0
Botox is an effective and popular facial wrinkle treatment. If you’re new to Botox treatment, the following questions will help you to decide whether Botox is right for you.
Although the results are not permanent, the decision to do botox is a combination of your aesthetic requirements and a detailed discussion with your doctor on the results and the future needs of your skin health. The following information is designed to give you a better understanding and a well-rounded view of Botox.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you’d like to speak with one of our surgeons or discuss any other treatments that will give you the desired outcome.
What is Botox?
Botox is a by-product that comes from the protein Clostridium Botulinum. It is predominantly used as an anti-ageing and wrinkle treatment to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and dynamic wrinkles.
You may also hear Botox being referred to as BTXA, Dysport, Myobloc, Neurobloc, Xeomin, Botox Cosmetic, and Vistabel.
How does Botox work?
Botox treatment explained in three steps.
When you are injected with botox it relaxes your muscles temporarily by blocking the signals from your nerves to the injected muscle.
Once your nerve impulses have been blocked, Botox temporarily stops your muscle from contracting.
As a result, your muscles relax and your fine lines and wrinkles become less noticeable. Your complexion is smoother and more youthful in appearance.
Is Botox safe?
Botox treatments have been used in medicine for over 50 years. However, it came to the fore in the 1980s when ophthalmologists noticed that wrinkles and fine lines disappeared when they treated patients with strabismus.
Contrary to popular belief, Botox has been around for a long time and has been used as an effective wrinkle treatment for over 20 years.
Today, Botox is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments for reducing the appearance of dynamic fine lines and wrinkles. It is also one of the most researched medicines in the world.
Are there any long-term consequences?
The average Botox dose for wrinkle treatment on the forehead, crow’s feet and frown lines is approximately 50 units. There are no reported side-effects from long-term use of botox for aesthetic treatment of wrinkles. At Santi you will be with some of the foremost experts in the aesthetic field.
How long will a Botox treatment last?
After your first treatment, you will see full results within two weeks; however, you may see the effects within a few days – the results vary from person to person. It is always advisable to book a complimentary 2 week follow-up with the botox doctors at Santi to ensure that you are completely satisfied with the result.
On average, your Botox treatment will last for approximately three to four months. With some people it can last as long as six months.
In certain areas; for example, the forehead, you might find that after the Botox has worn off, the wrinkles won’t be as prominent when they return.
Will Botox work for me?
According to clinical trials, 90% of patients noticed improvements in their fine lines and wrinkles, making Botox a highly popular wrinkle treatment. By all means come in for an assessment and discussion of your skin care needs. At Santi we are uniquely positioned to offer skin care advice based on scientific instruments that are unique to our clinic. Read more about our Skin Lab.
What else has Botox been used for?
Botox isn’t just used as a wrinkle treatment. It’s a reputable medicine that is used to effectively treat people with a variety of neuromuscular disorders. Botox can be used to treat the following conditions:
Chronic migraines
Severe back and neck pain
Eyelid spasms and eye twitching (Blepharospasm)
Crossed eyes (Strabismus)
Chronic sweating under the arms
Muscle tightness in the fingers, wrists and elbows
Who can have Botox?
People who have Botox treatment often want to feel their best and look younger. Santi can treat both men and women; however, men often need a slightly stronger botox dose.
Prior to your Botox treatment at Santi, you will receive a thorough consultation with your doctor who will be able to advise you accordingly.
Does Botox hurt and will I be able to go about my daily activities afterwards?
Most people say Botox injections are fairly painless. The needle is extremely fine and there’s no need for anaesthetic.
You also don’t need to worry about being immobile for the rest of the day – many people who have Botox treatments go about their daily routine. So, if you have to go back to work on the same day as your treatment, Botox won’t cause you a problem. It is often described as a lunch time treatment in the press.
What are the side effects?
Negative side effects
Side effects of botox are rare; however, some people may experience a mild pain and/ or tenderness where the treatment was injected. Slight mild swelling may also occur; however, this usually goes within two days.
Other rare side effects include slight bruising and temporary drooping of the eyebrows or eyelids. This is why the treatments must be carried out by experienced experts in facial aesthetics.
Positive side effects
In addition to this, there may also be some pleasant side effects, such as a reduction in tension style headaches if you’ve chosen to have Botox treatment in your forehead.
How many Botox treatments can I have? Is it possible to have too many treatments?
The effects of Botox usually wear off after about three to four months; so, every three months is the minimal amount of time you should wait until your next treatment.
With regular treatments, some patients have reported longer lasting results.
Providing you wait at least three months between treatments, you can continue to be treated regularly without any harm being caused.
If I stop having Botox treatments will my face look worse than before?
Not at all. Once you stop having Botox, your lines will gradually return to how they looked prior to your last treatment. If anything, your lines and wrinkles may look less prominent from the long term use of Botox.
Will expression be lost in my face?
Contrary to popular belief, you will not lose expression in your face. When Botox is injected into areas of your face, it is designed to diminish the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. Because the facial muscles are affected, it does alter facial movement. During your consultation discuss your requirements. One of the alternatives is to have baby Botox which has a softer look yet maintaining the use of facial expression muscles.
Is Botox acceptable?
Many clients come to Santi in their late 20s for Botox as they see Botox as a preventative. Some people need longer to decide whether Botox is the right wrinkle treatment for them. You’re always welcome to come in and have a meeting with one of our experts.
How do I find a good Botox clinic?
When you decide to have Botox treatment, most doctors will offer you a free consultation prior to your treatment. It’s important that you feel comfortable with the doctor; and your injecting physician is qualified and understands your requirements.
At Santi, all our doctors have been chosen primarily because they balance their time between clinical work, research and aesthetics. It’s this combination that gives surgeons at Santi an excellent balance and perspective. Read more about Our Surgeons and Team.
It’s also important to make sure that post-treatment you are offered a follow-up appointment two weeks after your first Botox treatment. It is essential that you are happy with the results.
Is there anyone who is not suitable for Botox?
If you are suffering from any of the following conditions you may not be suitable for Botox treatments.
You have an infection in the area you’d like to be treated with Botox
You’re allergic to Botox injections
You have an extreme musculoskeletal condition such as Eaton Lambert Syndrome or Myasthenia Gravis
You’re currently pregnant or breast feeding
You are under the age of 18
If any of the following applies to you, please consult your doctor before you have Botox
You have a blood clotting condition such as Haemophilia
You are taking anticoagulant or anti-inflammatory medicines such as Asprin, Warfarin or Heparin
You are taking herbal medicine containing St John’s Wort, Gingiko Bilboa or Vitamin E
You have chronic problems with your breathing
You have had a stroke or Bell’s palsy in the past
If anything on these lists applies to you, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you aren’t suitable for Botox, it just means that you may need to be more cautious.
Before your treatment, your doctor will discuss everything with you in depth to avoid any complications or the possibility of negative side effects occurring.
If necessary, your doctor will also be able to discuss other wrinkle treatment options with you that may be more suitable.
What aftercare advice should I follow?
Once you have had your Botox treatment there are certain exercises you can do to improve results. This is what you can and can’t do after a treatment of Botox:
Straight after your treatment, you should try to contract your muscles in the treated area for up to four hours. This exercise will help the Botox to reach all of the muscle.
For 48 hours after your treatment, you should avoid touching the area of your face that was treated.
Alcohol and intense exercise should be avoided for a period of 48 hours.
If you experience bruising, you might find that Arnica cream will help.
If you experience pain, you can take paracetamol after your treatment.
If you feel that Botox is the right wrinkle treatment for you, call us on 020 7584 7000 today to book your free consultation.