Botulinum Toxin
Botulinum toxin is the medical name for Botox. The clostridium botulinum bacterium produces this protein naturally. The protein is extracted from the bacteria and purified. Botulinum toxin has been employed in medical applications for 35 years and in the cosmetic industry since 1989.
Treatment with botulinum toxin is a simple procedure that uses a very thin needle to inject small amounts of botulinum toxin into selected areas. The botulinum toxin blocks nerve signals from reaching the muscles, temporarily deactivating these muscles, as it were. This results in fewer facial lines and wrinkles.
After your treatment with botulinum toxin, you must wait a few days before the effect will be visible. This is because the botulinum toxin needs time to do its work. The longer the skin relaxes, the more your dynamic wrinkles will disappear. The effect is visible for three to four months on average, occasionally longer. After that, the toxin is fully degraded by the body. In exceptional cases, you may experience a headache immediately after treatment. This will fade, of course.
Make an Appointment Online
Scheduling an appointment is easy with our online reservation system.
If you want to visit us for a consultation and immediate treatment, you can book your procedure at the same time.
For combined or group appointments, please call us or send an email to [email protected]
Consult a Physician
We always schedule a consultation prior to any treatment. During this meeting, the practitioner will listen to your wishes and explore ways to achieve your goal. The practitioner will provide you with extensive information on preparation and follow-up, what results to expect, possible risks and the recovery process for your chosen procedure.
The Procedure
Once you decide to have us perform a specific procedure, we will ask you to complete a medical questionnaire and sign a treatment contract before commencing the procedure. Do you take multiple medications? Please bring a list of your current medicines to your appointment.
We will take photographs for your medical records both before and after your treatment. In certain cases, we will apply local anesthesia to numb your skin prior to treatment, using either a numbing cream or a liquid anesthetic.
Follow-Up
We will email you a follow-up form after the treatment. You can go straight home; there’s no need for you to stay at the clinic. The skin can often appear red and swollen after a treatment and some people may experience bruising. These side effects will go away on their own. If you were told to cool the treated area with the coolpack provided, it is important to follow this advice carefully. In case of bad bruises, we recommend applying Arnica ointment to the affected area.
The application of makeup to treated areas is not recommended for the first four hours after the procedure. Additionally, we advise against exposing these areas to intense heat (sun, sauna or tanning bed) for at least a week after treatment. Nor is it advisable to have any facials within two weeks of your procedure. After two weeks, you will be able to evaluate the final results of your treatment.
Should you have any questions concerning your recovery, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Risks
The risk of complications is very small. As with any intervention, there is a slight risk of infection or an allergic reaction.
An Overview of Our Treatments
Frown linesForehead wrinklesCrow’s feetBrow liftMigraine / headacheGummy smileExcessive sweatingTeeth grindingFace slimmingNefertiti neck liftChin dimplingCorners of the mouthNose liftBunny linesLip flipFrown Lines
Frown lines are the lines that appear between your eyebrows when you are angry or concentrating hard. These wrinkles can make your appearance less friendly. Injecting botulinum toxin into the muscles that cause these wrinkles gives you back that softer, friendlier look. Botulinum toxin relaxes these muscles and keeps you from looking angry or unfriendly. The treatment retains its effect for three to four months, after which you will revert to your original appearance. That means you will need to keep up the treatments. Some wrinkles are too advanced for botulinum toxin to be effective on its own, in which case a practitioner may advise the use of fillers to soften deeper lines.
Forehead Wrinkles
When you raise your eyebrows or express surprise, wrinkles appear on your forehead. These are known as forehead wrinkles. These horizontal lines get deeper as you age, though this will also depend on your skin type. As such lines can make your face appear less friendly, and can also cause makeup to collect in the folds, for example, some people opt to relax the forehead muscles using botulinum toxin. When the muscle is relaxed, the eyebrows are prevented from rising, keeping your forehead nice and smooth for three to four months until the product wears off again. Very deep lines can be further softened using fillers.
Crow’s Feet
Crow’s feet, also known as laugh lines, are the fine lines that form at the corners of your eyes when you smile. These tiny wrinkles also occur when you peer into the sun and squint your eyes. Constant repetition causes the lines to deepen. Botulinum toxin will smooth away the wrinkles and keep your skin nice and taut, even when you smile or squint. In exceptional cases, a filler can be used to soften very deep lines. The effect of this treatment will remain apparent for three to four months on average. After this, the botulinum toxin wears off and a repeat session will be required.
Brow Lift
Botulinum toxin can be used to achieve a subtle brow lift; just enough to open up your gaze and make you look less tired. It depends on the desired effect whether the botulinum toxin will make a visible difference. The ends of the eyebrows are raised, increasing the distance between the eye and the brow. Sometimes, a single brow is lifted to improve an asymmetrical appearance. The effect remains visible for three to four months on average.
