Botox® Injections (Botulinum Toxin)

Botox facts:

• Botox is the trade name for a very purified form of Botulinum toxin, a protein derived from bacteria.
• Botox has been approved for use in New Zealand since 1991.
• Botox is used in medical applications such as eye spasms, contracted muscles, treatment of hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) under the arms, and cosmetic use in upper face applications (frown, forehead, crow’s feet).
• A treatment produces a temporary affect lasting 3-6 months.
• Botox relaxes muscles allowing lines to soften.
• Dynamic, overactive muscles tend, over time, to produce etched lines in the overlying skin. These can be softened very adequately, but may require a combination of Botox and dermal filler to lift and re-plump the skin while there is no ‘muscle movement’, for optimum results.
• What is the best age to begin? Botox is recommended to be started BEFORE the lines become etched, as a preventative measure, but most people treat lines they already have.
• Botox can be used at any age.
• Botox works by blocking the nerve impulses to the muscle, causing the muscle to relax. As the nerve receptors are restored, movement gradually returns, usually after 3-6 months.
• The effect of Botox is not immediate. Relaxing of affected muscles is gradual over the period of a week – so plan your treatment 2-3 weeks in advance of any big event. If it is your first Botox treatment, we schedule a follow-up appointment after two weeks, to check you have the desired improvement.
• Botox does not plump lips or fill lines.
• Botox treatment is repeated every 4-6 months to maintain the advantage of relaxed muscles and reduced lines.
• Is treatment painful? Superfine needles are used, and discomfort is of short duration and usually very tolerable.
• Patients are advised to avoid the use of fish oils, ibuprofen, aspirin for 4-5 days prior to treatment, to minimise bruising.
• The most common side-effects are temporary skin marks, and occasional small bruises at the site of injection.
• Treatment occasionally causes temporary stinging/itching at site, headaches, local muscle weakness.
• Safety: Botox is not advised for use in pregnancy, lactation, if there is local infection at the site, or defective neuro-transmission disorders.
• After care advice: Avoid excessive exercise such as gym work-out for the rest of that day. Avoid facial massage or facials for four hours post treatment. Avoid saunas or spas for four hours. Avoid alcohol consumption on day of treatment.

Find out more about botox: www.botox.com

Mr Jesse Kenton Smith is a certified member of NZAP, ASAPS and NZFCPS.