Frown lines and crow’s feet are the sworn enemies of a youthful-looking face. We typically start to develop such facial wrinkles in our mid to late 30s, but it’s not very unlikely that they begin to creep onto our faces in our late 20s. It all boils down to general care and skin condition.
| City | Average Cost per Area | Cost Range per Area |
|---|---|---|
| London | £250 | £200 – £300 |
| Manchester | £230 | £180 – £280 |
| Birmingham | £220 | £170 – £270 |
| Bristol | £240 | £190 – £290 |
Those of us who are genetically fortunate or who don’t expose themselves to the sun that often are able to shun facial wrinkles until they’re well into their 40s. Eventually, however, these lines and wrinkles find a way to leave their mark.
Facial wrinkles are a result of several factors, primarily the lack of skin elasticity combined with normal facial expressions like squinting and smiling. The less elastic your skin, the heavier the wrinkles will be, especially around the eyes.
Botox treatment is amongst the most effective ways to smoothen out the lines on the face and eliminate all wrinkles. However, this isn’t a one-off treatment, and there’s a lot that you need to learn about botox injections before deciding to opt for them. Continue reading to learn more.
Main Topics
How Much Does Botox Injections Cost?
On average, the cost of a botulinum toxin injection session in the United Kingdom ranges from £100 to £350. Note that the total cost varies from one clinic to another, and depending on the area being treated.
Another notable factor that influences the price fluctuation of botox treatment is how much of the substance is utilized per session. The more areas you treat with botox, the higher the pricing will be.
Most clinics have botox injection packages that ensure great value for the price so that you don’t end up spending thousands on treating a few spots.
What Exactly Is Botox and How Does It Work?
Before we get into the nitty-gritty, we feel the need to shed light on what botox is, exactly, and how it actually works, as there’s a lot of misconception around it.
Firstly, botox is simply the trade name for a substance that inhibits muscle movement when it gets injected into the skin. The substance is called onabotulinumtoxinA.
Now, you ought to be aware that this substance is related to a poison that naturally emerges in bad meat. The word ‘botox’ itself is derived from ‘botulous’, which means sausage. You get the correlation?
Selecting the right clinic and plastic surgeon to carry out a botox injection is imperative, mainly because the use of higher levels of this substance can result in paralysis or, on rare occasions, death.
With that in mind, it’s not difficult to see why lots of people are hesitant to have botox injections, but we’d like for you to consider the fact that it all comes down to the purity of the substance as well as the dose. If the substance is pure and employed in safe doses, there’s really nothing to worry about.
Alright, so how exactly do these injections work? Simply put, these cosmetic injections operate by blocking the nerve signals to specific facial muscles. This relaxes the muscles, reducing the emergence of frown lines on the face.
The effect of this treatment isn’t permanent. It typically lasts from three to four months. Whether you decide to have injections again after that is entirely up to you.
If you decide to have them again, it’s highly recommended that you wait at least three months. If you have botox injections too often, it might stop working for you.
Are There Other Uses for Botox Treatment?
Apart from being one of the most popular means of cosmetic treatment, there are other uses of botox injections, the most common of which is reducing excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis).
Additionally, this treatment has the ability to treat neck spasms, also known as cervical dystonia, which is when the neck muscles contract, resulting in your head turning or twisting uncomfortably.
It can also be utilized to treat lazy eye, which happens due to an imbalance in the muscles that are responsible for keeping the eyes positioned properly. And if you suffer from any twitching or contracture of the muscles around the eyes, a botox injection can alleviate it.
Isn’t it amazing how a substance that’s dubbed as poisonous can be used to treat a wide range of conditions? But wait, that’s not all. It can also be used to address neurological conditions like cerebral palsy, which is a condition that results in your limbs pulling inward towards the centre.
Furthermore, botox can be utilized to alleviate chronic migraines and reduce urinary incontinence. The latter is usually the result of an overactive bladder. Quite the versatility, huh?
What to Consider Before Having a Botox Injection?
If you’re seriously considering a botox injection, there are two factors that you must figure out first. The first is the reason why you want to have an injection, and the second thing is the qualification and experience of the person who’s going to carry out the procedure.
The reason why you want to have a botox injection could be any of the cases mentioned in the previous section and it doesn’t necessarily need much contemplation. However, when it comes to choosing the right medical practitioner, you’ll have plenty of homework to do.
The very first thing to assess when trying to determine whether a medical practitioner is suitable to operate on your face or not is to check whether or not they’re on a reputable register.
By doing so, you help filter out those that don’t meet the set standards as well as others lacking the required training, skill, and insurance. It’s not all about the practitioner, though.
After investigating the qualifications, training, and experience of a practitioner, you ought to ask about the name of the product, where it’s made, and whether or not it’s licensed. Further, you’ll need to ask about the potential risks and side-effects as well as the insurance cover.
