(Brand Names Include Botox®, Vistabel®, Dysport®, Neurobloc®)

Botox®, Vistabel®, Dysport® and Neurobloc® are all trade names for the injection Botulinum Toxin A®. Originally the chemical was used for medical purposes to treat eye spasms and disorders of the central nervous system but has been used by the cosmetic industry for a couple of decades to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and lines. Botulinum Toxin® can also be used to reduce sweating by injecting it into the underarms, feet and hands.

What does the procedure involve?

Every time we laugh, smile or frown we crease our skin. After a time wrinkles or lines appear where the skin creases. Botulinum Toxin works by paralysing the small muscles that create these facial movements thus reducing the amount of creases on the face. The protein in the injection binds to the nerve endings preventing the muscle from working.

Botulinum Toxin is administrated using a very fine needle, in some cases a local anaesthetic cream will be applied to the area first. When you go to see the doctor or person administrating the injection they should examine your face first to identify the main areas which need the work.

What are the benefits and what are the risks?

Benefits

The main benefits of Botulinum Toxin are that it is quick to administrate and patients can go about their daily activities straight away, there is little pain and results are more or less instant. By freezing the muscle into which it is injected, the muscle relaxes and lines and creases soften. However, the main benefit of Botulinum Toxin is that further lines are prevented from being formed and existing furrows are not deepened because the muscles which create facial movements, and therefore the creases, are ‘frozen’.

Risks

Botulinum Toxin is widely regarded as a safe procedure. With over one million Botox injections being performed every year the chances of anything going wrong is very rare. However, in some instances Botulinum Toxin injections can cause drooping of the brow or eyel which can occur if the substance has been injected in the wrong place or the wrong amount has been used. If administrated badly your face can be left looking unnatural and expressionless much like it has been ‘frozen’. The treatment may also cause headaches or numbness in some people. As such it is important to seek a professional and well experienced administrator.

Is it the right procedure for me?

Botulinum Toxin does not eradicate wrinkles or lines on the face altogether though it does soften and smooth some expression lines. To make the appearance of lines and wrinkles disappear dermal fillers or a face lift may be the most appropriate treatment. Botulinum Toxin is mainly used for preventative purposes, slowing down the ageing process by paralysing the muscles that cause the creases on the face. The effects of Botulinum Toxin are not permanent because the nerves grow new connections to the muscles after about three to six months so the muscles become active once more. As a result people who have Botulinum Toxin injections have to undergo regular treatments.

How long does the procedure take?

The treatment is very quick and only takes about 10 minutes to administrate so it really can be a lunchtime fix-me-up. Make-up can be worn immediately.

What happens after surgery?

Treatment is quick and no medical aftercare is required. As such you can go about your usual activities straightaway. You will however be advised not to massage or rub the area for twenty-four hours after administration. You will also have to remain upright for four hours afterwards to reduce the spread of the Botulinum Toxin from the site of injection. Some very slight bruising or redness may occur in some people at the site of the injection but this should fade quickly. It can take forty-eight hours for the first results to be seen and up to one week before the full effect is evident.

How much is it likely to cost?

Prices may vary between £200 and £250 per area treated.