Botulinum Toxin
Anti-Wrinkle Injections
What causes wrinkles?
Wrinkles develop as the skin becomes thinner and less elastic, this is all a result of loss of collagen as we age. Over time, the repetitive movements made by facial muscles lead to fine lines to developing.
Facial wrinkles are make up of two types: static lines and dynamic lines.
Static lines remain visible even when we are not using the muscles that cause them. Dynamic lines are visible when we contract the muscle - for instance when we raise our eyebrows this causes horizontal lines on our forehead.
After your consultation, Dr Becky might recommend anti wrinkle injections which can relax these muscles, reducing the lines caused by them for several months and allowing the skin to repair. One option to do this is using a protein called botulinum toxin (often referred to as Botox®). This treatment has been used worldwide since the 1990’s, making it very safe and something that we we know a lot about. It treatment works best on the dynamic lines (the ones created by muscle movement)
What should I expect?
Following a your initial consultation at our Wilmslow clinic, the treatment takes about 15 minutes depending on the number of areas being treated. You will start to notice the effects in 2-5 days, with the full effect at 14 days. Treatments usually last 3-4 months, longer in some people, and with repeated treatments over time lines become less and less visible.
It is useful to know a few things beforehand. We advise that you do not wear makeup after the injection for the remainder of the day, and you do not touch the area unnecessarily to avoid infection or spreading the toxin to other areas. We also suggest that you do not do things that increase the body’s temperature for 24 hours after the treatment - this includes vigorous exercise, saunas/stream rooms and hot baths. Lastly, we advise not having facial massage for 2 weeks after the procedure.
What areas can be treated?
The following areas can be treated:
Forehead ‘Worry’ Lines
These creases are produced by repeated contraction of the forehead muscles when we raise our eyebrows. By relaxing these muscles we can reduce the appearance of these lines.
There are different treatment patterns to produce the desired amount of movement. This is why the free consultation is essential - we want to make sure we tailor your treatment to your needs, giving you the look that you desire. This might be to enhance your eyebrows arch, or keep some forehead movement.
Dr Becky will discuss all the options with you and ensure you get the effect that’s right for you.
Glabellar ‘Frown’ Lines
These are the vertical lines between the eyebrows, above the nose. Some people develop these lines early in life. Over time they become deeper and more visible even when we are not frowning. In some people they can make us look permanently angry or cross. By using the muscle relaxing botulinum toxin we can reduce these lines.
Smile Lines - ‘Crow’s Feet’
Our eyes are one of the most important features of our face. Over time, facial expressions such as smiling or squinting can cause the appearance of lines at the side of the eye. When we are younger these tend to disappear when our muscles relax, but as we age they can become visible even when we aren’t smiling.
Botulinum toxin injections to the areas around the sides of the eyes can help restore a youthful appearance.
Advanced Techniques
Botulinum can also be used to treat other areas, reducing fine lines and wrinkles and reducing sweating.
These advanced technique treatments are listed below
Gummy smile
Some people show quite a lot of upper gum when they smile. This can affect self esteem and confidence. By treating a small muscles that raises the top lip when we smile, we can dramatically improve this appearance. Treatment can last up to 6 months, longer than many other areas of the face.
Jaw Line Slimming
Some people have prominent chewing muscles (massaters). Botulinum toxin reduces this muscles action which causes the muscle to get smaller over time, hence slimming the face. Usually people require 2-3 treatments to get the best effect. The effects last 3 to 6 months
Bunny Lines
These are the little lines that appear at the top of our nose when we wrinkle our noses. In some people they are really prominent on smiling. By relaxing the muscle that causes them, their appearance can be significantly reduced.
Infra-oribital Lines
These are the small lines under our eyes that appear when we smile. These dynamic lines can be treated with botulinum toxin like we treat crows feet. Treatments generally last around 3-4 months
Peri-oral (Smoker’s) Lines
Pursing our lips and the effects of ageing add to the lines in our upper lip that develop as we age. There are lots of treatments for this area, one of these is botulinum toxin. This works by relaxing the muscle we use to pout, softening these verticals lines, helping lipstick to stay on and where you want it.
Lip Flip
Termed because this treatment causes the upper lip to rotate slightly upwards. This treatment helps people whose upper lip thins out and curls under as we smile. Relaxing this upper lip muscle reduces the curling under and can help people to feel more confident wearing lipsticks.
Marionnette Lines
Some people have a strong muscle that pulls the corners of the mouth downwards, this can create a sad unhappy look when we don’t intend to. Relaxing this muscle will lessen this downturn. We often treat the this muscle along with the mentalis (chin muscle)
Mentalis (chin dimples)
As we age our chin starts to point upwards, changing the shape of our lower face. Some people always have a strong mentalis muscle causing a deeper chin groove that can look displeasing to some. We often treat the mentalis and marionette together to improve the ageing look of the lower face.
Platysmal bands (Nefertiti lift)
Named after the Egyptian queen Nefertiti who was known for her stunningly beautiful neck and jaw line. Botulinum toxin can be used to relax the bands of muscle in the neck that run from the jaw line to the clavicles. This can help lift the jawline and improve the ageing look of the neck caused by these bands
Axilla (Underarm) sweating
Have you ever felt embarrassed about sweat patches under you arms? Would you like to reduce the amount you sweat from your arm pits? Botulinum toxin can be used to switch off the function of sweat glands. This reduced sweat production by around 70%. Botulinum works on the fluid producing sweat glands, it does not affect the glads that produce body odour. Treatment usually lasts 3 to 6 months, some people experience a benefit for up to a year. If you go are having this treatment it’s a good idea to shave the area 1 - 2 days before your treatment appointment, this allow the area for treatment to be easily identified.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the side effects?
At time time of treatment people may experience some small red lumps at the sites of the injection, these usually settle within 30 minutes, and certainly within 48 hours. You may develop some bruising. Occasionally people experience a temporary headache in the days following treatment. Less commonly (in less than 1% of patients) the toxin can affect other areas unintentionally, causing relaxation of other muscles resulting in a temporary droop of the eyebrow or eyelid, or possibly dry eyes. In the case of advanced botox techniques, if toxin affects neighbouring muscles it may cause an uneven smile. All possible side effects are discussed thoroughly at the pre-treatment consultation so you can make an informed decision about what’s right for you. There are very risks associated with using botulinum for underarm sweating.
How should I prepare for my consultation?
Have a look at this blog post for some ideas about preparing for your first treatment. If you are having underarm botulinum for sweating, you should shave the area in the 1-2 days before treatment.
What follow-up should I expect?
Your treatment plan is personal to you, to make sure we get this right we’ll usually see you back for a follow up appointment. This ensures that we do not over-treat the muscles, as you cannot remove botulinum toxin, but you can add more treatment if required. We recommend a follow up consultation at 2-3 weeks, when the toxin has had time to have its maximum effect. If an adjustment dose is required at this appointment to achieve the desired effects, this is totally free of charge and included in the price of your initial treatment. Adjustments are not always required, it depends on several things, including the area being treated. We will discuss this with you at your initial consultation.
How long will the effects last for?
The effects of botulinum toxin usually last for around 3-4 months. In some people this can be a little longer and you might also find that the effects last longer after you’ve had a few treatments. In some treatment areas the toxin can last longer, for example the gummy smile and underarm sweating.
