Fillers/volumisers

When injected into a given area Botox, which is the trade name of Botulinum toxin type A, reversibly blocks the impulses from the nerves to the tiny facial muscles that are related to expression lines. By doing this, the muscles cannot contract and therefore tend to relax. When muscles relax, the overlying skin remains smooth and unwrinkled while the untreated facial muscles continue to contract in a normal fashion, allowing normal facial expression to be unaffected.

Botox is most commonly performed in the upper face. The most common areas requested are the forehead lines, vertical frown lines between the eyebrows, and crows feet or laughter lines radiating away from the eyes.

The procedure itself is simple and safe. Botox is injected with a very tiny needle into the desired area. Depending on the area treated, between 4-10 injections are necessary. Because the needle is so fine and only a small amount of liquid is used the pain is usually minor, like a sting for a few seconds. Once the injection is complete there is no discomfort. No sedation or local anaesthesia is required and as no recovery is required, patients can resume normal activities immediately.

The full effects of Botox treatment are not apparent for three to seven days and the effects are temporary as the toxin is slowly metabolised by the body in approximately three to six months. As most patients are happy with the effects of Botox, a top up injection is required after this period of time to maintain the skin smoothing effects.

There are very few side effects to this procedure, while allergy to any medicine is possible, it is rare indeed with Botox. While a very small amount of brow drooping can occur when injected in this area, this can usually be avoided by not treating the 1-cm area just above the eyebrows. However due to the non-permanent nature of Botox any non desired side effects are always temporary.

Botox is well tolerated by most people, yet patients who are pregnant or have a neurologic disease should not be treated.

Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis) can be socially as well as professionally disruptive and can lead to considerable emotional stress and embarrassment so patients who suffer can be successfully treated with Botox injections. When injected locally into the skin of a problem area, Botulin toxin type A potently blocks the nerve fibres used to stimulate sweat glands, resulting in almost complete cessation of sweat production from that area. As the toxin is injected only within the skin, there is no risk of affecting deeper muscle structures and therefore their function. The effects of the Botox treatment takes three to seven days to be demonstrated, and the sweat free effects last between three and 12 months. Repeat injections produce similar results. The treatment is well tolerated and is void of any adverse side effects.