Botulinum Toxin

What is Botox?

Botox is a drug made from a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum toxin. It is used medically to treat certain muscular conditions and cosmetically to remove wrinkles by temporarily preventing the contraction of a muscle.

Reasons for clients wanting botox treatment

  • repetitive facial expressions

  • gravity

  • sleeping positions

  • smoking

 

What is the best Botox?

There are different types of botulinum toxin commercially available in the United Kingdom: Type A toxin: Botox (Vistabel), Dysport (Azzalure) and Xeomin (Bocouture) Which of these products is best for you will depend on your unique anatomy, your goals, and your practitioners recommendations.

 

What do I need to know about my appointment?

A full history will have been completed with you during the consultation phase. However, it is important if you know of any changes between this time and the date of your appointment.Such important information includes, any medication, which you may be on; prescribed by your doctor or over the counter medications.Refrain from taking Ibuprofen, aspirin and any homeopathic blood thinners such as multivitamins, omega fish oils, garlic etc. however do not stop taking any medication prescribed by your doctor but ensure you discuss this at consultation.Breast feeding and pregnant mothers CANNOT BE TREATED


What things should I consider before botox?

Before booking your appointment, there are a few things you should keep in mind in order to ensure the best results.The last thing you want to do is bargain-hunt for cheap Botox injections.Don’t Go for Bargains.  In the best-case scenario, you get a diluted dosage of the product; in the worse-case one, you may not get the right product in the first place. 

In addition, the quality of the Botox could be compromised, which means the injectable may not be safe. Be aware of what your overall goals are too. If you want your complexion to always look bright and refreshed, you may want to undergo the procedure a couple of times a year; if you wish to improve the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines and maintain this look, around five or six times a year may be the best option. Make sure you schedule your Botox appointment at least 2 weeks prior to any special occasions such as a vacation or a wedding. Results from Botox injections and dermal fillers take around 4-7 days to appear.

 

What does the treatment involve? 

The treatment involves a series of tiny injections into the areas which you wish to be treated. The procedure is relatively pain free. Botox comes in a form of a vial in powder form. It is then diluted by adding a saline solution. The nurse then decides on dosages suitable.

 

What are the other effects of Botox? 

Botox can be used to treat migraines, this works by blocking the release of the neurotransmitters, which are responsible for causing pain. Botox can also be effective for excessive sweating in the under-arm region. It does this by blocking the signal that the body sends to stimulate sweat glands.

What are the common areas to be treated with Botox? The most common areas are the frown, forehead and crow’s feet. Other areas include bunny lines, dimpled chin, gummy smile and platysmal bands in the neck.


How long does botox treatment take?

Botox treatments usually take between 15 and 30 minutes and are a safe and effective cosmetic procedure with minimal side effects and recovery time.


Why does botox take time to work?

Botox is administered by injection under the skin, where it is absorbed by nerve cells in contact with the muscle. It takes time for Botox to take effect on the muscle and stop or weaken the muscle contraction that causes the lines and wrinkles to appear on the surface of the skin.Once those muscles stop contracting, the lines or wrinkles release, resulting in an improved appearance of the skin.While some results are noticeable after 3 or 4 days, it can take a few weeks to see maximum results. Why this delay?

Botox binds at a connection point between muscles and nerves called the motor end plate. When this happens the nerves send signals at the muscle to move. As a result the motor endplate of the nerves contract. Although Botox binds quickly, the shutting off of SNARE, and the silencing of acetylcholine takes several days. This explains why the onset of Botox isn’t immediate, but rather takes several days.


How does botox feel when it starts working?

It’s working when your lines start to fade away. The treated area will appear smoother and look more refreshed. After your first treatment, you may feel a slightly tight sensation or a feeling of heaviness, which will subside in 1 to 2 weeks. You can typically tell that Botox is starting to wear off when you can see dynamic lines again with movement.


Timeline for forehead, crow’s feet, and between the brows

The most common areas of the face for Botox include the forehead, around the eyes, crows feet, and between the eyebrows. In general, the finer the lines, the faster the results.Botox will generally show more quickly in areas such as the corners of the eyes (crow’s feet) and fine forehead lines, The results may take longer for areas where the lines are deep or etched. This includes the lines between the eyebrows or very deep or etched forehead lines. Botox injected in different areas takes different amounts of time to see results — it’s really the concentration of product injected and how it’s injected into the muscle that determines the ultimate effect.It is possible that larger muscles receiving less units (think forehead) may appear to kick in slower than a smaller muscle (a weaker frown) receiving more units.

