Many people are bothered by the appearance of wrinkles on their faces and get frustrated when they can’t seem to get rid of them.
Facial wrinkles can form because of prolonged sun exposure (sun damage) and ageing (loss of skin elasticity) combined with the effects of gravity.
In addition, the constant contraction of facial muscles can form wrinkles around the eyes, between the eyebrows (glabella), and the forehead.
Fortunately, there’s a very effective treatment to minimise their appearance: Botox.
What Is Botox?
In the 90s, Botox was used for treating muscle spasms.
And by 2020, over 6 million people had a Botulinum toxin injection, according to a survey by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), making it the most popular aesthetic treatment in non-surgical procedures.
Botox is an umbrella term for different types of neurotoxins that help relax the muscles by paralysing them.
The cosmetic use of Botox (Type A injections) is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In addition, the FDA has approved the use of Botulinum toxin injections for excessive sweating in the armpits.
Before getting these anti-wrinkle injections, you should know that Botox wouldn’t get rid of any existing wrinkles that you have.
It would only prevent them from deepening further by stopping the muscle from contracting.
For that reason, many people choose to get preventative Botox when they’re in their 20s so the wrinkles don’t form in the first place.
To achieve your aesthetic goals, the doctor might recommend dermal fillers besides Botox.
Botox As A Dynamic Wrinkle Treatment
Keep in mind that Botox injections only work on dynamic wrinkles and not static lines (wrinkles on a relaxed face).
These wrinkles form because of facial expressions, such as:
- smiling
- laughing
- crying
- squinting
- frowning
Furrowing your eyebrows when you’re deeply concentrated, worried or stressed can also form vertical lines between them. These are also known as the 11s (based on the shape they’re making).
Crow’s feet can form adjacent to the eyes from smiling. You may also develop horizontal fine lines/wrinkles on your forehead because of muscle movement.
Smokers’ lines are vertical lines that form around the mouth (extending from lips to nose) due to movement and contraction.
Bunny lines are another kind of wrinkle that form due to scrunching of the nose or smiling.
Botox injections offer an effective treatment for wrinkles resulting from facial expressions.
What Is The Cost Of Botox In London?
In London, you can get Botox for around £200-£400 per area.
Mainly, the price depends on the number of areas you’re getting treated. However, the location of the clinic and the experience of the practitioner can also influence it.
Since the anti-wrinkle treatment by Botox injections is classified as “cosmetic,” it is not available on the NHS, so you will have to get it privately.
In the UK, a doctor, nurse, dentist, or pharmacist can administer Botox.
But keep in mind that “beauty therapists” can get certifications for Botox treatments (sometimes through online courses).
It’s best to get it from a qualified practitioner since the doctor needs to have an understanding of your facial anatomy and musculature to get the technique right.
Lack of proper medical training and experience can result in botched Botox.
The prices in these salons may be lower than the average in the area, but you may end up needing revision treatments.
To get even cheaper cosmetic treatments without compromising on quality, you can become a medical tourist in Turkey.
The Botox wrinkle treatment there is 3-5 times cheaper than in the UK. We offer affordable Botox treatment both in London, UK and Istanbul, Turkey.
Who Can Have Botox & Why?
You are a suitable candidate for an anti-wrinkle injection treatment using Botox if you:
- Have wrinkles and fine/frown lines on your face due to muscle contractions.
- Struggle with excessive sweating in your armpits.
- Are older than 18 years and want to get Botox as a preventative wrinkle treatment.
- Have a teeth-grinding disorder (bruxism), which can cause various aches and pains. Masseter Botox targets the jaw, relaxes and weakens the (masseter) muscle in the area so that you don’t grind your teeth. Even after the Botox wears off, some people find that they don’t slip into their old habit of teeth grinding.
Contraindications for Botox
You are not suitable for Botox if you:
- Have a neuromuscular condition like myasthenia gravis (an autoimmune disorder characterized by muscle weakness) or multiple sclerosis.
- Are currently pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Have an active skin infection.
- Are on blood thinners since it increases bleeding and bruising.
Am I Suitable For Breast Enlargement?
What To Think About Before You Have Botox?
When finding a clinic for Botox in London, make sure that the person is a medical practitioner. In the UK, you don’t need to be a medical specialist to give this treatment. However, the technique and the subsequent quality of results can be unsatisfactory.
So, try to find a doctor who is registered with a regulatory body (like the GMC or GDC) while making sure that the clinic is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Also, during the Botox consultation, ask the practitioner about their experience, qualifications, and training. Learn about the kind of Botox they’re using and why.
In addition, find out about the manufacturing and licensing of the Botulinum toxin injection. You should learn about all the risks and complications of this treatment as well.
Depending on your needs, you can ask the medical practitioner about how frequently you would need the injections. Lastly, ask the doctor if they have insurance against malpractice.
How Best To Prepare For Botox Treatment?
When getting Botox, you should do the following:
- Inform the doctor about any muscle relaxants or antibody drugs (the body will kill the toxin) that you’re taking. The procedure is not safe for some medical conditions.
- Do not take any blood thinners, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), herbal/vitamin E supplements or medicines before the Botox treatment.
- Do not wear any makeup or apply any lotion, cream, or serum on your face before coming in for the anti-wrinkle treatment.
- If you have any piercings in the treatment area, make sure to remove them.
What Is The Procedure For Botox In London?
Before that, you should understand how Botox itself works.
How Does Botox Work?
Made from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, this purified protein complex blocks the transmission of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine to the muscle, which it is meant to stimulate.
Normally, this action would make the muscle contract, but the presence of Clostridium botulinum in the nerve cells stops the action from taking place.
