Botox - The Facts

When is too young to start?

It is not necessarily a matter of chronological age, but of biological age. Everyone ages differently. Even people in their twenties and thirties have lines around their eyes from squinting and on their foreheads. In smokers, these lines can show up especially early.

How long does Botox take to work?

It takes three to five days to see the result and in a week, it'll look even better. To enhance the uptake of your botox, you will have to smile and frown a lot for two to four hours after being injected, don't touch or massage the area, and remain in a vertical position so it stays where it belongs.

How long does it last?

Botox lasts up to four months. The effect fades gradually and muscle action fully returns. Don't wait until it has worn off completely: when you scrunch your facial muscles again, go back for a touch-up. If you stay on top of it, you will look consistently unlined all the time. The glabellar frown lines (between the brows) last the longest, and crow's feet come back the quickest. Some people are more animated than others so the Botox wears off faster.

Is it really safe and what can go wrong?

Its one of the safest cosmetic procedures we do. Very little can go wrong and side-effects are rarely serious and always temporary. The most common side effect is bruising. To avoid getting a bruise, don't take aspirin, anti-inflammatories or Vitamin E for one week before treatment, and bring concealer with you just in case. Some people get a slight headache. If too much is injected or if it is injected incorrectly, the Botox can travel into nearby muscles and cause unwanted expressions, droopy eyelids or brow descent. Botox is only an instrument, it depends on who is injecting it.

How much does it hurt?

Pain tolerance varies considerably, but the injection only hurts for a few seconds as the needle goes in, and its a very fine needle. It helps if you hold and ice pack up to the face before and after treatment. If you are squeamish about needles, ask for a topical anesthetic cream. Most people find it less painful than plucking their eyebrows.

Botox works best in the following areas:

• Vertical lines between the brows
• Lines at the bridge of the nose
• Crow's feet or squint lines
• Horizontal forehead lines
• Muscle bands on the neck
• Under eyelid creases
• Uneven eyebrows
• Upper and lower lip lines
• Muscle roll under the eyes
• Migraines
• Sweaty armpits, palms and soles

Who should not have Botox?

Pregnant women, nursing mothers, patients with neuro-muscular disorders and anyone who can't stand needles, or who doesn't want to have a treatment that needs to be repeated.