ANTI-WRINKLE TREATMENT
Botulinum toxin is a protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It is a neurotoxin that can cause paralysis by blocking the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that is essential for muscle contraction.
When injected superficially into the muscles in the face, it can help to reduce the strength of muscle contraction and associated skin creasing. This can soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and prevent them from worsening over time.
Botulinum toxin is a prescription-only medication (POM), which means that it can only be prescribed by a doctor. At our clinic, both Dr Rachel Tunney and Dr Ayrton Goddard are medical doctors who are licensed to prescribe medication to their patients.
Before you can be considered for this treatment, we will need to conduct a face-to-face consultation with you. This will allow us to assess your suitability for the treatment and to discuss the risks and benefits with you.
Please note that this treatment may not be offered to you if we feel you have medical, aesthetic or psychological contraindications. Our first duty is to do no harm, and in some cases, we may suggest alternative treatment for your concerns.
If you are interested in learning more about botulinum toxin treatment, please contact our clinic to schedule a consultation. We would be happy to answer any questions you have and to discuss whether this treatment is right for you.
Consultation takes 30 minutes
Treatment, if suitable, takes 20-30 minutes
Minimal downtime
Optimum results within 10-14 days
Repeat treatment every 3-4 months
Topical anaesthesia not usually required
Complications are rare
WHAT TO EXPECT
Before your treatment
After your medical consultation, we will discuss some pre-appointment advice that will help ensure the best possible results for your treatment.
We prefer that you can arrive at your appointment without make-up, as make-up left on the skin can pose an infection risk.
The treatment takes around 20-30 minutes, but it is best to leave plenty of time for your appointment. You are welcome to sit in our comfy waiting room before and after your treatment if you would like.
During your treatment
We begin by thoroughly cleansing your skin and marking the treatment area. We use the smallest needles available, so most patients do not require any numbing (although we can provide this if you prefer).
The injections will leave a series of very small bumps on the skin, which will settle within an hour. We then cleanse the skin again and apply some soothing and moisturising aftercare balm.
After your treatment
Here is some simple aftercare advice to help minimise adverse effects and maximise your outcome:
- Avoid heavy, sweaty exercise, hot showers, saunas, and steam rooms for 24 hours after treatment. This will help reduce the risk of swelling and bruising.
- Keep the treated area clean to help reduce the risk of infection.
- The effects of the medication will start to take effect in around 3-5 days, but the full effect will be seen between 10-14 days.
- You will be offered a review appointment two weeks after the treatment. This will allow us to assess your progress and answer any questions you may have.
TREATMENT PRICES
At Dr Rachel Tunney Aesthetics we use Allergan Botox for anti-wrinkle treatments, which is a prescription medication. As such, it is essential that you have a complete medical consultation prior to being offered this treatment.
Areas treated include: crow’s feet, frown lines, forehead lines, gummy smile, bunny lines, brow lift, chin dimpling, masseter muscle for jaw slimming and teeth grinding, platysmal bands in the neck.
During your consultation, we will advise which treatment will be most suitable for your concerns.
Frown, crow’s feet, brow lift, gummy smile, bunny lines or chin dimpling
Frown and forehead or frown and crow’s feet
Frown, forehead and crow’s feet
Masseter muscle injections
Platysmal bands
You can prepare your skin for your anti-wrinkle treatment by adding a HydraFacial! You can benefit from the immediate glow of the HydraFacial while waiting for the anti-wrinkle treatments to kick in!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When should I start having anti-wrinkle treatments?
The signs of ageing appear on the skin at different times for different people. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to when to start anti-wrinkle treatments. However, if you are starting to see lines appearing, you may want to consider starting anti-wrinkle treatments. These treatments can help to prevent lines from worsening over time.
It is important to note that it is against the law to treat patients under the age of 18 for injectable treatments, including anti-wrinkle treatments. If you are under the age of 18, you should not receive anti-wrinkle treatments.
Do I have to have a consultation before treatment?
Yes, because botulinum toxin is a prescription-only medication (POM), all patients interested in anti-wrinkle treatments must have a medical consultation before being offered this treatment.
A consultation is also helpful in providing you with a comprehensive treatment plan to help you address your concers.
Will I need to keep having the treatment once I start?
You can stop at any time, and your skin will be no worse than before you started treatment. However, most people find that they enjoy the results and want to continue!
Am I suitable for anti-wrinkle treatment?
This will be determined at your consultation, but generally speaking, you will be suitable for treatment if you are healthy, over 18 years old, and none of the following apply to you:
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Neuromuscular disorders such as MS, Parkinsons’, myasthenia gravis
- Active infection at the injection sites
- Active cold sores
- Allergy to botulinum toxin
Can you get rid of all my lines and wrinkles?
When treating lines and wrinkles, it is important to understand the difference between dynamic and static lines.
- Dynamic lines are visible when the face is moving. These lines are caused by the contraction of muscles in the face. For example, the lines that appear on the forehead when we are surprised or between the eyebrows when we are angry are dynamic lines.
- Static lines are visible when the face is still. These lines are caused by the breakdown of collagen and elastin in the skin. Collagen and elastin are proteins that give skin strength and elasticity. As we age, these proteins break down, which causes the skin to sag and wrinkle.
Dynamic lines are usually amenable for treatment with anti-wrinkle injections, and these can be useful to prevent the line from becoming deeper over time.
Static lines can be treated with a variety of methods, including anti-wrinkle treatment but also dermal fillers, collagen-induction treatments like Morpheus 8 or microneedling and chemical peels. It is more likely that we can soften static lines rather than eliminate them completely.
It is also important to look at the patient as a whole. If a patient had a completely smooth forehead, but the lower face was significantly lined, then it would be more noticeable and less natural looking. We like to treat patients so that everything is in balance and nothing looks out of context.
What happens at my review appointment?
We offer all our new anti-wrinkle treatment patients a review 2-3 weeks after your first treatment. This is to assess the outcome of the treatment and to discuss any side effects or adverse events.
We may need to adjust the dose of your treatment during your review appointment. There is no standard dose, and everyone requires slightly different amounts based on their muscle size, strength, metabolism and desired outcome. We adjust the dose to find the right dose for you.
There is no additional cost for dose adjustment at your review appointment.
After you have had treatments in our clinic and we are happy with your dose and outcomes, we ask you to get in touch with the clinic within 3 weeks if you require a review appointment. The door is always open and we always keep a few appointments available for post-treatment reviews.
Dose adjustments cannot be made more than 4 weeks after your initial treatment, and repeat treatments cannot be done sooner than 12 weeks (3 months) from initial treatment due to the risk of developing antibodies against the medication, which leads to resistance to treatment.
How often will I need to have the treatment?
Most patients return for a repeat treatment every 3-4 months. However, some patients see results from their treatment lasting up to 6 months..
We do not re-treat patients less than 12 weeks (3 months) from their initial treatment, even if they feel that there is more movement back. This is to prevent further risks of you developing antibodies to the medication.
When will I see the results?
It can take 3-5 days to start seeing some changes after your treatment, but up to 2 weeks for the full effect. Be patient!