After Care

Botulinum Toxin when injected into a muscle temporarily relaxes the muscle by blocking nerve impulses. As the nerve impulses are blocked the muscle is temporarily unable to contract so that dynamic wrinkles are not formed. This gives the overlying facial skin a softer, smoother and more youthful appearance.

Botulinum Toxin as a muscle relaxant has an excellent safety record and a long record of use in medicine. It has been used successfully in adults and children in variety medical conditions over the last 20 years. It has been used cosmetically to treat facial wrinkles for about 15 years and has become one of the most popular and frequently used cosmetic treatments.

B toxin Treatment can be used for treating wrinkles in men and women, however men often need slightly higher doses than women.

• People with infection at the proposed injection site.
• People who have previously had an allergic reaction to Botulinum toxin type A injections.
• People with muscle problems or chronic diseases affecting the muscles, such as Myasthenia Gravis, Eaton Lambert syndrome.
• Children under the age of 18 years.
• Women who are pregnant or breast feeding.

(please let the doctor know if the following applies to you)

• People at risk of bleeding as there is an increased risk of bruising post procedure. These include people who have blood clotting disorders such as Haemophilia, those who are taking treatments with anticoagulant medicines such as Warfarin, Heparin, Aspirin and Anti-Inflammatory medicines.  Certain herbal remedies such as Gingiko Bilboa, St John’s Wort and Vitamin E
• People with excessive weakness or wasting in the muscle to be injected, such as those patients with history of Strokes or Bell’s Palsy
• People with Chronic Breathing difficulties

B toxin injections are relatively painless as the injections are performed using a very fine needle. Patients therefore and do not require any anaesthesia. The full treatment takes about 15-20 minutes to perform and you are able to drive and go to work the same day.

It can take about 2-14 days to see the full effects after the initial treatment. The cosmetic effects can last up to six months but typically range from three to four months. Eventually most people require re treatment as the wrinkles reappear.

However in some treated areas (such as frown wrinkles), the wrinkles may return less severe after repeated treatments as the unconscious muscle contraction habit is broken.

Most people find that the injections cause only mild local pain and tenderness. Immediately after the injection there may be mild swelling at the injection site which usually subsides within 48 hours.  Slight bruising is also possible.  Side effects of these treatments are extremely rare.  

Occasionally, treatment around the eyes may relax nearby muscle groups  causing temporary drooping of the eyebrow or eyelids.  This may last for a few weeks but will resolve with time.  As with any medicine an allergic reaction may occur, this is however quite rare.  Conversely there may be some unintended benefits in some people such as easing of tension type headaches as the muscles in the forehead relax.

B toxin has been used for over 20 years and does not appear to cause any negative long-term effects.

When the effect of the B toxin injection wears off the wrinkles will always return to their pre-treatment state.  Treatments can be repeated at a minimum of three monthly intervals, but the effects may last longer for some individuals, especially if they have had previous treatments to the same area.

B toxin treatments are designed to smooth dynamic wrinkles in the forehead and around eyes, they do not affect your facial expression. The final result can be tailored to each patient and can be discussed at the initial free consultation.