What is Botox?

It's a muscle relaxant produced from the bacteria that causes botulism. This extract of Botulinum Toxin A is normally a neuromuscular blocking agent. Rigorous procedures control its production and the small, diluted and purified quantities that are used in cosmetic and non surgical treatments are quite harmless to humans.

Botox has been researched for over 50 years and been used medically for much of his time to treat muscular disorders. It has now been used cosmetically for some 20 years as part of a popular facial treatment for frown lines and crow's feet. It is now also used to combat excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis).

For many years Botox has been licensed for use in the treatment for children with lower limb spasticity and facial and/or neck spasms. Botox treatment is equally suitable for both men and women and, although used cosmetically since 1987, is only used at the physician's discretion.

Everyone has distinctive facial habits such as grimacing, eyebrow raising or the use of one side of the face more than the other. In time the muscles of the face form a crease in the skin that reflects these habits. Botox is injected directly into the muscle which causes the crease and relaxes it for some six to twelve months. The muscle is then relaxed, preventing the crease from worsening and frequently allowing the facial lines to soften. Botox works gradually over seven to ten days and reaches its maximum effect after three or four weeks. The injection process takes around five minutes and the practitioner will ask you to frown or smile as hard as you can, so that the exact pattern of muscle movement can be observed and marked. The injections, though brief, are slightly uncomfortable, leaving tiny red marks which will disappear within a few hours.

There can, on rare occasions, be side effects from Botox injections and, although temporary, it is important that you should be aware of these. Should you show signs of any of these side effects, your practitioner should be made immediately aware of them. They include, bruising at the site of the injections, mild headache and, very rarely, skin rash or swelling of the eyelids. In some older patients the poor muscle tone may occasionally leave a feeling of heaviness about the eyebrows. In the unlikely event of drooping of the eyelids (Ptosis) you will be given eye drops to reverse the effect. On very rare occasions a resistance to these treatments may result in little or no improvement.

Botox treatment is not recommended for pregnant or nursing mothers, anyone suffering from muscle conditions like Myasthenia Gravis or Bells Palsy. It is presently the most popular requested non surgical treatment.