1. Please stop using topical Retinols, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acids, Salicylic Acid and Tretinoin 5 days before your treatment. This will minimise pain and bruising. However, if you have been established on these for a long time and your skin is likely to flare up without them, you do not need to stop them.

2. Please stop using any Vitamin E supplements and Ibuprofen/Neurofen 5 days before your treatment. Please do not stop any Aspirin prescribed by your GP.

3. Laser treatments for the face, microneedling and chemical peels have to be avoided 1 week before and after the treatment. Eyebrow treatments should be 2 weeks after wrinkle relaxing injections as their position may change slightly with treatment.

4. Please do not drink alcohol 24 hours before and after the procedure. You are slightly more likely to bruise with it.

5. Make sure you eat something before your appointment and are well hydrated. This prevents feeling light headed during the procedure.

6. It is advisable to take 1 g of Paracetamol (2 tablets) 30 mins-1 hour before your appointment as it will significantly reduce any discomfort during the procedure.

7. Please attend the appointment alone. There is limited space in the clinic and anybody with you will be asked to wait outside the building.

8. Please come to the appointment with makeup removed and minimal jewellery.

9. Please note, we are not able to carry out any Dermal Filler treatments if you are due to fly in the next 3 days. (Wrinkle relaxing injections and Profhilo are fine.)

Looking after your wrinkle relaxing injections

1. Please do not apply any pressure to the areas treated for the first 24 hours. The anti wrinkle injections have been placed into specific muscles very carefully and pressure can dislodge it.

2. Please stay upright for the next 4 hours after treatment

3. No exercise for 24 hours and avoid very intense exercise for the next 3 days

4. Please be careful with wearing hats and caps for the first 24 hours as that can also apply pressure.

5. No facials or facial massages/devices for one week. No eyebrow treatments ideally for 2 weeks.

Botulinum toxin causes a temporary relaxation of the muscles that are responsible for creating lines and wrinkles and is particularly effect in the upper facial muscles. At your appointment, Botulinum toxin is strategically placed into the muscles that cause these contractions resulting in relaxation of these areas.

Botulinum toxin can be used for many conditions, for example:-

Jaw clenching

Platysmal bands

Bunny lines

Cobbled (pebble) chin

Underarm sweating (hyperhidrosis)

Gummy smile

In most cases, we soften the wrinkles dramatically and in some, we are able to completely erase them. It depends on how deep the wrinkles are and whether they have become ‘static’ wrinkles or not.

See below for who is suitable or not. Botulinum Toxin is by far the most effective treatment for upper face wrinkles and far superior to any skin treatments available.

Patients often comment that nobody has noticed they have had anything done but have been told their skin looks great and that they look well rested.

On average Botox lasts 3-4 months. It is completely normal to require treatments every 3 months in the first 2 years.

Over time it tends to last longer and patients that have been doing it for some time come every 6 months.

If you are doing it more for prevention and don’t mind a few lines, you can come every 6-9 months. When it wears off, your wrinkles go back to how they were before and are often softer. It does not make them worse in any way.

It is not possible to get dependent on Botox. The reason people end up attending regularly is because they love the results and how effective a treatment it is.

It is normal to start getting some movement around week 6-8; this does not mean it has worn off early. It is a normal return to activity but full activity takes 3-4 months.

Like all medical treatments, there are side effects and risks. Mild bruising is common as are headaches and cold like symptoms. Sometimes the result can be slightly asymmetrical, especially if you had some asymmetry to begin with. This is usually simple to correct at your follow up appointment.

if you are a new patient. It takes 2 weeks for wrinkle relaxing injections to kick in, so it is therefore difficult to know exactly how much your muscles can take without your brows dropping. We recommend all new patients come for a review follow up appointment between 2-3 weeks and we can check and inject more at this point without any extra charge.

We will then understand your anatomy better and will usually only need one appointment in the future. Therefore, it is helpful to stick to the same injector who learns the special quirks about your face.