Botox and Fillers (non surgical treatments)
Specialist expertise – If you are not laughing at your laughter lines any more, and you are concerned about your crow’s feet, maybe the answer you are looking for is as simple as some Botox or Fillers. Our consultant plastic surgeons who are trained in the art of facial aesthetics will advise you of the best course of treatment
Botox has been around since the 80s and is still going strong. It has become famous in recent years as the celebrity solution to fine lines, crow's feet and wrinkles. By relaxing the facial muscles that cause your skin to crease, Botox aims to smooth out the furrows on your face, chin and neck. It can even be used to treat excessive perspiration (hyperhidrosis). If you are worried about the lines on your face and are not yet ready for facelift surgery, Botox could be for you.
How does it work?
The treatment is safe and virtually painless and results are visible within three to seven days, lasting for three to four months. It is a series of muscle relaxing injections.
Is it for me?
If you have wrinkles or frown lines, botox could help you to wind back the time. It works particularly well on the forehead and around the eyes. At McIndoe Surgical Centre our consultants also offer Botox to people suffering from excessive sweating (called hyperhidrosis).
Botox is the shelf name for "botulinum toxin" a powerful natural poison, which was originally developed as a prescription drug to treat muscle spasms.
Frequently asked questions
What are the long term effects of having regular Botox?
There are no medically proven health benefits of having regular Botox. However, with time, the frequency of needing Botox treatment for lines is reduced; you may only require a 'top-up' once every 6 months.
There is anecdotal evidence that Botox may help with treatment for migraines, but this has not been proven with proper medical trials.
Is Botox preventative or can it lead to increased lines and wrinkles?
Botox should only be used when lines develop, not before the lines have started to form! Once Botox has been stopped, for example when you are trying to conceive or have become pregnant, there is no actual increase in the number of lines, however, the lines will re-appear and may lead to a perception that these have increased because you may not have visualised them for some time.
How much does Botox Cost?
Botox is priced according to number of sites. For example, one site can be just glabellar lines, another site is the forehead, a third site can be crow's feet on both sides, and so on and so forth. As a ball park figure, the cost of having Botox starts from £200.
Who can give me Botox?
Generally Botox can be administered by any registered medical person (example: doctors, surgeons, dentists, nurses), as long as they have been trained. Most Plastic surgeons, for whom Botox administration forms part and parcel of years of training, will charge the same as other practitioners and therefore you will be getting more expertise for the same price. Fully accredited Plastic Surgeons are members of BAPRAS (British Association of Plastic, reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons) or BAAPS (British Association of Aesthetic and Plastic Surgeons). Certified Plastic Surgeons in BMI Hospitals use Botox which is supplied directly by the manufacturer Allergan. Botox ordered directly from the manufacturer is the only way of ensuring that the product is genuine.
When is the right time to start having Botox?
Usually when wrinkles start to appear. Cosmetic Botox should not be administered to the young or those in their teens.
How can Botox help with excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)?
Botox acts by temporarily blocking the release of acetylcholine from cholinergic sudomotor fibers (that is: stopping the connection at a nerve level that causes sweating). It is injected intradermally (within the skin) at multiple sites of the affected area.
Has Botox changed since it was first introduced to the market?
Originally, Botox was introduced as a prescription drug to treat muscle spasms for example: in upper limb spasticity, cervical dystonia, blepharospasm and strabisimus (eye muscle spasm). It is now used for cosmetic rejuvenation of the face and neck by reducing wrinkles.
It is possible to get addicted to Botox?
Botox itself is not an addictive product. However, patients having Botox for facial rejuvenation may continue to have it administered to reduce wrinkles and maintain the "youthful" appearance of the face.
How often can I have Botox?
Botox can take up to 4-14 days to have effect, so should not be administered within that time. The effects of Botox may start to wear off at 3-4 months, when it can safely be injected again. With long term usage, it may need to be given only once every 6 months.
All the questions in this section are genuine and have been asked by members of the public. Our very own consultant plastic surgeon, Anita Hazari, kindly offered the answers to us to provide a complete run down of Botox to answer everything you wanted to know.
If you would like to know more about Botox or any other form of enhancement, please call our helpline on 0800 917 4922 or take a look around our website, crammed full of useful information to help you: www.mcindoesurgical.co.uk
Dermal fillers are materials that are frequently used to correct scarring, wrinkles, and other depressions in the skin. There are many different manufacturers of fillers, and they are made to be injected into the skin for purposes of improving the appearance. For anyone suffering from problems like wrinkles, folds or depressions such as scars, derma fillers may be the right product for job. The procedure is quick, often just 30 minutes or less. Many people experience no pain at all and minimum side effects.
Fillers have been used for many years, dating back to the early 1890s. Doctors found that they could give their patients a more youthful look by injecting fat, taken from elsewhere - into the face or arms, and this trend has remained applicable even in todays medical field.
The way that fillers work is they simply plump up the area that has received the injection. Ultimately, different fillers may achieved slightly different looks, but the bottom line result is that the skin will look plump and firm, young and refreshed.
At McIndoe Surgical Centre our plastic surgeons use a variety of different fillers, such as Restylane, Juvederm, . For more information contact the helpline.
0800 917 4922 