It’s also worth pointing out that botox is only prescribed by qualified medical professionals such as doctors, pharmacists, dentists, and so forth, and it’s prescribed only in a one-to-one scenario. They don’t have to be the ones giving the injections, but they must make sure the substance is handed to a practitioner who’s qualified and experienced enough to use it.
Who Shouldn’t Have a Cosmetic Injection?
As we mentioned previously, botox injections aren’t to be taken lightly considering it’s based on a poisonous substance. With that said, there are certain circumstances where having an injection is advised against.
If you’re physically unwell in any way or if you have some sort of skin infection, you should steer clear of botox. This also applies if you’re taking medications, breastfeeding, or pregnant. To add, if you’re suffering from any neuromuscular condition, you shouldn’t have a botox injection.
What Does a Botox Injection Involve?
The process of injecting botox is relatively easier than other cosmetic treatments, and it doesn’t take much time. Firstly, the practitioner will have you clean your face. Thereafter, the substance will be injected into certain muscles in your face with the aid of a fine needle.
The number of injections required depends on the area being treated. Certain areas will require more injections than others, specifically the ones that have more muscles.
To find the muscles in your face that are to be injected, the medical professional will ask you to move specific areas of your face to pinpoint muscle movement. From there, they’ll inject botox into the most suitable areas. The entire procedure takes around ten minutes.
What Should I Expect After a Botox Injection?
It takes two to three days for botox to work its magic, and around three weeks for the final result to be visible, so don’t expect to notice a significant change right away.
After having a botox injection, it’s highly recommended that you avoid all strenuous activities. To add, you should avoid rubbing or massaging your face until three days have passed. You should also avoid the sunbathing and sauna for at least two days.
We recommend referring to the medical professional that has given you the injection for specific guidelines.
As mentioned previously, the effect of a botox injection will last a maximum of four months, and you shouldn’t have any top-ups until three to four months have passed.
Risks and Side Effects of Botox Injections
The side-effects of a botox injection are quite minimal compared to other cosmetic treatments, if done correctly, of course. You may not even experience any aftereffects. As far as the risks, it’s advised that you refer to your practitioner.
The most common side-effects include redness or light bruising around the injected area. Don’t worry, though, the redness fades very quickly. Rare side-effects include difficulty in speaking or swallowing. If you experience such aftereffects, seek professional help right away.
You may also experience symptoms that resemble the flu as well as a mild headache during the first day. If you’ve had a lot of injections, you may find it difficult to move certain muscles in your face. You can experience droopiness in certain areas of your face.
Another thing worth noting is that if you have injections too often, your body is bound to develop resistance to it, leading it to no longer be effective.
Generally speaking, you don’t need to take days off work after having an injection. In fact, you’ll be able to get back to work an hour or two after having the injections.
What Happens When You Stop Botox Top-Ups?
If you stop having those, all previously injected areas will continue to function the way they functioned before the injections, which, in turn, allows the natural facial ageing process to continue its course.
Which Celebrities Are Known to Use Botox?
Countless celebrities who are always under pressure from public eyes have openly declared their reliance on botox, including Emma Watson, Courteney Cox, Kim Kardashian, Sofia Vergara, Halle Berry, Olivia Wilde, Nicole Kidman, Sharon Osbourne, Simon Cowell, Debi Mazar, and many more.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do You have to Keep Getting Botox?
If you stop having botox top-ups for whatever reason, you’ll notice that the lines you’ve been trying to evade will begin to emerge once again with muscle movement until they’ve become creases on your face. If you return to botox after having stopped taking it, the facial lines will smoothen out again.
Is There an Upper Age Limit for Botox?
No, there isn’t. You can be in your 60s or older and still use botox to enjoy a refreshed look.
Can You Get Botox Sooner Than 3 Months?
It’s not advised. Having botox top-ups sooner than three months from your previous top-up will result in your body developing resistance to the substance, which will render its effect useless.
On the other hand, it’s possible to go longer between botox injection sessions before the effect of the substance begins to dwindle; up to six months, to be exact.
Can Botox Lift Hooded Eyes?
If you have excess eyelid skin or a notable brow droop and you’re wondering whether a botox injection can help lift the hooded-eyes look, you ought to know that no cosmetic injections are able to tighten or reduce excess skin. To lift hooded eyes, you’ll need upper eyelid surgery.
How to Make Botox Last Longer?
First and foremost, you must seek a reputable practitioner to ensure long-lasting results. Also, you want to avoid rubbing or massaging your face for two to three days after the injection. To add, you want to reduce sun exposure as much as possible as well as photodamage. Last but not least, you want to engage the muscles in the treated area after the injection.