Treatment: Anti-Wrinkle Treatment

Botulinum Toxin may sound scary, but it is a naturally occurring protein derived from the Bacteria, Clostridium Botulinum. It can be injected into areas of the body to reduce and prevent wrinkles, and can even be used for medical procedures too. Popular brands of Botulinum Toxin in the UK are Botox®, Azzalure®, Bocouture®, Dysport®, Xeomin® and Vistabel®. We only use safe and effective brands of Botox® in our clinics. 

Botox® works by blocking signals from the nerves to the muscles, resulting in temporary weakness or paralysis of the muscle. The wrinkles in the skin over the muscle are then relaxed and softened, reducing their appearance. This may sound scary, but the procedure is totally safe when done by a trained professional.

By injecting small amounts of Botox® very precisely, we can make sure your face looks softer and smoother without completely freezing the muscles, resulting in a more natural look.  

The most common areas where Botox is used are often the ones where the best results are seen - forehead wrinkles, frown lines, crow’s feet and neckbands. Botox® can also be used for bunny lines on the nose, to elevate the tip of the nose and to make the jawline appear slimmer, as well as being part of the Nefertiti Lift. Excessive sweating can also be treated with the use of Botox injections.

All treatments begin with an initial consultation with a doctor, either in Essex or Rickmansworth, during which we will take a full medical history to ensure your suitability, and we'll discuss the benefits and any potential side effects. You'll have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. 

The actual treatment takes between 15 and 30 minutes, depending on how many areas you are having treated. We use micro-needles to reduce any discomfort associated with the Botox® injections.   

After your treatment, you can return to your normal daily activities immediately, although we recommend that you avoid exercise for 4 hours and do not massage the treated area for 24 hours.

We recommend a review appointment 2 weeks after your treatment, to make sure that you have the results you were looking for. Any adjustments will be carried out at this time and are free of charge. Once we have tailored the treatment to your requirements most people do not need to return repeatedly for review appointments after each treatment.

Our Doctors are extremely careful to ensure that by the time the treatment is done, most people would show no signs of having had an anti-wrinkle treatment. If there is any residual redness, we'll apply mineral makeup so you can return back to work or resume your normal daily activities immediately without any need to feel self-conscious.

Everyone reacts slightly differently, so there's no hard and fast rule, but generally, you'll start to see results within a couple of days and the final result in around 2 weeks. The effects typically last between 3 and 5 months for most people.    

No, at The Aesthetic MediSpa in Essex and Rickmansworth, we use a light touch to give you a youthful, rested appearance, not a frozen one. The expression you are left with after treatment is almost completely dependent on the skill of your practitioner, and not the injection itself - which is why we always encourage people to visit a professional, doctor-led clinic.   

Our team have undergone advanced training, to enable us to minimise any possible loss of facial expression. We achieve this through accurate dosing and by being targeted in injecting the right facial muscles to treat your wrinkles without freezing whole areas of your face.  

Botox® wrinkle-reducing injections have an excellent safety profile, but only when carried out in a registered clinical setting by doctors and nurses with appropriate qualifications and expertise in this treatment, such as at The Aesthetic MediSpa in Essex and Rickmansworth.

Side effects are uncommon, generally mild and temporary. Although we use a tiny needle during treatment, there is still a small chance of occasional side effects such as bruising, discomfort, slight redness and possible headache on the day of your treatment.

The rarest side effect is a lowering of the upper brow or eyelid, which can occur when frown/forehead muscles are over-injected. At The Aesthetic Medispa, our annual clinical audits show that we have a <0.01% risk of drooping brows/eyelids.

Although younger patients (mid to late 20s) are a minority, we do have clients in this age group. Generally, they are focused on preventing wrinkles from forming rather than treating existing wrinkles, as some studies suggest that Botox at a younger age may be effective in delaying the ageing process. With that in mind, all treatment decisions are made on an individual and ethical basis.

Whilst everyone loves a party, it is not an appropriate environment to have a medical procedure. In our clinics, we see many patients who have been ‘treated’ at such a party and who are unhappy with the results but have no recourse. Often no medical history has been taken or the consent form has been signed under the influence of alcohol (which also greatly increases the risk of bleeding after a treatment).

If you would like to have a treatment in a comfortable and relaxed environment with your friends, then please call our clinic and we can arrange an ‘exclusive evening’ for you, to ensure that your treatments are carried out in a clean, safe environment which is equipped to handle any emergency situation.

• Your initial visit to The Aesthetic MediSpa In Essex or Rickmansworth begins with a consultation, which will typically last for around 30 minutes.
• Your consultation will be carried out by a highly experienced Aesthetic Doctor, who has been practising Aesthetic Medicine exclusively for over 15 years.
• We'll start by talking to you so that we fully what you're looking for, and discussing how best we can meet and exceed your expectations.
• Then we'll discuss various treatment options, together with the benefits and any potential risks, so you can make an informed decision about what you want to do.
• You'll have plenty of opportunities to ask questions during your consultation, and we'll answer honestly and openly.
• There is no obligation to book the treatment with us after your consultation and you will not be rushed into making a decision. We want you to get exactly what you're looking for, so if you need to take your time to decide, that's perfectly ok.

• We appreciate that many of our patients have very busy schedules or travel a significant distance to attend our clinics and have often done significant research regarding the treatment prior to their consultation. It is therefore possible to carry out a treatment like Botox® immediately after your consultation.
• If you think you are likely to want to proceed with the treatment after the consultation, then please let us know when you book, so we can make sure your appointment time is long enough.
• You're under absolutely no obligation to proceed to a treatment after your consultation, so if you'd like to go away and think about things, please do. We just want you to have the best possible experience.

• All needle-based treatments carry a small possibility of causing bruising - but there are things you can do to minimise this risk further. We advise that you don't take anti-inflammatory painkillers (e.g. Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Nurofen, Voltarol), St Johns Wart, or Vitamin E supplements for at least a week before your treatment, as they all increase your tendency towards bleeding.
• Alcohol will also increase your tendency towards bleeding therefore we advise you to refrain from alcohol for 24 hours prior to a treatment.
• Recent studies have shown that people deficient in zinc do not get the optimal results from their Botox treatment, as zinc is required to bind with Botox®. Therefore, in order to achieve the best results from your treatment, you may wish to take Zinc supplements for a few days prior to your treatment and on the day of your treatment.
• Before your treatment you will be provided with a detailed consent form which you will be asked to read and sign.

• Carrying out the Botox® procedure takes between 15 and 30 minutes, depending on how many areas you're having treated. We will mark out the areas for treatment and use a micro needle to inject tiny amounts of Botox® into your muscles. Discomfort should be minimal, due to the type of needle we use, and our team's extensive training.
• We advise that you come in for a review after 2 weeks, to ensure the desired results have been achieved. Any adjustments/top-up treatment carried out at this time are free of charge
• Please note that your review and possible top-up treatment must be completed within 2-3 weeks of your initial treatment. After 3 weeks we will not be able to offer complimentary top-up treatments and additional treatment will incur additional costs.
• Once we have tailored the treatment to your requirements, most people do not need to return repeatedly for review appointments after each treatment

• The results of your treatment will generally last 3-5 months, therefore if you wish to maintain your results, you will need repeat treatments throughout the year.
• For your convenience, we have a text reminder service to let you know when your next treatment is due.
• Please inform our staff if you do not wish to receive reminder text messages.