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?

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 armpits are the most common areas to be treated for hyperhidrosis, but the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands can also be treated.

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 by blocking the action of the eccrine glands. This prevents the glands from producing sweat. Botox is licensed in the UK and indicated for the treatment of focal hyperhidrosis affecting the armpits, (axillary hyperhidrosis) when other treatments have not worked.

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?

You should notice some change for the better within a week of your treatment. People respond differently to the treatment however clinical trials show that sweating is reduced by 83% one week after treatment and furthermore sweating is reduced by at least half in 95% of patients. Results usually last up to 7 or 8 months.

Should you decide not to have further treatment after it has worn off, there will be no lasting change in the areas treated. Sweating will gradually return to the level it was before you started having treatment.

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. Since the injection is made only into the skin, the effects of Botox® will be limited to the nerves supplying the sweat glands. Very occasionally a small amount of Botox® may spread out from the injection site and affect a nearby nerve that supplies a muscle. In clinical trials 0.7% of patients experienced mild weakness of the arms; but this did not last and got better without any 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 quantities used for axillary hyperhidrosis and in the hands of an experienced practitioner.