Botox

Treatments from £180

BOTOX™ is the trade name for Botulinum Toxin and is a registered product of Allergan UK. It is considered by many cosmetic practitioners to be the most successful procedure available for reducing facial lines and wrinkles in the forehead, frown lines and crows feet areas. It is a relatively non invasive and painless treatment using a very fine needle which very rarely has side effects. According to Allergan no anaphylactic reaction has ever been observed following BOTOX treatment although there is a 1-2000 chance of a slight but temporary eyebrow dropp (ptosis).

BOTOX™ injections for facial lines were pioneered in 1988 by Doctors Jean and Alister Carruthers, a Vancouver opthamologist and her husband a deratologist. The opthamologist noted that wrinkles disappeared in her patients who were being treated with BOTOX for blepharospasm (eyelid spasm). This led to further research which confirmed the effectiveness and safety of BOTOX™ injections for improving wrinkles caused by overactive use of muscles of the face.

BOTOX™ is a medicine produced from Botulinum Toxin bacteria and is protein which inactivates muscles by blocking neurotransmission in the localised area into which it is injected. Neurologists have explored possible indication for BOTOX therapy for their patients and it is now widely used for spasmodic neck and laryngeal muscles, writers crap, tics, cerebral palsy, post stroke states, nerve palsies and certain tremors. Congenital muscle disorders or acquired nerve injuries have been improved by balancing muscles with BOTOX treatment.

It is crucial that a full medical history is discussed prior to treatment by a qualified practitioner as there are some absolute contraindications such as pregnancy and lactation and Neuromuscular Transmission disorders such as Myasthenia Gravis and Eaton Lambert syndrome.

Whilst BOTOX™ is very potent in high concentration, it is used in very small quantities with high margins of safety. After an area is injected its first effects are not seen for 48 hours and the complete effect may not be evident for 2 weeks. The treatment will last for a 4-6 month period. The aim of treatment, as well as diminishing facial lines, is to break the habit of frowning and to re-educate the muscles so that they 'forget' how to frown. Whilst the muscle is temporarily immobilised the forehead is 'at peace'. effectively in hibernation. The frown line is therefore not being reinforced or created.

Many would agree that frowning is an unpleasant habit signifying negative emotions which tends to spoil the serenity or beauty of the face. After treatment the face is in no way mask like as many other facial muscles can still be used normally.

Available between the ages of 18-65 years it is of course impossible to exactly predict the final results of the BOTOX™ treatment. In older patients the wrinkle, although diminished, may remain visible as a 'fracture line' on the skin. No wrinkle will disappear overnight but we can attest to the fact that the skin develops amazing healing capabilities when immobilised for a few months and the physician or nurse can assure the patient that the results will improve with continued treatment.

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			Botox: Before and After