WHAT IS BOTOX® COSMETIC?
Botox® is a neuromodulator approved by Health Canada for cosmetic treatments. Botox® cosmetic treatments aim at enhancing a youthful appearance of the face by eliminating wrinkles and fine lines. Botox® temporarily relaxes the muscle where the product is injected giving a smooth appearance. It is also commonly used to treat chronic migraine headaches and reduce excessive sweating.
HOW DOES BOTOX® WORK?
Repeated muscle contractions that make facial expressions eventually lead to wrinkles and creases on the skin. Overactive muscles or overuse of certain muscles in the face can result in wrinkles and fine lines. Botox® injections work by helping the muscles stay relaxed, which means absence of wrinkles. Our advanced aesthetic injectors will administer Botox® to address the underlying cause of facial lines and wrinkles. This will temporarily limit movement in the targeted areas, resulting in a smoother appearance of the skin in addition to preventative ageing benefits.
WHAT TO EXPECT DURING MY BOTOX® TREATMENT?
Botox® injections must be administered by a qualified health care practitioner. The procedure begins with an initial consultation where the patient’s concerns and expectations are discussed.
The injections and the amount of Botox® needed are determined by the health care practitioner. After administration, the movement of the muscles in that area are frozen by the toxin. The injections themselves take a few minutes to administer and you could undergo the treatment during your lunch break as usually the appointment lasts for less than 15 minutes. There is no downtime and you can return to work immediately.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT AFTER MY TREATMENT?
Once treated with Botox®, the results are visible within 72 hours although it could up to 14 days to see visible significant improvement. The results can last from 3-4 months. The health care practitioner may ask you to follow up to review the response to Botox® injections. Patients can resume their regular daily activities after treatment, but strenuous exercise should be avoided for 12 hours. This prevents the injections from migrating to an unintended area. Patients are also asked to not press or push on the treatment areas and are advised to remain upright for 4 hours. See-post procedure guidelines.
HOW LONG WILL BOTOX® LAST?
Depending on the extent of wrinkles and the areas that need to be treated, patients may need to visit three to four times in the first year. The results last between three to six months and lesser injections may be needed subsequently as the muscles adapt to the relaxation. Since individuals respond differently, the health care practitioner is the best person to advise on the required number of treatments in a year.
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF BOTOX®?
Slight bruising and a minor headache are common side effects that subside within a day or two. Few people could experience eyelid or eyebrow droops which also resolve in two to three weeks. Allergic reactions are very rare, and not commonly encountered. When a qualified and experienced health care practitioner administers the injections, most other problems are not seen.
PRE-TREATMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR BOTOX®
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Do not consume alcoholic beverages at least 24 hours prior to treatment (alcohol may thin the blood and increase the risk of bruising)
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Avoid anti-inflammatory/blood thinning medications, if possible, for a period of 2 weeks before treatment. Medications and supplements such as aspirin, vitamin E, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, St. John’s Wort, Omega 3/Fish Oil supplements, Ibuprofen and other NSAIDS have a blood thinning effect and can increase the risk of bruising and swelling after injections.
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Schedule your Dermal Filler and Botox® appointment at least 2 weeks prior to a special event which you may be attending, such as a wedding or a vacation. Results from the Dermal Filler and Botox® injections will take approximately 4 to 7 days to appear. Also bruising and swelling may be apparent in that time period.
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Discontinue Retin-A 2 days before and 2 days following your treatment.
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Reschedule your appointment at least 24 hours in advance if you have a rash, cold sore or blemish on the area.
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Reschedule your appointment for Dermal filler if you have had a viral illness, have taken antibiotics, or have had any kind of dental procedures in the previous two weeks.
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Be sure to have a good breakfast, including food and drink before your procedure. This will decrease the chances of light-headedness during your treatment.
POST-TREATMENT INSTRUCTIONS FOR BOTOX®
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Do not manipulate the treated area for 4 hours following treatment.
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Do not receive facial/ laser treatments or microdermabrasion after Botox injections for at least 14 days.
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Do not lie down for 4 hours after your Botox® treatment.
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Do not perform activities involving straining, heavy lifting, or vigorous exercise for 24 hours after treatment. This will keep the Botox in the injected area and not elsewhere.
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It can take approximately 4 to 7 days for results to be seen, however, it takes 14 days to see he full results of the treatment.
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Please do not hesitate to call our office should you have any questions or concerns regarding your Botox® treatment.