Q. When is a good time to start getting Botox injections?
A. When you’re young, you have action lines – lines that appear when you smile or frown. Later on as time passes you will find that the lines don’t vanish when you stop frowning/smiling. They have become passive lines, which are there at rest – that’s the best time to start. This is not age dependent, but dependent on your skin.
Q. How long does Botox last?
A. On average, initially it will last 2-4 months, increasing over a number of consecutive treatments to 4-5 months. However, this is individual. 5% of our patients have Botox lasting between 6-12 months. We have a number with it lasting over a year up to 18 months and also a small number where it wears off quickly within 6-8 weeks.
Q. How do you know whether your Botox practitioner is safe and will do a good job administering Botox?
A. Check his/her experience. Never be afraid to ask questions such as: How many procedures have they done and have they dealt with or had had any complications? This is important because if they’ve done enough treatments, it’s almost certain they would have come across complications as these can arise as a normal side effect of Botox and are not solely indicative of poor administration.
It’s actually reassuring to know that the physician has experienced and dealt with/resolved issues. Some of the most common side effects are an imbalance, heavy eyebrows, headaches and bruising. Find out how long the clinic has been running, whether it is registered with The Care Quality Commission (CQC) and of course, personal recommendations are always reassuring and a good endorsement.
Q. I want to look naturally youthful but am frightened of winding up looking frozen and fake. How can I make sure this doesn’t happen?
A. You, the patient, control how much movement you wish to have. Most doctors start with a small dose, but if you’re still concerned then ask them to start with a ‘baby Botox’ dose. You can control how much or how little movement there is anywhere between no movement at all and almost full movement.
We offer a two week review with top up where necessary being appreciative of the fact that there is a large individual variation between the doses required. Click here for more information on safe administration of Botox.
Q. Do Botox injections hurt?
Botox is administered using a tiny needle and the solution itself may contain a local anaesthetic. If there is any pain at all, it should be minimal and short lived. In addition, we are able to apply a numbing gel and apply a special cooling device if requested although his is generally not required. If you are anxious, discuss pain relief options with your practitioner.
Q. I have seen various price offers on Botox, should I be wary of trying to get cheap Botox injections?
A. Training, regulation, indemnity and experience ensure quality control, but unfortunately cost. A CQC registered clinic with experienced medical doctors with full indemnity will be more expensive than a ‘back-street’ unregulated, uninsured or less-experienced establishment.
The dosage of Botox administered may be reduced to save on cost and this is something to be cautious of where Botox seems particularly cheap. There is unfortunately a black market for unregulated and illegal Botulinum Toxin administration, so that is why it is imperative to do as much research as possible.
Q. How can I complement the effects of Botox? Should I be using particular products/treatments or is there anything I should avoid?
A. Botox works by suppressing the muscular folding of the skin but does not improve the inherent quality of the skin. For that we would always recommend using a good SPF (daily and even in winter remembering that UV rays penetrate cloud cover) and skincare products.
Our favoured regime is to provide patients with antioxidant vitamin C and vitamin A. These regulate the turnover of skin cells and melanocytes (pigment cells) allowing for a more youthful complexion by targeting tone and texture of the skin.
Q. Apart from softening wrinkles, what other uses are there for Botox?
A. Botox can be used to treat excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), lifting the jowls and removing muscular bands in the neck (Nefertiti lift). It can also be used to lift the corners of the mouth and tip of the nose, as well as preventing gummy smiles. Tension headaches, squints, muscular spasms/contractures and tics can all be treated in addition.
Q. Is Botox safe?
Yes. Botox has been in use since 1956 and was initially used to treat children with cerebral palsy, polio and squints and its effects are reversible with time.
If you would like to discuss Botox with one of our consultants, please contact us through our online form here.
