Muscle Relaxing and Brow Freezing
During the 197’s a US ophthalmologist discovered that injecting Botulinum toxin was the ideal way of freezing muscles to correct squints and facial spasms in children. Over the next decade or two dermatologists, and cosmetic surgeons became aware of its uses for smoothing facial expression lines. Botox® – the brand name for the purified form of Botulinum toxin Type A - has now been safely used for many years to soften deep wrinkles (scowl lines) on the forehead, as well as crows feet.
How Muscle relaxing Works
Whenever we smile, frown, laugh or raise our eyebrows in surprise, we contract facial muscles into folds of skin, which over time, will result in furrows and wrinkles, ‘crows feet’ and ‘scowl’ or ‘worry’ lines.
Our facial expressions result from signals sent by the brain to muscle tissue.
A precisely targeted Botox® injection blocks impulses from the nerve to the tiny facial muscles related to specific expression lines. This relaxes the muscles to stop them contracting, so that the skin remains smooth and unwrinkled.
What a Treatment Entails
The treatment involves the injection of extremely small doses of Botox® into specific targeted muscle areas only, so that surrounding muscles, and associated facial expressions will remain unchanged.
Once we have assessed your needs, and suitability for the treatment, Botox® is injected using a disposable syringe with a very fine needle.
There is minimal pain – described often as an ‘ant sting’. Treatment takes about 15 minutes, depending on the number of areas you want to treat. You will notice a subtle difference two to three days after a Botox® treatment, and it will take seven days or so to see the full effect.
Patients generally report that friends tell them they look ‘well’ or ‘fresh’, but cannot pinpoint exactly what the change is. The result will wear off progressively, and you will need 2-3 treatments a year to maintain the effect.