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1.       Isn’t Botox a toxin?

Botox is the trademarked name for the first Botulinum Toxin used as a medicine. It is a toxin made by Clostridium Botulinum but for cosmetic treatments, a miniscule diluted amount is used which, if performed correctly, has no harmful effects on your medical health. Think of it this way – alcohol is a toxin. Have a glass of wine this evening and you will be safe…. drink 5 bottles every evening and you’ll run into problems!

2.       Will Botox stop me smiling or freeze my face?

Electrical signals travel along nerves from your brain to muscles telling them to contract. Botox reduces the ability of these signals to pass from the nerve ending to the muscle meaning that the muscle cannot contract and stays in a relaxed state.

A skilled practitioner will ensure that not so much Botox is used that the wrong muscles are treated or that they receive too much. Neither will they use so little that you don’t get the results that you pay for and expect. Correct placement or the right amount of Botox will result in a smoother, fresher looking skin with some reduction in excessive movement (that has caused lines) but will not stop you smiling or freeze your face!

3.       Is Botox addictive?

Botox itself has no addictive properties – many people have their hair done regularly because they love having great looking hair! This doesn’t mean that they are addicted to going to the hairdressers! If you have Botox and like the fresher look it can achieve (as most people do), you’ll probably want to repeat it but it isn’t addictive in any way!

4.       Can I overdose on Botox or have too much?

Botox can be had as often as once every 3 months. At this rate, there is no risk of any medical problems. You can certainly have too much Botox but at the doses used cosmetically, there is no risk of medical problems or “overdose”. More likely, if you had too much, you could have a poor cosmetic result or an unwanted result such as a droopy eyelid. All of these risks can be minimised by making sure that you are treated by an experienced medical practitioner. Furthermore, have a consultation with them and ensure that they understand what you are trying to achieve – being a doctor or nurse doesn’t necessarily mean that you are good with Botox – the best practitioners are those not just with the right qualifications but also an understanding of beauty which cannot be taught in a class room.  Look out for a future blog on how to choose the right Botox practitioner.

5.       Will I look worse if I decide not to use Botox again?

Absolutely not. Whilst your Botox is working, the muscle overlying the skin will be protected from constantly getting creased as the muscles contract. This gives the skin opportunity to heal and the lines to soften. If you decide not to have Botox again, you muscles will regain their strength but you skin will still have benefitted from the treatment and look fresher than if you had not had the treatment.

 

Dr Askari Townshend, BMed, BMBS, MRCS is the founder and Medical director of ASKINOLOGY Clinic in the City of London. He is a national trainer and speaker for injectable treatments and was a finalist for Medical Practitioner of the year at the Aesthetic Awards 2014.

Botox consultations with Dr Askari are free of charge and can be booked by calling 0207 0432233 or online through the website www.askinology.com