What is Botox®?
Botox® is a brand name for the purified form of Botulinum Toxin type A, which is produced by the bacteria, Clostridium botulinum. It is an injection of extremely small doses into specific facial muscles to stop the problem these muscles cause.

How does Botox® work?
Facial Expressions occur when the brain sends a signal to muscle tissue. Botox® blocks impulses from the nerve to the tiny facial muscles that are related to expression lines. This relaxes the muscles to stop them contracting, leaving the overlying skin smooth and unwrinkled. Botox® works only on the specific muscles injected leaving surrounding muscles to function as usual, producing normal facial expressions without the wrinkles.

What is the treatment like?
Botox® is injected using a disposable syringe with a very fine needle. A very small amount of the Botox® powder is diluted with saline and injected very precisely into several locations on the face. The pain associated with injections is minimal. Many patients describe it as an ant bite sting for a few seconds. No local anaesthetic is required and you can resume normal activities immediately. Treatment takes around 15 minutes, depending on the number of areas you wish to treat.

After injection, it takes 2-3 days for Botox® to begin taking effect and up to 7 days to see the full effect.

Where can it be used?
Botox® is used widely for the elimination of:

• Frown lines between the eyebrows
• Horizontal forehead lines
• Crows feet or smile lines around the eyes

It is increasingly being used to reduce neck lines and in brow lifts to achieve a more youthful arched brow which rounds and softens the eye. Doctors have also reported good results in the nasolabial folds between the nose and mouth, perioral lip lines (‘Smokers lips’) and chin dimpling or creasing.

How long will it last?
The advantage of Botox® is that it is temporary. The effect lasts 3 – 5 months or longer depending on the individual. You can decided if you like it, then repeat the treatment regularly as you wish, increasing the number of facial areas you want to treat. The result will wear off progressively and you will need repeat injections 2 – 3 times a year. Early clinical studies indicate the duration of effect increases over time so you may require less frequent injections in the future to maintain the result you have come to like.

Is Botox® a common cosmetic procedure?
It’s the fastest growing cosmetic procedure, according to the American society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. In the Unites States 498,204 Botox® procedures were recorded in 1999, a growth of 216%, making it the second most common cosmetic procedure after chemical peels.

Are Botox® treatments safe?
The safety profile of Botox® is considered to be excellent. It has been used for patients with various conditions for over 10 years in over 60 countries. The most common side effects are tenderness or bruising at the site of the injection and, in some cases, the Botox® can migrate and cause a temporary weakness in nearby muscles. In rare cases, there can be a slight and temporary drooping of an eyelid or eyebrow lasting 1 – 2 weeks. Your doctor can prescribe eye drops to help reverse this side effect. The risk depends on the muscles to be injected and your doctor will discuss this with you fully before treatment.

Botox® is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, as sufficient safety studies have not been performed to confirm no impact on the human foetus or breast milk.

Because the effects of Botox® are temporary any side effects only last a few weeks. There have been no permanent side effects of Botox® reported. Botox® is approved by various medical bodies around the world. Botox® is also what stars and celebrities use commonly and is endorsed by worldwide useage.

Can Botox® be combined with other procedures?
Botox® is often used in combination with other facial enhancement procedures to improve the overall effect. Because it is a localised procedure it does not interfere with other procedures such as Collagen filler or laser resurfacing. Infact, studies have shown CO2 laser resurfacing alone gives less improvement than when performed with Botox®. You should always discuss combining Botox® with other procedures with your doctor before proceeding.

Is it only for women?
Botox® is equally effective on men and women. Infact, men increasingly seek out this treatment to leave them looking younger in the workplace. Because it is effective for worry lines, it is popular with many businessmen to leave them looking more refreshed and approachable.