Treatment Time: 10-15 minutes
Recovery Time: No downtime
Results Duration: 3-6 months
Anaesthesia: None
What is Botox?
Consultation required as POM
Botulinum toxin is a naturally occurring protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
Botulinum toxin can be used to treat all wrinkles which are the result of normal facial movement.
Botulinum toxin can also be used to reposition or lift the eyebrows by a few millimetres. This is sometimes called a “chemical brow lift”. It can lessen so-called “bunny lines” (lines along the top of the nose caused when some people smile.) More seriously, it can help people who have suffered facial trauma or Bell’s palsy. In these cases, the face can take on a “lop-sided” look, and botulinum toxin can help to correct this distressing condition.
Experienced injectors may also treat fine vertical lines in the lip area and around the corners of the mouth. Usually in these cases, an injection of botulinum toxin would be accompanied by a dermal filler. This literally fills up some of the deeper wrinkles like a cosmetic polyfilla!
A dimply chin caused by the underlying muscle that occurs in some people can also be softened as can “necklace lines” or horizontal lines around the neck.
“Platysmal bands” – bands of muscle that stand out from the neck and make the neck look stringy in appearance can also be softened with botulinum toxin.
FAQS
Risks & Benefits of anti-wrinkle injections
Most patients find that Botox® injections cause little discomfort. Many compare the feeling to a little insect bite! As the treatment is very quick, the needles used are tiny and only minute amounts of liquid are being injected into the skin; few patients experience any significant pain.
A few patients do, however, prefer to have an aesthetic cream applied half an hour or so prior to treatment to help numb the skin.
Other risks or side effects include a small amount of temporary bleeding or mild swelling which may occur at the injection site. In some cases more extensive bruising may occur, especially around the eyes, but this can usually be covered up with make-up, and is only temporary.
Occasionally, patients experience a headache after treatment, and, very rarely, double vision.
When botulinum toxin is injected into the forehead area, there is a very slight possibility that it may cause weakness of the muscle holding up the eyelid causing a “partial ptosis” or drooping of the upper eyelid.
In experienced hands this tends to happen in less than 1% of patients and will disappear over a period of 2 – 10 weeks. Some doctors also use an eye drop called apraclonidine to help to speed up the recovery if this effect occurs.
If the forehead muscles are relaxed too much, especially in patients with looser skin, the treatment may cause the eyebrows to drop slightly. Again, this is only a temporary condition and will vanish usually within 10 weeks.
Sometimes, the eyebrow position may alter so that the edges of the eyebrows become elevated. Some women like this effect, but it is generally unwanted in men. It is easily corrected with a small amount of botulinum toxin injected above the raised area of the eyebrow to help change its position.
All patients should remember that because the results of botulinum toxin are not permanent, any unwanted effects will disappear usually within a 3 month period.
During 2003 there were some press reports claiming that Botox® may cause more wrinkles to appear. We have looked at these claims and can find no evidence in the scientific literature, at this point, to support these reports.
Prices
| Treatment | From Price |
|---|---|
| Eyes / Frown lines – One area | £165 |
| Eyes / Frown lines – Two areas | £180 |
| Eyes / Frown lines – Three areas | £200 |
| Teeth grinding | £200 |
| Brow lift | £150 |
| Teeth grinding | £200 |
| Lip Flip (Cupids Bow) | £30 |
| Marionette Lines | £30 |
| Chin dimples | £20 |
| Smokers Lines | £30 |
| Bunny Lines | £20 |
| Platysma Bands (Neck) | £180 |
| Jawline | £180 |
| Hyperhydrosis (Excessive Under arm sweating) | £350 |