What is Botox™? 

Botox™ stands for Botulinum Toxin and although it is used within the medical field it has become the most popular product to be used mainly for wrinkle softening. Botox™ is a product not a treatment. The treatment is a muscle relaxant and some practitioners use a less expensive product under the name of Botox™. When using a less expensive wrinkle softening product the results may not be as good as with Botox™ (trading for cosmetic purposes under the name Vistabel™) and it really is a case of ‘you get what you pay for’. Although Botox™ is a toxin, it is not classed as dangerous in small quantities, especially as for wrinkle softening injections it is diluted to create the desired wrinkle free effect. Only small amount of Botox™ are injected in to the facial muscles and because it is only small amounts it doesn’t take long at all and is with minimal discomfort. After you have received Botox™ you should not bend or lie down for about four hours post treatment. Apart from that there are minimal reported side effects with Botox™.  

Injectable fillers and wrinkle softening products are becoming extremely popular and when they are used together as part of a treatment plan improve wrinkles and also the loss of facial volume, which happens over time. Treatments for wrinkles combined with a resurfacing treatment such as IPL Photo Rejuvenation can leave the skin looking more vibrant giving you a more youthful appearance.

Botox™ is by far the most commonly used toxin for cosmetic use and was approved by the FDA in 1989 (Allergan) initially for ocular disorders. It was noted that patients treated that wrinkles were reduced and it was in 2002 that Botox™ received approval for the treatment of glabellar lines. 

Botox™ targets the muscles and causes them to ‘relax’ with the results lasting 3-4 months. Normal muscle activity will return if treatment is not continued. Before you have a Botox™ treatment you should attend a consultation with a qualified medical practitioner. This gives you the opportunity to have any questions you may have answered and allow you to completely understand the wrinkle softening injection process. 

Wrinkle softening with a product such as Botox™ is most commonly used to treat the frown lines, crows feet and the forehead although it is also used to treat excessive sweating, (Hyperhydrosis). Normally you will be quoted on a ‘price per area’ for treatment.  

Botox™ is a very common non surgical cosmetic procedure and within a few minutes the treatment will be complete. It can take up to two weeks to see the desired effect and you will be invited to attend a check up two weeks after treatment to assess your results. You should not be charged for this check up, even if you require further injections. This will then give the medical practitioner details of the exact amount you require to achieve your desired effect. When you return to the same practitioner you will not be required to attend a check up appointment.  

If you have any questions about Botox™ or would like to speak to someone then please call 01622 600020 where we will be happy to help.