Anti-wrinkle injections typically refer to “Botox”.

It is a medical drug made from a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Anti-Wrinkle injections use a toxin called Botulinum Toxin to temporarily prevent a muscle from moving. This toxin is produced by the microbe that causes botulism, a type of food poisoning.

BOTOX™ by Allergan was the first drug to use botulinum toxin. Other products now include Dysport and Xeomin. Each is a little different, particularly when it comes to dosage units, so they aren't interchangeable.

It is widely used in the NHS to treat a range of health problems such as irritable bladder, muscle spasms, Muscle contractures in cerebral palsy.

BOTOX™ is administered as a muscle relaxing injection for the treatment of wrinkles- It also prevents new lines forming by relaxing the facial muscles and reducing excessive facial movements.

The procedure is done using a very fine needle and causes very minimal pain. Most clients do not need numbing cream however if you are needle-phobic or have any anxiety around pain, then numbing cream can be applied - if you would like this, please request this either at reception on arrival at the clinic so you can be numbed while waiting to see the doctor.

BOTOX™ is regarded as being safe and has been used to treat tens of millions of patients worldwide over the past two decades - BOTOX™ is consistently the most popular cosmetic treatment performed globally with 7.7 million BOTOX™ treatments performed in the US alone in 2019. It is recognised as a medicine and is used widely in the NHS to treat medical issues in much higher doses than we use cosmetically and as it is not a new treatment, we have long-term data on its safety profile. At Dr. Roxanna Aesthetics safety is our priority and we minimise any potential risk by ensuring we use the premium BOTOX™ available - we use Allergan BOTOX™ and ensure all our BOTOX™ treatments are performed by our in clinic doctors / dentists (GMC/ GDC Registered).

You should not have this treatment if:

• The injection site is infected.

• You are allergic to any of the ingredients.

• You are pregnant or breastfeeding.

• You have a neuromuscular disorder (e.g., myasthenia gravis)

A full list of side effects cautions, and contraindications will be discussed during your face-to-face consultation.

You can carry on with your day as usual. However, we recommend the following:

• No makeup except that applied by your doctor on the day of treatment.

• No exercise on the day of treatment (the next morning is fine).

• Stay awake / not laying down for 4-6 hours after treatment (if possible).

• Avoid saunas, hot baths on day of treatment.

• Do not consume any alcohol or anti-inflammatory pain medication (NSAIDS or aspirin) before or after (on day) of your Botox treatment; this is related to your increased risk of bruising.

• If you are prone to bruising then please commence arnica tablets, 5 per day for 3 days before your Botox treatment.

• No other facial treatments in the same area as you have had Botox for two weeks after treatment e.g. facials, dermapen, laser (however it is fine to have dermal filler on same day as Botox as they are often done in the same consultation).

This varies depending on the individual, normally Botox starts to work after 3-4 days with final result after 10-14 days. No review should be performed before 14 days as your result may continue to change up until this point.

The treatment lasts approximately 3 months for each individual, we do not advise having it earlier than 3 months. The duration of the effect depends on the person, as there are differences in metabolism, skin quality, muscle strength and lifestyle factors. This can all be discussed and your appropriate dose can be determined in your consultation.

Most side effects are short-lived and mild, the most common being mild bruising to the injection site. Some patients also report mild headaches shortly after the treatment, but these usually subside within 24 hours.