How does it work?
There are many different treatment options available at the Wessex Skin clinic. Botulinum Toxin injections are one of the options that we offer. It is a reversible way of improving the appearance of wrinkles that appear on the face during facial expression.
Botulinum Toxin is produced by bacteria which, when used in small therapeutic doses, blocks the signal from nerves to muscle and prevents the injected muscle from contracting.
Before and After
What does it treat?
Botulinum Toxin is commonly used to treat forehead lines, frown lines, crows feet, smokers lines (lines that appear around the mouth), skin bands around the neck and bunny lines (lines in the nose). Botulinum toxin injections can also be used to treat excessive sweating by injecting into the skin of the affected area e.g. armpits.
There are many different brands of Botulinum Toxin. At the Wessex Skin clinic Dr Fairris uses the brand that has over 30 years of research and evidence behind it.
The benefits
- Botulinum toxin is not permanent, it lasts approximately 4 months, although patients may start to notice return of movement from approximately 12 weeks.
- Side effects are minimal in experienced hands and are fully reversible once the botulinum toxin wears off
- Botulinum toxin has a significant amount of evidence base to support its use in the treatment of facial lines
Alternative and Combination treatments
Frown lines
Who will it benefit?
- Anyone who has frown lines.
- Anyone who has developed a habit of frowning unintentionally.
- Anyone who wishes to raise their eyebrows a few millimetres.
How does it work?
- It weakens the muscles that pull the eyebrows inwards and downwards into a frown.
- This softens the frown, permits the eyebrows to move upwards and outwards and causes the frown lines to be less visible
The benefits
- The frown lines are less visible.
- The upper half of the face opens up into a more relaxedl appearance.
- You will appear less angry
Treatment at Wessex Skin
- The GMC (who regulate doctors) recommend a 7 day cooling off period following initial consultation for aesthetic treatments
- You will be treated by Dr Catherine Fairris, who has over 8 years of experience delivering anti wrinkle injections
Horizontal forehead lines
Who will it benefit?
- Most people with horizontal forehead lines.
- Anyone with a habit of unintentionally raising their eyebrows.
Who will not benefit?
- Anyone who uses the muscles on their forehead to keep their eyebrows raised.
- The forehead should be treated cautiously in people who suffer with hooding of their eyelids
How does it work?
- It weakens the action of the muscles that lift the eyebrows
- This results in reduced wrinkling of the forehead.
The benefits
- The forehead lines soften.
- The upper half of the face looks more youthful.
Treatment at Wessex Skin
- You will be treated by Dr Catherine Fairris, who has many years of experience
Lines around the eyes (Crow’s feet)
Who will benefit?
- People with lines around the eyes.
- Anyone with a habit of unintentionally squinting.
How does it work?
- It weakens the muscles that are used during squinting.
- Reducing the appearance of “crows feet”
The benefits
- The area around the side of the eyes acquires a more open, youthful, receptive appearance.
- It can also result in a lifting of the brow
Treatment at Wessex Skin
- You will be treated by Dr Catherine Fairris, who has over 8 years of experience
More information about Botulinum Toxin A
Where it works best
- Lines: frown, forehead, around the eyes and on the nose
- Eyebrow elevation
- Underarm sweating
Works well with
- Lines around the mouth that appear on movement
- Tooth-grinding
How does Botulinum toxin work?
- Muscles insert into the skin overlying them, when they contract, they cause the skin to crease, which in turn creates lines and wrinkles.
- Injecting botulinum toxin into specific muscle groups causes relaxation of these muscles resulting in a visible reduction in the lines and wrinkles of the overlying skin.
- With time, the skin can repair itself and the lines and wrinkles may gradually fade.
Which types of Botulinum toxin work best?
- Botox® and Vistabel® are the “gold standard” products and are the same molecule. It is the best researched, lasts the longest and can be placed the most accurately and so should produce the most natural-looking results.
- Dysport® is a bigger molecule and less easy to place accurately. However, it is cheaper and so you should get a price reduction if the practitioner is using it as a Botox® substitute.
- Xeomin® worked as well in clinical trials carried out at the Wessex Skin Clinic but, we know less about this product.
Is Botulinum toxin safe?
- Yes. It is so safe that doses several times larger than the cosmetic dose are used to treat children with cerebral palsy.
- Long-term cosmetic use, over ten years, has also been shown to be safe and produce no lasting side-effects.
- More than 20 million people have had botulinum toxin since 2002.
Does treatment hurt?
- Botulinum toxin is administered by injection and treatment involves several tiny pin-pricks that sting or tingle for about a second.
How should I prepare for Botulinum toxin treatment?
- No specific preparation is needed.
How will I look immediately after treatment?
- The injections cause small bumps in the skin that settle within an hour or so.
- Very occasionally, a small bruise may develop at an injection site.
Is there any important aftercare?
- No.
- You can return to work and normal daily activities immediately after treatment but avoid exercise, alcohol, or massaging the treated area for 3 hours after treatment.
How soon after the treatment will I notice an improvement?
- Botulinum toxin starts working 2-7 days after treatment and takes full effect by day 14.
- After that you will notice the lines and wrinkles fading in the areas that have been treated.
- It works more quickly on the forehead than the frown lines.
How long does Botulinum toxin last?
- If you delay repeat treatment for more than every 4 months, people will notice that your facial expressions vary.
- However, if your skin is healthy, it may take 6 months or more before the lines come back.
Does treatment produce any side-effects?
All side-effects are temporary.
- A small bruise at one or more of the injection sites
- Tenting of one eyebrow, that can be simply corrected
- Treatment of forehead lines can cause the eyelids to descend a millimetre or two
- Rarely: drooping of one eyelid
- Rarely: patchy numbness on the forehead or headaches. (Although most people find that botulinum toxin injections help their headaches.)
Who should not have botulinum toxin injections?
- Women who are pregnant or breast feeding
- If you have an allergy to albumin
- If you have Myaesthenia gravis
- If you are taking some types of antibiotics
Dr Catherine Fairris is warm and welcoming with expertise and compassion, and will talk you through your needs with professionalism and honesty.
If you are looking for somewhere where you will be treated like a friend with a personal, caring service and be introduced to products and services tailored to you, then look no further.
I would thoroughly recommend.
Why Choose Wessex Skin?
Thorough consultations
Prior to treatment you will have a thorough consultation to devise a treatment plan.
Natural-looking results
Your treatment will be carried out by Dr Catherine Fairris who has extensive experience using anti-wrinkle injections
Combination treatment
You may require a combination of ainti wrinkle injections and dermal filler to achieve your desired outcome.
Experienced Doctor
All treatments are delivered by a highly qualified and experienced aesthetic doctor
Discretion assured
We have a discrete reception area with private entrance.
Convenient access
On-site parking and close to J10 of the M3.
Are you interested?
Why not contact us to book your complimentary appointment with Dr Catherine Fairris for a personalized treatment plan?