Anti-wrinkle injections

To reduce the risk of infection:

-Avoid make up in the treated area for 24 hours.

-Avoid kissing pets and other humans, especially if you have treated the lips.

-Avoid touching the treatment area for 24 hours

To reduce risk of swelling/ bruising:

-Avoid alcohol, aspirin and ibuprofen in the first 24 hours

-Avoid vigorous exercise and extremes of temperature (hot shower on the face, sauna, steamroom, sunbed) for 2 weeks.

Do not massage the area unless instructed to do so.

Do not use ice or hot bags on the treated area.

Get in contact if you feel something is not quite right.

Every one responds to treatment slightly differently; some people have absolutely no evidence of treatment, and some swell a little. 

When treating the lips, 30% of the initial result will initially be swelling which may take up to 2 weeks to settle. As this is a vascular area, there may be some bruises which should be easily covered with make up the following day.

When treating the rest of the face, the results are instant and swelling/ bruising is usually minimal. Your final results will be seen from 2 weeks. 

Assuming you follow the after care, you are free to resume daily activities.

Please come with no make-up on.

Avoid exercise on the day, before and after your appointment.

Avoid caffeine on the day, before and after your appointment.

Avoid the following in the 48 hours before: ALCOHOL, aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamin C and E, gingko biloba, St Johns Wart in the 48 hours before treatment.

Please call to rearrange if you are unwell on the day of your appointment.

Please call to rearrange if you have an infection/ cold sore/ eczema on the treatment area.

Take paracetamol before your appointment if you wish.

There are many factors that determine longevity of fillers: the product factors (product type, thickness, volume of product used); the patient factors (metabolism, exercise, sun exposure) and the treatment area (location on the face, how expressive the site on the face is).

Generally we say the treatment result lasts 6 months in the lips from the first treatment, with successive treatments increasing the longevity. You may need 2-3 sessions spaced a couple of months apart to build the lips and ‘stabilise’ their result. Contrary to popular belief, after 2-3 treatments the lips should not need ‘top ups’ every 6 months.

In other areas of the face, the treatment can be expected to last 12-18 months. The lesser end of the scale being the more mobile areas (around the mouth). The areas of the face that the tissue doesn’t move as much (chin, jaw, cheek) should last longer.

A strong numbing cream is applied to the lips before treatment to reduce sensitivity. Numbing cream is not needed for other areas of the face. In addition, the filler its self has anaesthetic in to help comfort levels.

The appointment time will be between 20-30 minutes, through the treatment itself is very quick and takes no more than 5 minutes

Dermal filler can be administered via a short needle, or using a microfine cannula.

A cannula is a blunt tipped tube which is inserted beneath the skin with only 1 (or limited) entry points. Its benefits are reduced swelling/ bruising and trauma, and the ability to glide beneath the tissues for better comfort and to avoid blood vessels. A cannula is generally used to restore larger areas of volume loss.

A needle is used when greater definition is required.

For the lips, a strong numbing cream is applied before treatment. The filler is administered with a needle, or combination of needle and cannula together.

Most other areas of the face require combination of needle and cannula.

Botox works best in those lines/ wrinkles which are milder and exacerbated by facial muscles movement (dynamic lines). Lines which are present on your face with no movement may respond to repeated sessions but sometimes need additional treatments (dermal fillers or skin treatments). These will be discussed during consultation.

You may be unsuitable if:

• You have an infection at the injection site
• You are pregnant or breastfeeding
• You are under 25 or over 65; although outside these ranges can be safely treated off license for the right indication
• You have unrealistic expectations
• You have had a reaction to anti wrinkle treatment in the past.

Dermal filler injections are incredibly popular, with their use ever rising. Dermal filler is very well tolerated by the the body and complications are few in the correct hands. In addition, modern fillers (HA) have the benefit of being reversed with a prescription-only medication known as Hyaluronidase.

One of the main aspects influencing safety in dermal filler treatment is the clinician you chose to have treatment with. They should have sound knowledge of anatomy, chose appropriate products, and be well versed in dealing with complications, including carrying appropriate emergency drugs. All relevant risks will be discussed with you at consultation.

Only doctors and dentists can legally hold in stock prescription-only-medications (POMs) such as ‘botox’. This means that they are the only people legally allowed to see a patient for consultation and treatment on the same day.
Nurse prescribers and pharmacy prescribers can legally prescribe botox to a patient after consultation, and treat on a separate day.

All the prescribers named above (doctors, dentists, nurse prescribers and pharmacy prescribers) can prescribe for other injectors to treat a patient (eg ‘non-prescribers’) but the patient must have seen the original prescriber face-to-face beforehand, as this is who is responsible for the overall treatment plan and treatment.

Providing you see a medical professional, botox is a very safe treatment. Unlike most other developed countries, the medical aesthetic industry has a distinct lack of regulation to protect the public. It is not illegal for anyone to administer ‘botox’ and there are some potentially very harmful and illegal fake products that can be sourced from non reputable ‘pharmacies’ on the internet, injected by anyone.

Botox is a naturally occurring protein derived from the bacteria Clostridium Botulinum. The proteins derived from the bacteria undergo a purification process, similar to how some antibiotics are made, which then makes them safe for their intended purpose.

When injecting small amounts of the protein, or ‘botox’ into targeted muscles, the ability of the muscle to contract is temporarily reduced, allowing facial muscles to remain in a relaxed state. This then allows the overlying skin to smooth and soften. Repeated treatments may be needed to allow lines which are mildly etched in, to improve.

‘Botox’ ‘Azzalure’ and ‘Bocouture’ are the only licensed cosmetic products on the market in the UK. Dental House Exeter uses Azzalure for its superb results and proven track record.