What is Botox™ used for?
Botox™ is used to relax and soften expression lines on the upper face, give lifting effect to lower face, and can also be used to treat excessive sweating.
What is Botox™?
Botox™ is the trade name for Botulinum Toxin a prescription only medicine which has been used for over 35 years in the NHS for the treatment of a number of muscular problems. More recently, it has been licensed for excessive sweating and also migraine.
How does it work?
Botox™ when injected into the small muscles on the face blocks the chemical messages between the nerves and the muscle fibres sending the muscle into temporary hibernation.
Is Botox™ suitable for me?
At Simon Lee’s Aesthetic Medical Clinic a qualified and experienced nurse prescriber will assess your needs and expectations and advise you of the treatment options you may choose from and which treatment will best meet your needs.
Many lines and wrinkles are caused by the repeated creasing of the skin caused by expressions. If we can rest the skin by not making those expressions, then the creased skin recovers and the lines soften if not disappear. Botox™ is an ideal treatment for crows’ feet and those expression lines on the forehead, where the muscles can be put into hibernation quite safely. Botox™ can also be used on younger skins to prevent lines developing. We do not recommend Botox™ for those under 25, there may be other treatments more appropriate.
Your nurse will check your medical history before treating you, but will certainly not be able to treat those with muscular or neurological disorders, anyone taking certain antibiotics or pregnant or nursing mothers.
Is Botox™ safe?
Botox™ is a very safe treatment. Possible side effects are very rare and in the large part can be avoided if the advice given by the nurse is followed. At consultation any possible risks and complications will be explained.
What does the treatment involve?
After your initial consultation and assessment your nurse will administer tiny injections into the superficial muscles causing the unwanted lines. This is not a painful procedure and doesn’t take very long.
After Botox™ treatment.
For a very short time the injections sites may be a little bit red and raised, looking a little like insect bites. This usually settles within an hour.
Do not massage or rub the injection sites for 2 hours.
You will be advised to make the expression being targeted frequently for one or two hours after the treatment. This encourages the Botox™ to be taken up by the specific muscles aimed at. Also you will be told NOT to lean forward or lie down for two hours. If you follow this advice you are unlikely to have complications such as a droopy eye.
Bruising can occur. Arnica cream, which can be bought from most chemists and major supermarket chains is helpful in dispersing bruises quickly.
Some people may experience a dull headache for a few days; this is not a cause for concern and will wear off. The full effect of the treatment develops gradually over the next 7-14 days. The nurse will see you again at 2-3 weeks for follow up.
Follow up appointment
Since everyone’s facial muscles vary according to how they use them, initially your nurse will give you a fairly standard dose. The full effect of treatment will be seen usually within 2 weeks when the action of Botox™ is known to peak. It is important you are able to attend this appointment in order to assess the result and if necessary top up to achieve a tailored dose that works well for YOU.
How long does Botox™ last?
The length of time between appointments will vary from person to person. If you have a very expressive face, and continue to exercise these expressions whilst the muscles are resting, then they will tend to recover more quickly. You will feel yourself making the expression but your muscles will not be responding, do not force it.
The muscle will begin to recover some movement by about 6-8 weeks but the lines will take longer to return. We recommend follow up treatment at about 3-4 months, not before. After each subsequent treatment the muscles usually take longer to recover as the lack of exercise makes them smaller and weaker. Without further treatment they will, in time, recover completely. Botox™ has no permanent effect.
After the initial course of treatments in the first year, tailoring the dose to best suit your individual needs and weakening the muscle sufficiently, most people will require a maintenance programme of two treatments a year.
We also use alternative licensed brands of Botulinum Toxin A, Azzalure™ and Bocouture™, if you have a preferred brand, please do tell us.
