What is Botox?
Botox is a treatment used to smooth out frown lines and other wrinkles, helping you look younger.
The Botox protein blocks the nerve impulses that cause muscles to contract. This relaxes your muscles and can soften wrinkles.
It’s given by injection with a very fine needle directly into the muscle you wish to affect.
Improvement begins after a few days reaching its peak after 2-3 weeks. The results usually last 3-6 months.
Why choose The Willows for Botox?
Our highly experienced team of cosmetic dental surgeons have an aesthetic eye and expertise with injectables. Crucially, they maintain an in-depth knowledge of head and neck anatomy and inject every day in general dental practice ensuring your safety . Since your Botox injections will be done with nothing less than full surgical precision, you can be sure of an optimal result.
Before and after photos
Many patients have had success with us in the past. See some examples of treatment below:
Frown Lines
Crows Feet
Forehead Lines
Who is Suitable for Botox?
We offer a free consultation where we take your medical history and assess your face for Botox suitability. Generally, you will be suitable for Botox as long as you’re not pregnant or breastfeeding and you don’t take certain antibiotics (called aminoglycosides) or have certain neuromuscular disorders. The skin at the proposed treatment area must also be free of infection.
We also offer dermal fillers – an injectable form of hyaluronic acid – a chemical occurring naturally in the body that confers structure and volume to your skin. This combines synergistically with Botox and also offers an option to those who are not suitable for Botox.
Botox FAQ
Does Botox prevent wrinkles?
Absolutely. Botox relaxes muscles that contract hundreds of times a day, eventually etching lines into the skin – temporarily erasing these lines.
Who is most suitable for Botox?
The best candidates are between 25 and 65 years of age. It is most effective on dynamic wrinkles like those which appear mostly when making facial expressions such as laughing, smiling or crying. It is also good for bands on the neck area. Generally, for those over 65 the wrinkles are static and may not improve much by relaxing the face, thus here other treatments would work better.
Is Botox safe?
Botox is safe when used in cases where it is not contraindicated and carried out by an appropriately experienced dental surgeon or doctor. Adverse side effects are extremely rare and temporary.
Who should not use Botox?
Botox is contraindicated for pregnant women, breastfeeding women, people with certain neuromuscular disorders (such as ALS, myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome), or people taking certain antibiotics (called aminoglycosides). The area proposed for Botox treatment must also be free of infection.
Will I experience any side effects?
Adverse side effects are extremely rare and temporary. Common side effects are limited to short-term localised pain, inflammation, tenderness, swelling, redness, and/or bleeding/bruising.
What is the ideal age to start Botox?
Botox in younger years can prevent dynamic lines and wrinkles (lines that form with facial expression) from turning into permanent static lines and creases (lines that are present at rest), although some patients won’t commence Botox treatments until they feel they have wrinkles to hide. There’s no set minimum age to begin using Botox – best results being achieved for those 25-65 years old. Some of our patients have been using Botox for more than 10 years with no ill effects!
How does Botox work?
Botox is a prescription medicine that is injected into facial muscles to improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles. It works by blocking nerve impulses to the affected muscles – reducing muscular tension which is one of the main causes of wrinkles.
What can I expect during my Botox appointment?
Since the location, size, and use of the facial and neck muscles that create lines or wrinkles vary among individuals, we will first determine where to administer the injections and how much Botox to use by examining your ability to move these muscles. You will then receive your quotation and all of your questions will be answered. Tiny injections of Botox will then be administered directly into the targeted muscles.
How long does the appointment last – can I get Botox done during my lunch hour or between errands?
Botox appointments take very little time out of your day, making it ideal for those on the move. The injection itself takes a matter of minutes and there’s no downtime – you can return straight away to your planned activities.
Is the Botox injection painful?
Unlike vaccinations, for example, there is usually no discomfort with Botox as the injection is very small and is done with an ultra-fine needle. The pressure sensation associated with the Botox injection disappears quickly and you can return to your normal activities straight away.
Which lines and wrinkles can I have reduced with Botox?
Botox can be used on a variety of areas of the face. Lines and wrinkles which can be softened with Botox include horizontal forehead lines, vertical frown lines, crows feet, smokers mouth lines and vertical neck chords. Botox is unlikely to erase all lines and wrinkles.
When will I see results from my Botox treatment?
You will begin to see a marked improvement in your lines and wrinkles within a few days. Results will reach their peak after 2-3 weeks and last for 3-6 months.
Are the results permanent?
No. To maintain the results you must have a touch-up treatment every 4-6 months. This also means you will not be stuck with a look you don’t like permanently.
How long do Botox results last?
Botox usually lasts 3-6 months. Also, subsequent injections can not only be more effective but often last even longer.
Is one Botox treatment enough?
One Botox treatment is enough for a more youthful and relaxed face. For a longer-lasting marked improvement, we recommend an average of 3 Botox treatments as Botox becomes more effective and longer-lasting with more regular use. We then recommend regular touch-ups every 4-6 months to maintain the results long term.
Will my friends notice I did Botox?
Yes and No. A good result will leave you looking more youthful, cheerful and fresher. The results will be noticeable but you will not look as if you’ve ‘had work done’ and you will still be able to make facial expressions normally but with reduced wrinkles. A bad result will give off telltale signs such as a smooth and shiny forehead or a forehead and crows feet which do not move when you laugh or cry. That’s why we recommend only getting Botox done with one who possesses the necessary precision medical skills of an appropriately experienced dential surgeon or doctor.
I don’t want to look like I’ve had plastic surgery. I just want to get rid of my wrinkles. is Botox right for me?
Of course! Botox can give you a more relaxed, cheerful and youthful appearance without making your face look unnatural. Your facial expressions and sensation will remain unaffected and you will emerge with smoother and younger-looking skin. The unnatural look of plastic surgery is caused mainly by pulling skin tightly over bone. There is no surgery required with Botox.
Will my facial expressions continue to look natural?
Yes. Although you will have noticeably younger and smoother looking skin, Botox will not radically change your facial appearance as with plastic surgery. Muscular contractions are simply reduced, meaning you will be able to smile, frown and make other facial expressions normally, but with reduced wrinkles.
Will Botox make me look frozen or feel numb?
The frozen look only occurs when too much Botox is used, leading to parts of the face not moving when you laugh, smile or cry. This is why it’s extremely important to have your Botox done only with a dental surgeon or doctor experienced with Botox who has the necessary precision, skills and medical training. Also, Botox will not make your face feel numb as it does not affect the sensory nerves.
