Botox

Used safely by ophthalmologists since 1973, for a great variety of conditions, botulinum toxin has been used more recently in the treatment of wrinkles. The medicine works by preventing the muscles in which it is applied to respond to nerve impulses. Wrinkles that are not caused by aging and the influence of the sun may be amenable to treatment using this muscle relaxant. When people use their muscles of facial expression, deep creases and wrinkles develop over time. Botulinum can put these muscles at rest, and prevent any further deterioration. It will not make the deeper wrinkles disappear, but will reduce them by a significant amount. It can be used in some instances of drooping brows, causing an excess of upper eyelid skin as well. The muscle relaxant injection does not require any anaesthesia, and is tolerated well, but some anaesthetic cream is requested by some persons.

Mr Reuser does a special botox clinic at Heartlands hospital, where he has been treating many facial conditions, and has developed new techniques for its use.

Botulinum therapy can enhance your appearance and self-confidence, but it will not necessarily change your looks to match your ideal. Think carefully about your expectations and discuss them with us.The better you can tell me what you expect, the better I can tell you before any procedure whether this can be done.

Is botulinum therapy always helpful?

Whether the therapy is helpful for you, will have to be determined after proper facial analysis. Not in all cases of wrinkling will this option be the best.

Not all wrinkles are the same sort of wrinkles, and certain procedures are best suited to dealing with certain types of wrinkles. New techniques of natural rejuvenation may well be more suited to your needs. Please ask about these new techniques that involve no injection of chemicals or toxins.

A personal evaluation is always advisable, and you are welcome to make an appointment to see our consultant eye plastic surgeon.

What results can be expected?

The treatment itself only lasts a few minutes, and make up can be applied afterwards. Other than not massaging the treated area for a day, you can resume your normal activities immediately.

The effect of the treatment can usually be noticed about 2 to 7 days after the procedure. Although the effect lasts 3 to 4 months, sometimes after a number of treatments this period may become longer.

What are the limitations?

The beneficial effect from chemodenervation is temporary, lasting from two to six months. Wrinkles, lines, and depressions not related to muscular pull (such as those caused by scars or tissue loss) benefit more from other "skin rejuvenation" techniques, such as the use of tissue fillers.