Migraine/Headache
Increasingly, scientific research indicates the beneficial role of botulinum toxin in treating chronic migraines and tension headaches. As the muscles become very tense, relaxing them can provide relief. Applying botulinum toxin to the affected areas eases such complaints significantly. The symptoms will remain less severe until the botulinum toxin wears off again. You will need to repeat the treatment after three to four months.
Gummy Smile
If you show your gums when you talk or laugh, this is known as a ‘gummy smile.’ This is not learned behavior; it’s something you’re born with. Such visible gums can be the result of an overactive muscle in the upper lip. Botulinum toxin temporarily deactivates this muscle, so that the lip stays down during speech or laughter. The lowered lip covers the gums, making them less visible. The treatment maintains its effect for three to four months. As this treatment is not suitable for everyone, consultation is required.
Excessive Sweating
Nothing is more unpleasant than sweating heavily in the absence of any exertion. Constantly perspiring armpits, hands and feet, for instance. The aassociated body odor can also be a hindrance in your everyday life. Botulinum toxin can help resolve this issue. Injecting botulinum toxin into the appropriate areas will temporarily block the nerve endings that activate your sweat glands. This causes a significant drop in the amount of perspiration. Research has shown that the difference can be as much as 80%. This can be a huge boost to your self-confidence. After four to six months, the botulinum toxin wears off and the procedure must be repeated.
Teeth Grinding
Teeth grinding, or bruxism, is a common problem. Not only can it disturb your partner at night, it’s also very bad for your teeth. For many people who grind their teeth, the daily exertion of force means their masseter muscles become very well-developed. The grinding can even lead to muscle pain in the jaw. As this can be a hindrance in daily life and cause lasting damage to your teeth, treatment with botulinum toxin is a good solution. The medical purpose of this treatment is to decrease bruxism significantly. This, too, has been scientifically proven to be effective. The treatment will need to be repeated in three to four months, when the botulinum toxin wears off.
Chin Dimpling
Some people have a hyperactive mentalis or chin muscle; often, they’re born this way. When they close their mouth, dimples form on their chin. Botulinum toxin can temporarily block the muscle that causes this, creating a nice relaxed situation and smoothing out the skin. The botulinum toxin injections will need to be repeated after three to four months to maintain the desired effect.
Face Slimming
Many of us dream of a slimmer face. Adding fillers to your face in the right places can provide a slimming V-shape. Botulinum toxin may also prove helpful. Injecting botulinum toxin into the masseters temporarily inactivates these muscles. These large muscles pass right across your cheeks. Muscles that aren’t under tension will slim down with time. The more botulinum toxin treatments these muscles receive, the thinner they become, resulting in a slimmer face as well. To maintain the effect, the treatment must be renewed every three to four months.
Nefertiti Neck Lift
What many people don’t know is that botulinum toxin can also help to tighten up your jawline. Typical signs of aging include sagging skin and a diminished underlying bone structure. Hanging jowls can make your jaw look less defined. A weak jawline can make you look old and tired. This is unnecessary! Using botulinum toxin, we can manipulate the muscles of your neck to give the area a subtle lift. This treatment is named for Queen Nefertiti of Egypt, who was well-loved and is always depicted with a nice sharp jawline. Botulinum toxin stays effective for three to four months on average. To maintain the results, you will need to repeat the treatment after this period.
Corners of the Mouth
A sulky looking mouth with downturned corners can cause you to appear dissatisfied. Sometimes this is a natural feature of the face, but generally it is due to aging. When your face loses volume, this also affects the quality of the skin. This is often evident around the mouth. Botulinum toxin can be used to lift the corners of the mouth to a certain extent. The botulinum toxin is injected into the muscles that pull on these corners, causing them to droop. When the muscles can no longer ‘pull’ on the corners, these will turn back up. The effect will last for up to three to four months, after which a repeat treatment will be required.
Nose Lift
To lift your nose, we inject botulinum toxin into the little muscle that pulls on the tip. Sometimes this muscle is so active that your nose moves when you speak or laugh. Relaxing the muscle means your nose will stay straight when talking or laughing. The nose’s appearance remains otherwise unchanged. Fillers can be used to modify the shape of your nose. This treatment, too, must be repeated after three to four months, when the botulinum toxin will have worn off.
Lip Flip
A lip flip involves the injection of a small dose of botulinum toxin right at the edge of the lip. This treatment allows the lip the curl up, making it stand out more. It’s a fairly subtle treatment. The treatment will not give your lips any additional volume. That is achieved using fillers. The treatment must be renewed every three to four months.
Bunny Lines
Wrinkling your nose, peering into the sun, laughing and talking can all cause lines to appear alongside your nose. These are known as bunny lines. Two little jabs of botulinum toxin are enough to make these lines go away. Botulinum toxin deactivates the muscle that causes the lines. To maintain the effect, the botulinum toxin must be renewed every three to four months.
Who We Are
Once you’ve taken the decision to change or enhance your appearance, it’s very important to know who will be performing the treatment. Our specialists are eager to help you find the procedure that’s right for you. To us, every client is unique, and we will use all our knowledge and expertise to enhance your beauty!
