Important Information About Botox® Treatment For Facial Lines

Important Information about Botox® treatment for facial lines
Botox® is used to treat facial wrinkles by being injected into the skin.
There are two groups of facial wrinkles, or lines:

The dynamic lines, which are seen only when the muscles of the face move, and
The static lines, which are seen even when the face isn’t moving.
Botox® is used to treat the dynamic lines, and treatment aims to eliminate as well as help in
the prevention of further such lines.
The Botox® injections are specifically placed in the face in order to target the muscles that
cause these lines, by preventing the muscles from contracting. It is a protein derived from the
toxin clostridium botulinum and works by blocking the passage of nerve impulses that would
normally tell the muscles to move. Its effects are temporary, hence the need for repeat
treatments when its effects wear off.
It does not work immediately, and therefore you will not see the wrinkles disappear
immediately after you have your injections. It can take between 7-21 days for you to see the
effects of Botox® working. This is why you are advised to see your practitioner 2 to 3 weeks
after your treatment in order that the effects may be assessed, and any top-up of your
treatment may be undertaken as required, but this is the only time you may have a top-up in
between treatments.
Botox® is approved for the treatment of glabellar lines (frown lines between the eyebrows).
Although used to treat wrinkles in a number of other areas of the face, it is not licensed for
these areas. However, it has been used safely for a number of years in medical practice for
certain medical conditions and without long term side effects.
It is important to be aware that, although very safe, Botox® is a prescribed medicine, and
therefore carries a number of possible risks and side effects, as with any medicine. You are
asked to complete a medical questionnaire in order that your practitioner may assess whether
or not it is safe for you to have wrinkle treatment with Botox®.
The side effects may be related to the treatment, the injection technique, or both, and can
also be due to some of your own biological factors which may not be known at the time of
injection. It is therefore very important that you know what the side effects are, and
understand them, before considering and consenting for your treatment. These include:
Pain, burning, stinging, swelling, bruising, bleeding, at the site of injection, as may be
expected for any injection procedure;
Headache is relatively common, and face pain and local muscle weakness have also been
reported.
Drooping of the eyelids is a possible risk due to the effects of the Botox® spreading towards
other muscles that were not intentionally targeted by the injections. It is therefore very
important that you follow the post-treatment advice to help prevent this from happening.
Allergic reactions have been reported-these may be mild to severe and may include rash,
difficulties in swallowing, speaking or breathing, and facial swelling. Rarely adverse reactions
possibly related to the spread of the Botox® much further from the injection site have also
been reported. Exaggerated muscle weakness is rare, but may happen even with the small
treatment doses used for wrinkle treatment. Occasionally people can get used to having
Botox® and it stops having any effect on wrinkles. It is unknown who this will happen to, but it
is performed at the intervals suggested to try to avoid this from happening.
The aesthetic effects of Botox® last for an average of 3-4 months but will vary from person to
person depending on such factors as the condition of the skin, area treated, amount of
product injected, injection technique and lifestyle factors such as sun exposure and smoking.
It is very important that you understand and follow the advice given to you following your
treatment in order to help prevent the occurrence of any adverse effects.
S. Anthony 2016
Important information following your treatment with Botox®
This advice is aimed at helping you to achieve the best result after your
treatment, with minimal discomfort and side effects. Please read this
carefully.
Immediately after treatment:
You may have some slight bleeding, swelling, bruising or pain at the injections sites.
This should settle over the next few minutes to hours. If bruising is severe (and this
may occur more frequently around the eyes eg after treatment of crows feet) then
this may take up to a week to settle.
Headaches are common after Botox® treatment. Paracetamol should help this, and
any other mild discomfort that you may experience.
Do raise your eyebrows frequently in order to work the Botox® into the muscles.
Don’t rub your forehead or massage the treated area, to avoid the dispersing the
Botox® into the wrong areas, and to avoid infection at the injection sites.
There are a number of other things that are important to avoid after your treatment:
For 4 hours after treatment:
 Keep an upright posture ie don’t lie down or bend over.
For 12 hours after treatment:
 Avoid alcohol consumption-this can cause excessive bruising

 Avoid applying make-up or vigorously washing or rubbing your face
 Don’t exercise
For 2 weeks after treatment
 Avoid extreme sun exposure/UV light/sunbeds

 Don’t have facials
 Don’t have saunas
 Avoid freezing temperatures
You should begin to see the effects of the Botox® usually between 7 and 21 days
after your treatment. Your practitioner will arrange to see you 2 to 3 weeks after your
treatment in order to assess the effects and to top up the treatment if necessary.
You should not have any further treatment for at least 3 months after this. In general
you will require repeat treatment every 3 to 4 months.
Should you have any adverse effects please contact your practitioner on:
0203 327 7777 during working hours, or on 07990 582827 out of hours
S. Anthony 2016

Important Information About Botox® Treatment For Facial Lines

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Important Information about Botox® treatment for facial lines

There are two groups of facial wrinkles, or lines:

Immediately after treatment:

For 4 hours after treatment:

 Keep an upright posture ie don’t lie down or bend over.

For 12 hours after treatment:

 Avoid alcohol consumption-this can cause excessive bruising

For 2 weeks after treatment

 Avoid extreme sun exposure/UV light/sunbeds

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