1. Why and where would I consider having Botox^®?
2. How do I find the right person to administer Botox^®?
3. Which areas would I consider having Botox^®?
4. What is Botox^® and what does it do?
5. How safe is Botox^®?
6. How long does Botox^® last, and how quickly does it start to take effect?
7. Are there any side effects?
8. Is there anyone who shouldn?t be treated with Botox^®?
9. Does Botox^® have any effects on other parts of the body?
10. What happens after my Botox^® Treatment?

1. Why and where would I consider having Botox^®?

• To smooth away unwanted ?frown? lines, ?smile? lines and forehead ?furrows?
• To arch and/or flare the eyebrows, widening the eyes, giving a brighter, happier appearance.
• To reduce vertical lines in the upper lip
• To tip up the corners of the mouth, and smooth out the chin
• To relax the vertical ?bands? in the neck, smoothing ?necklace? lines
• To dramatically reduce unwanted excessive sweating of the armpits/hands/feet

?Frown? lines and ?Smile? lines appear and disappear naturally when we are young and our skin is supple and elastic. As we get older, these lines start to become permanent, which many people find less attractive. This can start to happen as young as thirty years of age. The good news is that help is at hand!

Botox relaxes the muscles that cause these lines to appear, which gives a much more youthful, brighter eyed appearance. Regular use of Botox can stop these lines occurring, and helps prevent them becoming permanent.

Advanced practitioners can also treat other parts of the face and neck. Vertical lines in the upper lip can be smoothed; muscles pulling the outer lips down into a ?sad? droop can be relaxed; eyebrows can be arched; vertical neck bands can be relaxed.

2. How do I find the right person to administer Botox^®?

Botox is a prescription only medicine, and should be given only by a qualified Doctor or Nurse who is experienced in this technique, so check for qualifications.

?Word of mouth? is also a good recommendation, if a friend or colleague is pleased with their treatment at a particular clinic.
It is also worth checking that the clinic is registered with the Healthcare Commission website, as this does ensure a generally high standard of care, although Botox itself is not under the remit of the Healthcare Commission.

Allergan, the manufacturers of Botox/Vistabel, have produced a website www.thenaturallook.co.uk, which lists some approved clinics and Doctors/Nurses who use their product.

3. Which areas would I consider having Botox^®?

The most common areas to have Botox injections are the ?Frown? lines [between the eyebrows], and ?Smile? lines [the outer part of the eyes]. Experienced practitioners, as in the Suffolk Medical Clinic, can also apply small amounts of Botox to other parts of the face and neck. This can give very pleasing results by relaxing muscles which cause the outer lips to downturn, the chin to pucker, and smooth vertical ridges on the neckline.

4. What is Botox^® and what does it do?

Botox is the trade name for Botulinum Toxin group A, produced by Allergan. It is a purified protein which can be used in small quantities for cosmetic purposes to relax muscles which cause unwanted lines or wrinkles, and also treats areas of excessive sweating very successfully. Vistabel[ Allergan] is the only licensed botulinum toxin in the UK approved for cosmetic use.

Botulinum toxin has been used for many years to successfully treat muscular problems in certain medical conditions, such as eyelid and facial spasms, and spasticity. In fact, the wrinkle reducing effect of Botox was first noticed in patients who were having treatment for eyelid spasms!

5. How safe is Botox^®?

Botox is manufactured and transported under very strict conditions, and should be kept in a freezer until reconstituted with saline, when it is stable at room temperature for some days. Decades of use in medical conditions have demonstrated its long term safety record, which should be reassuring to clients. Ensure that the person prescribing and administering Botox is experienced in its use, and that before and after treatment photos are taken.

6. How long does Botox^® last, and how quickly does it start to take effect?

Botox starts to take effect usually within a few days, with full effect at two weeks. Most clients have it repeated every 4 months, when the muscle function has started to return. The effects will usually wear off completely by six to eight months, and there is no evidence that it has any long term effect on the muscles that it was injected into. However, by relaxing the muscles for period of time, the inclination to use them is reduced, and this ?re-education? effect is also helpful in the prevention of further lines or wrinkles.

7. Are there any side-effects?

There should be a very low risk of side-effects if the Botox is given by an experienced practitioner. We feel that it is very important to take 'before' and 'after' digital photos of our clients to monitor treatment progress.

Reported side-effects include flattening of the eyebrows and very occasionally temporary weakening of the upper eyelid [ptosis], if the Botox is given too close to the eyebrow. Injections in the neck muscles need to be given with care, as swallowing difficulties have been reported following treatment.

8. Is there anyone who shouldn?t be treated with Botox^®?

It is very important that a relevant medical history is taken, to exclude from treatment anyone with a history of swallowing difficulties, or certain muscular, connective tissue and neurological problems.

9. Does Botox^® have any effects on other parts of the body?

No, not in the small quantities used for cosmetic purposes, in the hands of an experienced practitioner.

10. What happens after my Botox^® Treatment?

• Try to exercise your treated muscles for 2?3 hours after treatment (e.g. practice frowning, raising your eyebrows or squinting). This helps to work BOTOX® into your muscles. Although this is thought to help, it will NOT adversely affect your treatment if you forget to do this.
• Do NOT rub or massage the treated areas for 24 hours after your treatment.
• Do NOT apply make-up for 4 hours after your treatment.
• Do NOT lie down or do strenuous exercise for 4 hours after treatment. Feel free to shower and go about most other regular daily activities.
• Be assured that any tiny bumps or marks will go away within a few hours after your treatment.
• Results of your treatment may take up to 14 days to take full effect.
• Remember to schedule your 2 week follow up appointment!
• We strive to fully satisfy our patients with each treatment. If you have any questions about your treatment, then please do not hesitate to call our clinic at 01787 211000. We will arrange for a follow-up assessment.
• The results of your BOTOX treatment are not permanent. You may find that your results will last approximately 3 or 4 months. If you maintain your treatment consultations with the frequency recommended by your doctor the duration of each treatment result may last longer than 4 months.
• Suffolk Medical Clinic usually reviews patients at about 4 monthly intervals when the next Botox® is due. The best clinical results can be achieved for you during following this treatment plan. If you allow your BOTOX to completely wear off, it is difficult for the injector to be able to see how your individual muscles reacted and therefore optimal results for YOUR face can be more difficult to achieve.
  BOTOX requires a special technique in order to customise the injections to your individual muscular structure. Thus, it is important that your injector sees you before your muscles resume the full range of motion (and cause wrinkling again). Your injector needs to see you at the point when some muscle activity resumes, but before the effects of BOTOX® fully wear off. It is only at this point that an injector can customise the treatment to give you the best effect for your face.