How are Botox treatments performed?

On average, a Botox treatment takes just 10 minutes or so to perform. Most patients will begin to notice the effects 3-7 days after the procedure and fully after 2 weeks.

________________________________________________________________________________

Pre-treatment:

- Patients must refrain from alcohol on the day of treatment and are also asked not to wear any make up on the skin areas treated

- Patients will be given a medical history questionnaire and a consent form to complete before their treatment. Very rarely, patients are not suitable for treatment

Click here for information about patients NOT suitable for Botox treatments

- Your face will be then examined. This involves performing a few simple facial expressions to demonstrate your areas of concern. A bespoke treatment can then be designed according to your individual needs. Faces are seldom symmetrical to begin with.

- Clinical photographs will be taken as a record of your face before the procedure. These will NEVER be used for any advertising or marketing purposes unless your full, written and verbal consent is given.

________________________________________________________________________________

Treatment:

- The forehead and the skin around the eyes will be cleaned with an alcohol wipe. Occasionally a make up pen is be used to highlight the areas needing treatment.

- The treatment involves tiny injections with a very fine needle. There is only very minor discomfort and no anaesthetic is needed for this.

________________________________________________________________________________

Post-treatment

- After your treatment, you may relax for 5 minutes. The areas treated initially look like small 'mosquito bites' and this is completely NORMAL. The effect is caused by the small amounts of fluid injected under the skin which will absorb within 15 minutes or so.

- Some very tiny areas of bleeding from the sites may also occur. These are easily stopped with pressure and cleaned with cotton wool.

________________________________________________________________________________

After care instructions:

- There are a few simple rules that MUST be followed after a Botox treatment to gain the maximum cosmetic effects whilst also helping to avoid the few potential side effects:

1. DO NOT massage, rub vigorously or wash the areas until the next day after your treatment. This also includes not applying make up to the treated areas.

2. DO NOT drink alcohol until the next day.

3. DO NOT participate in sports, exercise or vigorous activity until the next day after your treatment.

4. DO NOT bend over or lie down for at least 4 hours after treatment

These rules are designed to prevent Botox moving to areas of the face that are not desirable to be treated. Failure to follow these significantly increases the chances of eye lid/brow drooping. (These are fully reversible side effects and are almost exclusively caused by patients not following the above instructions)

A helpful reminder card with these rules listed will be given to you, so there is no need to worry about forgetting them.