 

Botulinum Toxin Aftercare

You have just undergone Botox, a treatment for fine lines and wrinkles. Directly where the Botox/Dysport injections were placed, you may experience redness, swelling, tenderness, and bruising. These symptoms should resolve spontaneously within 7 days.

Post Treatment Advice & Guidance

  • Allow the ingredients in your botox injections to settle into your body.Avoid doing any exercise or strenuous activity for 24 hours after Botox.

  • If you are new to botox injections, you may be tempted to massage the injection site. Resist that desire and leave the area alone. Your skin needs time to recover from the treatment. You will slow down your healing process if you aggravate the injection site by rubbing or massaging the area.

  • After 6 hours, you may gently wash the injection site with soap and water, but not before then as to prevent the Botox from spreading to other muscles.

  • Do not lie down for four hours after the procedure, so that the Botox won’t move to other areas. While you are sleeping you may inadvertently roll onto your stomach and press your face against your bed or pillow. This may cause the Botox serum to slide into your eyes and cause drooping eyelids. If you can sleep face up for the next few days following your Botox treatment, even better.

  • Avoid drinking for at least 1 day following your botox treatment. It is in your best interest to avoid alcohol to reduce your risk of negative side effects including bruising.

  • Don't Take Blood Thinners. If possible, do not take any blood thinners for several days after your Botox treatment.

  •  Avoid being out in the heat, tanning, self-tanning beds, or heat lamps for 72 hours following your treatment. You should not expose yourself to excessive heat until all the redness and swelling has gone from the injection site.

  • Avoid all facials, laser treatments, or microdermabrasion for a minimum of 10 days following your procedure.

  • Remember Botox results will begin to appear 3-7 days after your treatment. Give your face the  time to recover before undergoing other treatments.

  • Apply a cool compress on the injection site If you have any discomfort following your Botox treatment, this can help reduce swelling. Place the cool compress on the site for 15 minutes every hour. If you have swelling, you can prop up your mattress or head with pillows to help bring the swelling down.


Product Use/Skincare

You should be gentle with any face washing or lotion applying in the days after Botox. However, you can still use the same cleansers, exfoliants and moisturisers you always use. These products won't harm your Botox results and can even enhance results if these products improve your skin's texture and glow.

Complication Management

Adverse reactions and unintended effects can occasionally occur with toxins for cosmetic use, even though they generally have an outstanding safety profile. Because of this, clients are always fully informed of common and serious complications that might occur with a specific treatment; this information is also highlighted in the consent form that client’s sign. 

Post Procedure Expectations

Botox results will begin to appear 3-7 days after your treatment. It’s common for the results of the treatment to take up to around two weeks to take full effect, so wait until this time has passed before assessing whether or not you’re happy with the results.

Future Procedures

All patients should be reviewed after two weeks in order to follow up and be encouraged to inform the practitioner of any concerns. Time frames for future treatment depends on the client.

Results

You will notice weakness or decreased ability to move the muscles in the areas that have been treated within 2-3 days of injection. This is the desired effect. Improvement in the wrinkles will become evident as soon as 2-3 days after injection, others showing benefit up to a week or more after the original injection. The correction is different for everyone, but on average, wrinkles will return to normal around 3-4 months. After a series of treatments, some individuals receive more sustained benefit from a single treatment. If you choose not to continue with your treatment, the treated area will return to its retreated state, and skin lines will return. 

Do

Attend your next appointment/review. This is important!

Do Not

Do not touch the area treated and treat as if an open wound

Do not use workout or use steam rooms or saunas for 24 hours

Do not apply makeup for 24 hours or if sign of infection

Do not sleep on one side and sleep on back the night of treatment

Although rare, there are risks with any procedure and all of the above side effects are considered to be normal. What is not normal, is the sudden onset of pain or pain that causes distress. Should you experience this sensation we advise you to contact the clinic immediately or seek medical assistance. We have a dedicated Whats app number 07310177746 that is manned 7 days a week. Please send a clear photo of your treated area or concern and a message explaining what symptoms you are experiencing and someone will contact you back as soon as possible.

If you experience pain that is very distressing after botox and it is during out of hours or making you feel extremely unwell you should visit your nearest walk in center for medical assistance.