Crows Feet Treatment

Botulinum Toxin (commonly known as ‘Botox’)

How to prepare- Before Treatment

It is important you tell your Practitioner about any medicines or dietary supplements you are taking; some medicines can adversely affect the way the toxin works or increase your risk of bruising. All make up will need to be removed prior to treatment, so please come ‘fresh faced’ if possible. Alcohol, aspirin, Ibuprofen, and a range of dietary supplements including St. John’s Wort, fish oils, Gingko Biloba, Vitamins C and E- may all contribute to bruising and are best avoided 48 hours before treatment.

Please avoid chemical peels, micro needling, facials, microblading and topical use of retinol and steroids for one week prior to the appointment. Treatment cannot be administered if there is an active skin infection, including acne or cold sores or if you are unwell- including colds, coughs, sore throats etc.

Do contact the clinic to discuss any illness or new medicines prior to attending, such as antibiotics as they could reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.

What is Botulinum Toxin?

 Botulinum toxin is a naturally occurring protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum. In a purified form, as is the case with many drugs/medications such as Penicillin, Botulinum toxin is a very safe, effective treatment not only used in cosmetic clinics, but also for several medical conditions, including migraine and excessive sweating. All botulinum toxins are prescription only medicines (POM) and can only be prescribed by doctors, dentists, and nurses with the prescribing qualification, following a consultation with the qualified prescriber. Botox is a licensed brand of Botulinum toxin A.

How does it Work?

The toxin blocks the transition of chemical messages from the nerve to the muscle so that the muscle stays in a resting state for a period of 8 to 12 weeks on average. This may be only a partial reduction in movement allowing some remaining movement or a full block in which case there is very little remaining muscular movement in the area – this very much depends on the amount administered and location of product placement –treatment may be tailored to suit your individual requirements. Your expected treatment outcomes and whether they can be achieved will be discussed at the time of consultation. Used to Treat The aim of the licensed treatment is to significantly reduce the movement of the muscles causing expression lines (dynamic lines) specifically the frown and crow’s feet and worry lines on the brow may also be treated as an ‘off label indication. Successful treatment may not cause the expression lines themselves to disappear completely. It may not ‘completely freeze’ the expression, particularly if extreme effort is exerted to make an expression. Botulinum toxin is not suitable for lines present without expression (static lines); your doctor will advise you. Advanced and off-label indications include horizontal brow lines, lip lines, chin ‘dippling’, muscles on the lower face and neck, to lift the mouth corners, improve the jaw line and the appearance of the neck. The ‘chewing muscle’ may also be treated to soften a square jaw or to prevent teeth grinding or jaw clenching at night.

 How Long will it Last?

Results last up to 3 months. Movement will begin recovering from 6 weeks. Frequent treatment at intervals of less than 3 months is not recommended. Repeating treatment when movement recovers will deliver optimum results over time. Frequency of treatments may be reduced according to the quality of your skin and your response to treatment. Should you choose not to maintain the results and not have further treatment, your muscles and skin will return to their pre-treatment state. Does it Hurt?

A very fine needle is used and generally this treatment is not described by most as painful and can be well tolerated with no anaesthetic. Please request an anaesthetic cream or ice if you are nervous about needles. After Treatment You will be advised to avoid extremes of heat or cold, lying down or leaning over for 4-6 hours. No make-up or creams can be applied on the areas injected for 48 hours to avoid diffusing the toxin and preventing complications. Alcohol and exercise must be strictly avoided for 48 hours after injections.

After treatment it is expected that you will start to see an improvement within 5 days. For some people this takes longer. The full result may be judged at 2-3 weeks.

You will be invited to attend a review appointment at 2-3 weeks where the success of the treatment may be assessed and adjustments to your personal treatment plan made, if necessary. After 3 weeks has passed, no further top up appointments will be available to you. Any further injections between the 3- and 12-week period can leave the patient at risk of developing long term antibodies and resistance to the toxin, it also could lead to the toxin wearing off at different times and not maintaining its full effect over the 3-month period. Should you experience any unexpected side effects or any that concern you, please contact the clinic.