FAQ's
It is common to have questions when you are considering a treatment. We encourage it! You should ask your injector all the questions you can think of to ensure they are knowledgeable, expertly trained and the right fit for you. We compiled our most popular in clinic questions and answered them for you in one easy and convenient place. Please read below for the most common Dermal Filler and Anti-wrinkle (Botox®) questions.
Anti Wrinkle Injections - Botox®
What is it?
Botulinum toxin is a purified protein that is injected into the skin to relax the muscles in your face to smooth out lines and wrinkles, such as crow's feet and frown lines. The effects of Botox are not permanent and re treatment is required after a period of 12 weeks.
Initially Botox was used in medicine to treat squints and over the years treatments using Botox for medical indications such as to treat migraines, bladder weakness and excessive sweating have been developed.
Is it safe?
Provided you’ve had a full consultation with a medical professional and your treatment is being administered by a qualified professional, you should have no particular long term problems with using Botox.
What are the side effects?
Botox is deemed one of the safest cosmetic injectables to have done. Side effects are usually minimal - At most clients experience some mild swelling and bruising which subsides after a few days or so. Like with anything in life, there is a risk of it “going wrong” and this can cause a heavy eye lid for example. But such a side effect is not permanent and will rectify within a matter of weeks. Your practitioner will discuss these in more detail during your consultation appointment .
Will my face look frozen?
Sometimes - over treatment using Botox can cause a frozen look. In other cases poor technique and a lack of understanding the facial muscles can cause an undesired look.
To ensure that you look as natural as possible, it’s recommended that you’re treated by an experienced medical professional who takes the time to accurately assess your facial structure, how much Botox you need, or whether you even need it at all. Our team of Registered Nurses are fully trained in the administration of basic and advanced botulinum treatments, and they are extremely experienced. You should also not experience any numbness or lack of skin sensitivity more than a few days after the initial treatment.
Who should avoid having Botox?
Pregnant women or breast feeding mothers. Patients with certain conditions affecting the connections between nerves and muscles (such as Myaesthenia Gravis and Eaton-Lambert Syndrome). People with a previous allergic reaction to botulinum toxin, or with allergies to egg or human albumin. People taking aminoglycoside antibiotics (such as chlarithromycin,gentamicin etc.). Anyone with a skin infection in the area to be treated
Caution should be exercised in any patients taking blood-thinning medication such as Warfarin, Rivaroxaban and Clopidogrel, simply due to the possibility of severe bruising.
When should I begin treatments?
When you feel the ageing process is effecting you both physically and mentally.
Some would say it’s better to start early and use it as a preventative method for anti-ageing. We believe it’s important that you feel the time is right for you to venture into aesthetic treatments. For those patients who have deeper lines Botox will still be of benefit, but dermal filler treatments may be required alongside this to achieve optimum results.
When will I see effects after treatment?
Effects may take up to 2 weeks post treatment to fully show, though this can be sooner. Expect the muscle movement to be uneven during this 2 week period as the Botox begins to block the nerve receptors and prevents the muscle from moving so freely. Re-treatment is usually at least every 3 months, this varies from person to person ranging from 2 to 5 months on average.
Dermal Filler Treatments
What are dermal fillers?
Dermal fillers are made from a product called hyaluronic acid, this naturally occurs in the body. Its key role is to absorb water and transports nutrients to the skin ensuring that the structure and volume is maintained. It can hold 1000 x its own weight in water. As we age we the production of HA in the body slows down and as such the skin loses volume and elasticity. Dermal fillers help to replace lost volume the skin and deeper layers of facial tissue. We can also treat the hands, neck and décolletage with dermal filler.
When can I expect to see results after treatment?
The effects of dermal are noticeable immediately after the procedure. These effects are long lasting, non-permanent and reversible. Generally most clients return for a follow up treatment approximately every 6-12 months.
Are there any side effects?
On the whole reactions to dermal filler tend to be minimal and short lived. You should expect some swelling and you may have some slight bruising however these reactions are expected to subside within a couple of days. There are more serious side effects related to dermal filler such as a vascular occlusion - blockage of an artery. However this is rare and when identified can be reversed.
What happens during treatment?
Prior to treatment we remove any make up and cleanse the area to be treated. We use a topical anaesthetic on the area which we will inject. This ensures the procedure is as comfortable as possible. The product is placed using a cannula or a needle - your practitioner will discuss this with you during consultation. We always aim to keep swelling and bruising to a minimum - however there are many factors that contribute to the degree of swelling and bruising. Discomfort during the treatment should be minimal. However, if you are sensitive we can use a local anaesthetic although in most cases this is not necessary. The appointment time is usually 45-60 minutes and the treatment takes approximately 30 minutes.
What happens post treatment?
Post treatment we advise against rubbing or massaging the area that has been treated - this is to ensure you do not introduce an infection into the treated area. avoid any beauty treatments such as facial massage, Sauna’s and extreme temperatures for up to 2 weeks after. We advise against vigorous exercise for 24hours and recommend you stay makeup and face cream free for 24 hours. Paracetamol and anti-histamines can be taken post treatment (as per manufacturers guidelines) to ease any discomfort and assist in dispersing the swelling.