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The Complete Guide to Botox

one of the most cosmetic treatments in the world and one of the most . It’s most famous for the lines that movement carves into the face but it has a long list of uses too. What it is not is a for good skincare and is not a substitute for it. The two do jobs. Botox the that pull the skin into dynamic lines, whilst the right improve the quality, and ageing of the skin itself. This guide explains what Botox is, how it works and what it treats ( Botox for the jaw). It also covers UK and regulations, it is safe and what alternatives exist.

Please note, we are an online skin and hair clinic, so we do not offer Botox. We used to provide it at our former physical clinic, but we now exclusively offer the skincare treatments that work it.

What is Botox?

First of all, is the most famous and original brand of botulinum toxin type A. This is a purified that the produces in nature. In large amounts the toxin is but in the tiny, controlled doses used in medicine, it is a safe and precise muscle . Botox is a trade name but because it was the original form and due to extensive brand awareness, it has also become synonymous with all toxin type A treatments. However, there are several other brands that the same class of toxin, including Dysport, Azzalure, Bocouture and Xeomin. In the UK they are medicines, so only a qualified medical professional can and inject them.

Botox was originally a medical treatment and discovery of its cosmetic use was quite by accident. In the late 1980s, an an condition noticed that her patients’ frown lines softened. and regulators Botox for frown lines in 2002. It has since become the most widely used of its kind.

How Does Botox Work?

The main way Botox works is by blocking the chemical signal nerves and muscles. On into a muscle, it which is the that tells the muscle to . As a result, the muscle and the skin over it stops creasing. The effect is neither permanent nor immediate. It as the nerve endings . That’s why the needs .

This mechanism both what Botox can and cannot do. Despite its popularity and effectiveness, it’s worth being realistic about the results. It’s excellent at softening dynamic lines which are the caused by muscle movement like and . Lines already etched into still skin respond far less well, because the problem there is the skin, not the muscle. Because it doesn’t address the of the skin itself, it can’t improve texture, thinning, tone or sun damage. Those concerns are the job of skincare and other treatments rather than Botox, which is why the best results often the two.

What Does Botox Treat?

Botox has a wide range of uses and they broadly fall into two groups. Cosmetic and of course medical. The uses soften the lines of facial expression and refine the lower face and neck. The main cosmetic uses of Botox are:

Beyond the cosmetic uses, Botox is also a well-established medical for a number of medical . The main uses of Botox for medical include:

What is Masseter Botox?

Botox treats the large muscle at the angle of the jaw. It has two quite different uses, and it helps to separate them. The benefits of masseter Botox are:

Is Botox Licensed in the UK?

Botox is a medicine in the UK, but that doesn’t mean every use of it is licensed. It helps to understand the three ways a medicine can be used, because they’re easily . A is one the medicine has been tested and approved for, the exact condition, dose and area. An off-label use is when that same licensed is used outside those approved terms, such as on a different area of the face or for a different . An unlicensed medicine is different again. It is a with no UK marketing authorisation at all, such as or made . and is legal and very common across medicine if a doctor deems it appropriate based on their clinical judgement.

On the cosmetic side, the licensed uses are surprisingly narrow. The frown lines between the brows and the crow’s feet (lines around the eyes) are the long-standing use. However, many of the most popular uses of Botox are off-label, (jaw) slimming, neck bands, a lip flip and a gummy smile. This doesn’t mean they’re unsafe or improper. It simply means they sit outside the formal and rely on the skill and of the .

The uses are different again. Several, including chronic migraine and severe sweating, are licensed indications for Botox injections. The NHS funds these treatments for people who meet the . Masseter Botox for teeth grinding, by contrast, is an off-label use and only available. What you should be wary of is an unlicensed toxin product with no UK authorisation because there’s no real for them when so many brands of toxin type A have UK authorisation. There’s also sadly an issue with counterfeit Botox products. It’s worth with your practitioner both which brand they use and the status of your treatment.

What’s the Difference Between Botox & Fillers?

Botox and are often confused, but they do opposite things. Botox relaxes muscles to soften lines caused by movement. are gels (usually hyaluronic acid) that add volume. They plump hollows, restore lost or define a feature like the lips or cheeks. In short, Botox softens movement whilst or add volume. Both are and are frequently used together, because they different signs of ageing.

What Does Botox Treatment Involve?

should always start with a with the medical who will also the procedure. A good your face, your goals and checks that the treatment is suitable for you. The themselves are quick. A very fine needle delivers small amounts of toxin into the muscles. The whole usually takes 10 to 15 minutes, and most people describe only a brief sting. There’s no real downtime, so you can return to your day, though there is some aftercare to follow.

For the first few hours afterwards, the usual advice is to stay upright and avoid or massaging the treated area. You should also skip strenuous exercise, saunas and very hot for the rest of the day. This the small risk of the toxin beyond the intended muscle. The effect gradually over the following days, so you won’t walk out looking different. A (sometimes marketed as ) uses smaller amounts for a more subtle, less frozen result, and it has become . Whatever the dose, results last 3 to 4 months before you need a repeat treatment.

Is Botox Safe?

For a adult treated by a qualified practitioner, Botox has a long track record of safety. Most side are mild, temporary and related to the or to the toxin spreading slightly beyond the target. They tend to settle on their own. However, there are possible risks that you should discuss with your practitioner which include:

Some people should not have Botox. It’s . People with certain neuromuscular conditions (such as gravis), an to the product or an active infection at the site should also avoid it. The single safety factor, though, is who it. Choosing an experienced, qualified reduces the risk of a poor or unsafe result.

What Works Best with Botox?

Botox treats muscle movement rather than the skin itself, so a good daily skincare routine does the part Botox can’t. The two are complementary rather than competing. The most is to relax the dynamic lines with Botox if you choose to, whilst the skin’s quality, and static lines with proven topicals. and other are the anti-ageing ingredients. C, and daily and protect those results. A consistent keeps the skin between treatments, and it does more for long-term ageing than Botox alone. There are also a number of professional treatments like , and which can improve the quality of the skin and address issues like thinning, and laxity.

What Are the Alternatives to Botox?

Honestly, nothing exactly what Botox does, because nothing else safely relaxes a muscle. What the alternatives can do is the of the skin around the lines, which softens the overall look. The right option on your goal:

In short, a night guard protects the teeth, buccal massage may relieve tension and good improves the skin, but only Botox actually the muscle. The honest is to match the to what you are trying to .

How to Get Botox in the UK

Botox is a prescription-only medicine. Only a qualified professional can legally prescribe and inject it after a proper consultation. Botox is widely available through and prices are usually per treatment area. It isn’t available on the NHS for reasons. However, the NHS does prescribe it for conditions such as chronic migraine and severe hyperhidrosis.

Since October 2021 it has also been . When choosing a provider, the most important thing is that they are regulated, medically and insured. This usually means a doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist . The skill of the both the result and the safety. It’s also worth remembering that Botox only treats one part of facial ageing. The of your skin (its texture, tone, fine lines and sun damage) comes down to what you use on it every day with effective .

At City Skin Clinic, we’re an online clinic, so we don’t offer Botox. What we do is bespoke using ingredients like , and where appropriate. Our design a plan entirely around your skin, which is the part Botox can’t treat. Read more about our custom and . The towards great skin .

This article is for general information only and is not a for advice, or treatment. Botox is a and should only be prescribed and administered by a suitably qualified after an assessment. Always consult a medical about your options.

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