The Beauty Society

Why Botox^®?

Wrinkles and lines on our faces usually appear as we age, due to repeated muscle movements and our natural genetic make-up. In some cases, one might be unfortunate to come from a family where wrinkling is a common feature (some cruel friends might have commented that you are looking more and more like your grandparents!).

Other extrinsic factors can increase the likelihood of wrinkles, such as over exposure to sun rays/sun beds, excessive alcohol intake, unhealthy diet, over-stimulated hormones and smoking. Some of these can be avoided or counteracted by undertaking carefully crafted skin care regimes and a lifestyle of monastic abstinence. However, most of us cannot stop the internal ageing process and we will ultimately seek solutions to the wrinkling problem.

The bunching of skin from facial muscle contractions induces frown lines. When we frown, the skin between our eyebrows is gathered into a fold, which eventually causes a chronic furrow. This gives one's face a frustrated, discouraged, angry or unapproachable look, which can be distracting to others and a bother to us (when your friends or children start considering you ‘mean faced’ it might be a call to action!).

It is the quality of delivery not the quantity which determines the desirable end result when using muscle relaxing products. An experienced practitioner will inject minimal amounts and follow this with a review (around two weeks later) when the effect of the initial treatment can be judged. A top-up dose can be administered if the furrow or wrinkle is still present. In certain instances, areas of the face might need to be symmetrically balanced in relation to one another, e.g. the right and left sides should appear to be the same. The overall aim of this treatment is to achieve a natural effect - nobody wants to look frozen, rigid or artificial – the intention is usually to make the most of one's good looks.

What is it?

Botulinum toxin (Botox^®) is a substance produced from engineered bacteria which, when injected in small doses, will cause relaxation of targeted muscles. Facial furrows and wrinkles can be reduced by the judicious use of muscle relaxing products such as Botox^®.

Am I an ideal candidate?

Treatment can be effective for both males and females. It is important to attend a prior consultation before treatment to determine if you may have any contra-indication. There are certain cases where it is definitely not advisable, such as if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have a neurological disease or know of a hypersensitivity to this treatment.

Is the treatment comfortable?

Although Botox® is administered through injection the needles are small and only small amounts are administered at any one time. The injections are few and frequent so any discomfort is short-lived. If however, you are needle phobic a numbing cream can be applied to the area prior to treatment to make the experience more comfortable.

How long does treatment take?

Treatment usually takes between 15 – 30 minutes. The full effects of treatment can be noticed in two weeks and depending on muscle tone, some individuals may needan extra dose to achieve an enhanced result.

What is the difference between Vistabel® and Botox^®?

None! They both have the same pharmaceutical constitution but are packaged differently. Botox^® can also be used for the treatment of neuro-muscular diseases, e.g. blepharospasm associated with dystonia, migraines, persistent headaches, chronic lower back pain, stroke, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, achalasia and excessive sweating. Needless to say it’s not applied just on the face. This drug is well accepted in the medical arena.

How long will the effects of this treatment last?

On average a single Botox® treatment can last up to 4 months. Towards the end of this period you may notice a gradual return of the furrow or wrinkle. At this point another treatment cycle can be administered. Some clients have regular quarterly treatments which can maintain the desired results.