Anti-wrinkle injections are a treatment that uses botulinum toxin to reduce the movement of the muscles, thereby reducing the signs of ageing. Dr Pippa believes that aesthetic treatments should be used to enhance the natural beauty in a beautifully subtle way.
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For a full list of treatments offered, please see our price list. If you have any other questions, or to enquire about treatments not listed, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Botulinum toxin is a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It prevents the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from nerve endings at the neuromuscular junction, causing temporary paralysis of the muscle.
Many of the signs of ageing on the face occur due to the repetitive movement of muscles over time. This is particuarly true of the lines across the forehead, the frown lines (or 11's) and the crows feet around the eyes. When these muscles contract they form lines and wrinkles in the skin, so botulinum toxin works to reduce the movement of the muscles, thereby reducing the lines and wrinkles that are seen. A small amount of toxin can reduce the movement and lines somewhat, a larger amount of toxin can often completely get rid of the movement and lines.
There are 5 brands of botulinum toxin type A that are currently licenced in the UK: Botox (Vistabel), Azzalure (Dyspost), Bocouture (Xeomin), Alluzience and Nuceiva. There are few clinical differences between the different brands, with research showing that efficacy and longevity are similar across the board. Dr Pippa works primarily with the brands Botox® and Bocouture®.
Botulinum toxin doses are measured in units, with different people requiring a different number of units, depending on the strength of their muscle and the result they wish to achieve. Please note that the units are not always comparable between different botulinum toxin brands, so if you have had treatment with a different brand previously, we may be using a different number of units to get the same desired result. Different injectors will used different injections patterns as well, so if you are new to Dr Pippa, she may be using a slightly different approach to your treatment.
Botulinum toxin treatment does not have an immediate effect. It usually takes about 3 - 4 days to start to take effect, but can take 2 to 3 weeks for the full effects to be seen. This means that at your first treatment, we are somewhat estimating how many units you will require to achieve your desired result. We always recommend starting cautiously as 2 weeks after treatment, when the botulinum toxin has fully kicked in, we can always add more units to improve the results, however if treatment is 'over-done', then it is just a case of waiting for the botulinum toxin to wear off over time. On average, treatment will last around 3 months, though for some people this will be less and for some people this will be more. If you continue to have treatments regularly, then you may find that treatments start to last a bit longer. Higher doses of treatment will also help the longevity of treatment. Treatments are not without risks, however most risks with botulinum toxin treatments are short-lived and self-limiting and will be discussed at your consultation.
As well as the forehead, frown and crows feet, botulinum toxin is also utilised in other areas for the following treatments:
Book a consultation with Dr Pippa today and she will discuss your concerns and advise you how best to treat your problem areas.
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