BTX-A (Anti-Wrinkle Injections)

BOTOX® is the product name given to the medical treatment form of Botulinum-A toxin (BTX), by its manufacturer, Allergan. This is just one brand name and actually many people believe they have been injected with Botox in the past but have actually had another brand. We offer two of the leading brands Botox® and another leading brand which can be discussed with your clinician at consultation, at the same price. A number of high quality, double-blind, randomised, controlled, split-face trials have shown that effectiveness and duration of effect are equal with these 2 brands. However, with a heavy emphasis on practising evidence-based medicine, our strong belief is that this is now the Gold Standard product to use. The main reason is that it is the only brand which does NOT contain complexing proteins. These proteins can be responsible for the immune system mounting a response that produces antibodies, rendering the treatment ineffective.  

What are the benefits of the leading alternative to Botox:

• Vegan-friendly
• Free of complexing proteins
• Stored at room temperature so no need for environmentally unfriendly packaging e.g. polystyrene and ice packs
• Free of human-derived products
• Licensed for use in all 3 areas of the upper face

The word toxin can understandably give rise to apprehension. However, the cosmetic form is heavily diluted and purified and is manufactured under very strict controls. This form is NOT seen as dangerous or toxic by the body and in fact, used in large doses for medical conditions such as cerebral palsy even in children. As a fully registered doctors with the General Medical Council, our experts can legally prescribe and administer your BTX treatment and you can be reassured in the knowledge that the product has been acquired from an approved pharmacy in the UK. The brands we offer have been widely tested and approved by the FDA. The results are dramatic and apparent within days

BTX-A (e.g. BOTOX®, and other industry leading brands) is not a permanent treatment as it is broken down very slowly by the body. Duration of effect is variable from person to person but will usually last 3 to 6 months.

There are potential side effects and our doctors will explain these in more detail to you. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should inform them as soon as possible, particularly as there may be alternative treatment to hasten recovery from the side effect. This is one of the main reasons ensuring you are going to a highly qualified Aesthetic Doctor for BOTOX® is essential as you know you are in the safest hands.

Dr Patel recalls a lecturer at medical school saying “… if a drug has no potential side effects, it won’t work in the first place!” That said, the incidence of undesired side effects is very low indeed and you can rest easy knowing that our skill and professionalism means that we have exceptional results with our treatments. 

No. Your lines gradually revert to their pre-treatment or slightly improved appearance. However, theoretically, as you will have used the relevant muscles much less during that period, your lines will be slightly softer than they would have been without any treatment.

If doing all you can to look your best is important to you, BTX-A (e.g. BOTOX® or other industry leading brands) may be for you. Millions of appearance-conscious women and men have already discovered the benefits of BTX-A; not just models and movie stars but people from all walks of life. If you are aged 18 or over, you can arrange a no-obligation consultation with one of our doctors to assess your needs and suitability to treatment.

The doctor will determine exactly where to administer several tiny injections to achieve the best results. The entire procedure takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes although assessment time may take the overall consultation to 45 minutes. Discomfort is minimal and brief as the injections are superficial and the needle is thinner than the size typically used to take blood samples. Within days, you should see a marked improvement which may continue to improve for as long as 1 to 3 weeks and should last up 3-4 months.

Clinical use of BTX-A (e.g. BOTOX®, or other industry leading brands) is the result of more than 100 years of study into the substance, although its first use under FDA approval was not until 1989. BTX-A is currently approved in approximately 85 countries for 25 different indications to help patients suffering from a wide variety of conditions. Although best known for its cosmetic use as a wonder protein to reverse the signs of ageing, BTX-A even has funding within the NHS for certain conditions of the bowel, bladder and eye, as well as some neurological disorders. BTX-A is also used to treat hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) and migraine. In facial aesthetics, its main uses are for forehead lines, frown lines and crow’s feet.

BTX-A is one of the most popular cosmetic medical procedures; in the United States alone, almost 800,000 Americans got the injections in 2000, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).

BTX-A (e.g. BOTOX®, or other industry leading brands) is used in numerous medical conditions and as an anti-wrinkle treatment. The link between all of these uses is the need to relax muscle(s) in a certain area or organ. For cosmetic purposes, very low doses of BTX-A are administered via a few tiny injections directly into the overactive muscles that cause lines to form. BTX-A works by blocking the transmission of nerve impulses to the injected muscles. By reducing use of these muscles, lines are softened to give a younger and fresher look to the skin. Furthermore, deepening of the lines is prevented.

Discomfort is minimal and brief. A very fine needle is used to inject. Once the injection is complete, there is usually no discomfort. Feedback from many clients who have had treatments elsewhere in the past, includes a far more comfortable experience at Perfect Skin Solutions and we believe this is due to the technique used by Dr Patel and the practitioners he has trained.

When considering your facial aesthetic options, you’ll find that BTX-A (e.g. BOTOX®, or other industry leading brands) is excellent value for the remarkable results it delivers. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery’s 2000 survey, BTX-A is one of the least expensive facial aesthetic procedures. Like other appearance-related investments, such as hair colouring and cuts, teeth whitening, and chemical peels, the cost must be weighed relative to your expectations. Pricing will be discussed during individual consultation. Injections are customized to individual patient needs and concerns and thus prices may vary between patients. However, our prices are listed on our website. Most treatments are about the cost of a couple of Friday nights out and you will find our prices highly competitive.

Your consultation will cover everything. However, BTX-A (e.g. BOTOX®, or other industry leading brands) is contraindicated in the presence of infection at the proposed injection site(s) and in individuals with known hypersensitivity to any ingredient in the formulation. Follow your doctor’s advice on dosage and frequency of administration of BTX-A. Patients with neuromuscular disorders may be unsuitable for treatment.

Treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic for cosmetic purposes may result in the formation of antibodies that may reduce the effectiveness of subsequent treatments with BOTOX®. You will therefore be offered the option of an alternative brand  (see benefits in earlier FAQ) which research has shown to give the same duration of effect but has had many unwanted proteins removed, thereby potentially reducing the risk of forming antibodies and becoming unresponsive to it. Either way, the potential for antibody formation may be minimized by injecting with the lowest effective dose given with the longest feasible intervals between injections.

No, regrettably you cannot. These are ‘absolute contraindications’ to its licensed used and therefore you must wait till you have delivered your baby – or finished breastfeeding, as the case may be – before we can treat you.