The Natural Lift with Botox®
You are not alone!
"British men and women are estimated to be having cosmetic operations and treatments at the rate of 1500 a day", The Times, December 2007
Botox® treatments are one of the fastest growing cosmetic procedures today. American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery statistics show that more than 3 million people in the U.S. were treated in 2005 alone.
Botox® is used to lift eyebrows, sagging cheeks and to make jowls disappear. Botox® eliminates frown lines, forehead lines, laughter lines around the eyes and lines around the mouth. In other fields of medicine Botox has been used for over 30 years to treat muscle spasms and muscle hyperactivity. The treatment takes just 15 minutes, is virtually painless and you can fly to New York the same day, no problem.
The Cosmetic Botox® Treatment
Lifting eyebrows and reducing frown lines is one of the most popular and successful treatments done with Botox®. You might be surprised to know that much more can be achieved with a few quick and easy injections.By relaxing the muscles that pull the face down the sad corners of the mouth are lifted and jowls will over time reduce and in most cases disappear. Combined with dermal fillers to replace volume around the cheek and chin area Botox® can make you look years younger without sudden or obvious changes.
Safety and Side effects with Botox®
Botox® (botulinum toxin type A) is a prescription-only medicineDuring wrinkle-relaxing treatments, very low doses of Botox® are injected into the small muscles that cause wrinkles. Each injection relaxes these muscles, smoothing the lines. Once these tiny muscles are relaxed, they no longer contract to form wrinkles. Within days you should see an improvement in the wrinkles between your eyebrows. However, it may take between two to three weeks after the treatment for the full effects to be seen.
Most people have found that in order to get the best possible treatment results, you would repeat the treatment in within 4months. Treatment should not be more frequent than every three months. If you don’t continue treatment, the wrinkles between your brows will gradually return to the way they looked before your initial injection.
Like all prescription treatments, muscle-relaxing treatment with Botox® (the active ingredient is called botulinum toxin type A,a small purified protein molecule) may have some side effects. Remember, the risk of side effects may be reduced by going to an experienced consultant.
Before starting treatment you will want to discuss your medical history and what you can expect from your treatment with your consultant. The treatment may not be suitable for those with an active infection such as acne at the injection site or a history of disease affecting your nerves and muscles.
Muscle relaxing treatments should not be used if:
1. you had a previous allergy to Botox® or other botulinum toxins
2. you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant soon, or are breastfeeding
3. you are currently taking certain antibiotics
Be sure that your consultant knows about all prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamin or nutritional supplements you’re currently taking.
In general, any side effects occur within the first few days following injection and are temporary. As expected for any injection procedure, pain/burning/stinging/swelling and/or bruising may be associated with the injection. The most common side effects are headaches, drooping eye lid (this should be temporary and should go away when the effects of the injection wear off), pain or bruising, skin redness, and local muscle weakness.
After wrinkle-relaxing treatment with Botox® you can generally go right back to your normal activities. Your consultant will, however, advise you not to massage or rub the treated area and to be especially gentle with it for 24 hours after your treatment. There are no restrictions on air travel after the treatment. Your results should last about three to four months, although the results may last longer with repeated treatments.
Botox® has been used for relaxing facial muscles since the mid 80s and has become the most popular cosmetic treatment in both the US and the UK. Botox® has also proven extremely effective for treating migraines and tension headaches and for reducing excessive sweating (hyperhydrosis).