The muscle is essentially paralysed, and it stops contracting temporarily. Similarly, it inhibits nerves from stimulating sweat glands to treat excessive sweating.
How Is Botox Performed?
The practitioner may ask for your medical history and perform a physical exam to get an idea of your facial anatomy and skin quality.
After this, the area of the face being injected is cleaned, and Botulinum toxin is injected using a very thin needle. The needle penetrates to paralyse the target muscle.
You may need several injections depending on how deep the wrinkles are and the area under treatment.
General anaesthesia or local anaesthesia with sedation is not used. Botox isn’t painful because the needle is very fine. At most, you may feel slight discomfort.
However, if you want, the aesthetician can apply a topical numbing cream before giving the injections so you can relax and don’t feel any pain.
Botox is commonly referred to as a lunchtime procedure that’s because it only takes about 10-15 minutes, after which you can go back to your office.
What is Baby Botox?
How much Botox a patient needs depends on the extent of wrinkles. If you have mild forehead lines and wrinkles around the eyes, nose, mouth and eyebrows, you can get a baby Botox.
In this, the overall dose is less than what’s used in a traditional Botox. The technique and working are the same, where specific facial muscles are put into a state of temporary paralysis.
Some patients want to get this treatment because it makes their face look less “frozen,” giving more natural results with little change in the facial expression.
However, if you have severe frown lines, crow’s feet, 11s, or lip lines and wrinkles, you will need traditional Botox, possibly in combination with dermal filler treatments.
In the initial consultation, your practitioner will recommend the treatment that will best meet your needs.
Book A Free Consultation With Our Patient Consultants
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Recovery & Results Of Botox Treatments
Botox treatments have no downtime. However, there are a few things that you may need to do in the recovery process.
Soon after getting anti-wrinkle injections, you may have redness, swelling, and bruising at the injection site.
It may look like you have a mosquito bite. Make sure that you don’t lie down for at least 2 hours after getting the anti-wrinkle injections.
You won’t see the results from the Botox injections immediately. That’s because it will take some time for the Botulinum toxin to bind to the facial muscles.
You may start seeing the effects of Botox injections after 2-3 days. However, for the full effect, you may need to wait up to 2 weeks.
Botulinum toxin injections can last for 6 months, but this can vary between people. If you have a fast metabolic rate (you exercise a lot or are an athlete), the injections may wear off more quickly.
Aftercare Of Botox
After getting anti-wrinkle injections, you need (or don’t need) to do a few things. First and foremost, hold off on strenuous exercise for at least 2 days.
The increased circulation of blood can make the Botulinum toxin spread to other areas of the face. Also, do not bend your head down.
Be very gentle with your face when touching it (only do so when needed) for the first few days.
When washing your face, do not apply any pressure. Do not use a scrub. And do not rub your face for at least 3 days. This includes face massages.
Side Effects to Expect After Botox Injections
Botulinum toxin injections do not have as many side effects. Most of the side effects of regular Botox come from the needle. These may include:
- redness
- swelling
- bruising
Other than that, you may experience facial weakness after getting Botox injections. This usually goes away on its own.
What Could Go Wrong After Botox?
After getting this injectable treatment, you may end up experiencing a problem where the Botulinum toxin products move down the face, especially if you had the injection around the eyebrows (between them or the forehead).
This can cause droopy upper eyelids. Make sure to follow the aftercare instructions to avoid this from happening.
What To Do If You Have Problems After Botox In London?
Anti-wrinkle injectables are safe. However, if you experience a side effect of the treatment, you should immediately get in touch with our Aftercare team online.
You can also have a face-to-face consultation with experienced doctors at our London clinic. Other than that, you can read more about post-operative aftercare for Botox on our website.
Alternatives To Botox
There are other aesthetic treatments that you can get depending on the area where you have fine lines and wrinkles.
If you have very severe frown lines and/or forehead lines, you can get eyebrow lift surgery, where the surgeon removes excess skin and pulls it back.
You can also get an overall facelift for severe lines and wrinkles and sagging skin.
The treatment that’ll best suit you will depend on your needs and expectations. It isn’t the same for every person.
Other non-surgical treatments for fine lines and wrinkles include laser resurfacing and chemical peels. However, they do not produce dramatic results.
Other Procedures to Have with Botox In London
When getting Botox for your fine lines and wrinkles, you can have a volumizing effect with dermal fillers.
Plastic surgeons can perform Botox with other invasive cosmetic treatments such as breast augmentation, liposuction, tummy tuck, nose job, etc.
FAQ
How long does Botox take to work?
Some effects of Botox will become visible after 1-2 days, but you can see full results after 1-2 weeks. If you want, you can get a touch-up a few weeks after the initial treatment.
Is Botox dangerous?
Botox is FDA-approved for cosmetic procedures and quite safe overall. The very low dose of the toxin makes it safe for use.
One review of studies published in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery showed that most of the side effects of Botox are “mild and temporary.”
Can you wear makeup after Botox?
You shouldn’t wear makeup right after getting Botox. Pressing fingers or brushes into the skin can spread the Botox to other areas of the face. Wait for at least a day after the procedure before applying makeup.
Will Botox make my face look frozen?
The injection of the right amount of the toxin should make the results appear natural, so you won’t always have a frozen face with Botox.
Are lips fillers the same as Botox?
No. Lip fillers use hyaluronic acid to plump the skin. Botox is made from a neurotoxin that stops the muscle from moving.
Can Botox cause headaches?
Yes, although it is rare. You may have a headache after getting the Botulinum toxin injection because of the poking of the needle or muscular imbalance. It should go away in a few days.
Reviewed and Approved by Prof Fuat Yuksel
