BOTOX FAQ's

Q: What is BOTOX®?

A: This is not to be confused with dermal fillers which do exactly what it says on the tin... FILL. BOTOX® contains a natural purified neurotoxic protein produced by clostridium botulinim. This product is sold commercially under several brand names BOTOX®, Dysport, Xeomin and Vistabel, amongst others.

Q: How does BOTOX® work?

A: BOTOX® works to relax the contraction of the muscle injected by blocking the nerve impulses received by the muscle. The result is that the muscles can no longer contract and so the wrinkles relax and soften leaving a fresh well rested appearance. It usually takes 2 to 4 days to work and 14 days to see full effects. Treatments can last from 4 to 6 months depending on lifestyle. Most clients require treatment to remove the wrinkles as soon as they begin to reappear, but after each injection the wrinkles return less severe as the muscles are trained to relax. After several treatments you may find the gaps between each treatment get longer.

Q: How is BOTOX® administered?

A: BOTOX® procedures do not require anaesthesia and usually take just a few minutes to perform. The protein is injected into the muscle using a fine needle in order to minimise discomfort and maximise accuracy. It is recommended that patients avoid alcohol prior to the procedure to minimise bruising. To further reduce the risk of bruising, clients should avoid taking aspirin and anti-inflammatory medication for about 4 days before the procedure and 4 days after the procedure. Men may need a higher dose of BOTOX® than women to achieve desired results.

Q: Will BOTOX® treatments freeze my face?

A: No, by only injecting the specific muscle responsible for wrinkles your practitioner is able to minimise the loss of facial expressions (less is more!)

Q: What are the side effects of BOTOX®?

A: The most common side effect of BOTOX® injections is temporary bruising. Other possible side effects include headache, respiratory infection, flu like symptoms, blepharoptis (drooping of the upper eyelid) and nausea.

Q. Is BOTOX® safe?

A. Yes, it has been approved by the food and drug administration (FDA) for cosmetic use to temporarily reduce moderate to severe frown lines and has been used without any long term problems for over 30 years.

Q. What is the recovery period?

A. After BOTOX® treatment you should be able to carry on your day as normal. You must avoid lying down flat, vigorous exercise and alcohol for at least 4-6 hours. It is also recommended not to take any long haul flights for 24 hours following treatment.

Q. Is there anything I can do at home to improve the results?

A. After botox treatment you should avoid massaging the area directly for 2 days. You can also do some facial exercises to further penetrate the product into the muscle.

Q. Who should not use BOTOX®?

A. Anyone suffering from Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome, a rare autoimmune dissorder and myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular disease. Anyone with a known hypersensitivity to BOTOX® ot any o the components in BOTOX®; Human albumin sodium chloride. Anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding. Anyone taking muslce relaxants such as; Tubocurarine. Anyone being treated with antibiotics. Caution should also be taken with anyone using over the counter products such as; High dose omega 3 oil, high dose vitamin E, aspirin and anti-inflammatories. Caution should also be taken with anyone suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (motor neurone disease) or with peripheral neuromuscular disorders. Examples of these disorders are; Parkinsons, stroke, huntingtons, multiple sclerosis, myasthenia gravis and creutzfeldt-jakob disease. This list is not exaustive and you should inform your practitioner if you suffer from any of these conditions or something similar.