WRINKLE INJECTIONS

FOLLOWING THE PROCEDURE

1. Do not massage the area.
2. Do use the muscles that have been injected to encourage them to take up the Botox.
3. Avoid alcohol for 24 hours.
4. Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours.
5. Avoid hot baths or saunas for 24 hours.
6. Avoid Aspirin and anti-inflammatory medication unless necessary, as these can aggravate bruising. It is safe to take paracetamol.

HOW SOON WILL THE RESULTS BE SEEN?

The ability to use the muscles will usually not be apparent until 3-7 days after the Botox injection. It is a gradual relaxation of the muscles rather than a sudden one. Although some people do not see a result until the second week, everyone should have full effect within two weeks.

WHAT RESULTS CAN BE EXPECTED?

This procedure will smooth wrinkles that caused by frown and worry lines, crow’s feet and laugh lines. Some people have permanently etched wrinkles even when they are not smiling or frowning and although Botox will partially remove these, there may be some wrinkles remaining. Juvederm injections may be needed if further improvement is desired. This is usually done once the Botox is fully working.

In most people, Botox will allow little or no movement in the treated area. However, there are some exceptions.

Some people can still cause frown lines by using muscles in the outer part of the forehead. This is caused by pushing the skin across to form the wrinkles.

Some people can still have a few wrinkles on the forehead when they raise their eyebrows. This is caused by the eyebrows pushing upwards the adjacent skin. Botox can be used to stop eyebrow movement but this may cause flattening of the eyebrow and a heavy upper lid. Rarely in some people, Botox does not work for as long or as well as expected. Some people have such powerful muscles they may need larger quantities than normal to get the same effect.

Most people will see the wrinkles if they tightly screw up their eyes, this is due to different muscles being utilized. If you wish to check the effect of Botox on the frown muscles, you must try and frown with you eyes fully open. Even when Botox has fully paralysed the frown muscles, you can still frown by unnaturally screwing up your eyes because you are using eye muscles that are normally not used in frowning and therefore have been injected. Similarly you can still cause smile wrinkles by tightly screwing up your eyes.

If this is the first time you have had Botox, you usually be reviewed at 2 weeks to assess the results.