened Dysport vials bottles can store in the refrigerator for up to twenty-four months (but they can’t be frozen!). Moreover, a recent study discovered that you can keep the remedy at room temperatures for three days without losing neurotoxin effectiveness. Do not forget that all medicines you are using should be protected from the light.
It must be thrown away if not used within 24 hours.
How to Store Bocouture?
Bocouture, as well as Botox, can’t be reserved at temperatures higher than 25°C. After reconstitution, the solution should be used within 24 hours. The doctor can’t use the injection if the liquid is misty or has visible foreign particles.
How to Store Azzalure?
It is recommended to store the product in the refrigerator at temperatures from 2°C to 8°C. The medical rules forbid freezing Azzalure because it will not be effective anymore.
The reconstituted solution can store for up to two years. However, after adding the saline, the product has to be used immediately.
How to Store Xeomin?
Keep in the refrigerator at a temperature from 2°C to 8°C, as well as Botox. Avoid heat and direct sunlight.
After adding the saline, reconstituted Xeomin can be used immediately on the patients, single-dose only. It is a normal practice. It should be administered within one day after opening. Using Xeomin is mostly prescribed for glabellar lines correction.
How to Store Myobloc?
Myobloc is also known as Neurobloc. It is used for medical purposes to cure a muscles contractions problem. It helps patients to control their tics better.
According to specialists, storing in the refrigerators possible up to twenty-one months, and after it, up to five months at room temperatures, without losing its effect.
How to Understand that Botulinum Toxin-Based Products Are Expired?
In aesthetic medicine, sometimes there are situations when products just went bad. And that is okay, everything has an expiration day. But how to avoid Botox injection with a spoiled remedy? Let’s talk about it a little more:
- Do independent research. Ask the doctor to show the vial to check its shelf-life; look whether it was opened before. Even if the doctor would think you are strange, your safety is much more important!
- Ask about the price. High-quality Botox with the right saline that will numb muscle in the needed area for more than just a few weeks will never be cheap;
- Check the solution. In the clinical cosmetic area, the results depend on every part of the process. So, you should look at the solution to make sure it is clear, transparent, with no precipitate or foreign particles;
- Read an article or two about the clinic you are going to visit. This one is for the patients. In order to know whether the medical clinic of choice worth trusting, study other people’s experiences. Botox injection is a pretty popular procedure, you have plenty of variants where to go. Just give yourself a few weeks to research.
As you can see, there are some ways to see whether Botox is effective and qualitative. And it is very important to check all those factors to avoid such harmful consequences as muscle numbness, swelling, and the “frozen face” effect. Remember, in the sphere of aesthetical medicine, safety is the essential part. Do not risk your health (or your patients’ health) because you simply do not have enough time to follow all the safety measures.
What to Do if You Have Got a Bad Botox Injection?
Unfortunately, there are situations when Botox injection can go wrong. The common side effect after it is a “frozen face,” which stays for ten-twelve weeks. The good thing is that even tho the circumstances are not pleasant, face muscle won’t always be numb. The result after Botox will go away and your face will become normal again.
Among bad Botox symptoms, we can also mention eyelid droop, droopy smile, and quizzical brow (when one of your eyebrows is higher than another).
And the best medicine for that is time. There are no injections or pills that can reverse the Botox effect. It will wear off by itself with time, and the muscle will get back to normal again. Botulinum toxin products are not among those that have some methods to take back the result. That is why we want to stress one more time: study specifics before the procedure, your health is more important than all the procedures altogether.
Final Words
As you can see, Botox and botulinum toxin types remedies are pretty similar in their storing peculiarities. However, for unknown reasons, some people still think that all of those mentioned above are the same. This article was written to show that that is not true. Every remedy is different, can be prescribed to different people, and should be carefully stored at mentioned temperatures and conditions.
If you are interested in dermal fillers based on hyaluronic acids, then you can read our article Juvederm vs. Radiesse. It clearly describes the important points for product users.
For all the doctors out there – take care of your clients’ safety. Their results and happiness after the treatment are fundamental for your business. And for those who use Botox – be attentive, prepare properly for the procedure, it is your health and life.
Stay safe and be careful. Hope this article was helpful!