Treatment Information
In today’s day and age, where youth and beauty is so highly valued, it’s no surprise to
see the exploding popularity of Botox® treatments. Botox® is still the most popular antiageing treatment largely due to the simplicity of the procedure, its safety and fast,
effective results.
What is Botulinium Toxin?
Botulinum Toxin is a naturally occurring protein derived from the Bacterium Clostridium
Botulinum. The popular brand names used in the UK are BOTOX®, AZZALURE®,
BOCOUTURE®, DYSPORT®, XEOMIN® and VISTABEL®. When used cosmetically, it
can smooth out dynamic lines, restoring a more youthful, less stressed expression to
your face.
How does Botox® work?
Whenever you laugh, frown, concentrate or squint, your facial muscles contract and
your skin creases. As you get older your skin loses its elasticity and those creases
deepen into lines that become permanently etched on your face. Frown lines between
your eyes can become particularly noticeable at a relatively young age, making you look
angry, worried or stressed even when you’re not.
By injecting tiny amounts of Botox® very precisely into specific facial muscles, the nerve
impulses responsible for contraction of these muscles are blocked. This causes a
temporary weakness or paralysis of that muscle resulting in the overlying skin becoming
smooth and unwrinkled.
Where can Botox® be used?
Frown lines on the forehead & between the brows
Crow’s feet around the eyes
Bunny lines on the nose
Lip area and corners of the mouth usually in conjunction with Dermal Fillers
Necklines- horizontal ‘necklace lines’ and vertical ‘platysmal bands’ can be softened.
What are the benefits?
By relaxing the muscles that cause frown lines, forehead lines and crows feet:
The skin appears dramatically smoother
Facial lines disappear or diminish dramatically in just a few days
The creation of more wrinkles is prevented
Normal activities can be resumed immediately
It only takes 2-3 days for the injections to begin to take effect and 7-10 days for full
effect.
Preparing for the treatment
During your consultation with the doctor a full medical history will be taken to assess
your suitability, and the benefits and potential side effects will be discussed in full.
What is the treatment like?
Tiny micro-needles are used so discomfort is minimal. No sedation or local anaesthetic
is required and treatment takes around 10-15 minutes.
After the treatment
You can resume normal activities, drive yourself home or return to work immediately
after the treatment. Exercise should be avoided for 4 hours after the treatment, and the
area should not be massaged for 24 hours. It is safe to fly after the treatment although
we generally recommend that you wait 48 hours before flying long haul. You are
advised to attend for a review 2-3 weeks after your first treatment. Follow-ups are
generally not required for subsequent treatments.
To learn more about the process (including pre and post treatment information)
Will it leave me expressionless?
No, definitely not. Advanced training enables us to minimise any possible loss of facial
expression by accurate dosing and injecting specific facial muscles responsible for the
wrinkles. Botox® is intended to produce a more youthful and rested appearance.
What are the limitations of Botox®?
Botox® is best at treating dynamic facial lines i.e. those caused by facial muscular
activity. This treatment does not improve wrinkles due to ageing and sun-damage,
which are unrelated to facial muscle activity. The effects of the injections will generally
last from two to six months. Facial muscles that are larger (such as in men) or which are
used by facially ‘expressive’ clients may require more frequent treatments. After several
treatments the effects may last longer.
Who is suitable for Botox® treatment?
Starting in our late twenties, facial lines and wrinkles begin to appear that affect not just
your appearance, but also your self-esteem and even your choice of career. By
smoothing out those lines Botox® can help you restore a more youthful, less stressed
expression to your face. Many people can benefit from Botox® - not just celebrities, and
it can work as well for men as it does for women. In fact many men are already
experiencing the benefits of a younger, more relaxed looking appearance that Botox®
can provide.
Who is not suitable for Botox® treatment?
While Botox® has been safely used by millions of patients, it is recommended that
pregnant or breast feeding women or patients suffering from severe neuromuscular
disorders, do not have Botox® treatment.
Will it interact with medication I'm taking?
Drug interactions can occur when Botox® is used concomitantly with other medications.
You must ensure that your doctor is aware of any medications you are taking, especially
aminoglycoside antibiotics (gentamicin, neomycin), aspirin, anti-inflammatories, Gingko
Biloba and St John’s Wort.
Are there any side effects?
Botox® has been used for over 20 years to treat facial wrinkles and its safety and
efficacy has been shown in many clinical trials. In addition there have been no long term
side effects reported from the use of Botox®. However, whilst uncommon, temporary
adverse effects may arise from the treatment. Occasionally a small bruise may occur at
the injection site – this can be covered with make-up. In very rare circumstances
patients may experience heaviness or descent of the eyebrow or eyelid, which may last
a few weeks. Prior to your treatment the doctor will assess your risk of this event and
therefore adjust your treatment accordingly.
I have seen clinics offering Botox® much cheaper
Unfortunately, Botox® treatment from one clinic may not be exactly what you get at
another. Even though Botulinum Toxin A (Botox®, Azzalure, Bocouture etc.) is supplied
to all medical clinics in a manufacturer’s vial containing a specific amount of vacuum
dried neurotoxin (powder form), in order to be able to inject it, the healthcare
professional must add a saline solution to get it in a liquid form- a process known as
reconstitution.
So while each healthcare professional gets the same product from the manufacturer,
when it is reconstituted for injection, strength and efficacy will differ depending on the
amount of saline added.
With this in mind, you should be cautious when you see Botox® treatment at bargain
prices. Everyone pays the same for the Botulinum Toxin – so how can prices to the
patients vary so much? Botox® at a ‘bargain’ price almost always mean it has been
diluted far beyond what’s recommended (or effective; even if it is effective initially the
treatment will wear off quickly). Don’t assume that you are getting a ‘good dose’
because a large amount is being injected. What you thought was a bargain price for
Botox® may really be an extortionate price for mostly saline solution!
Botox® is a Prescription Only Medicine and should be considered to be a medical
procedure, carried out in a controlled medical environment and administered by a
qualified and experienced medical professional (Doctor or Nurse Prescriber).