Botox is medically known as Botulinum Toxin A and is a protein which stems from the Botulism germ. It is FDA approved for the treatment of frown lines and crow’s feet. It is also used for the treatment of the horizontal lines along the forehead. Along with other medical and cosmetic uses, Botox is widely used around the world and the number of people having Botox treatments by their doctor or dentist is exponentially increasing.

Botox is a prescribed medicine and can only be carried out by a medical professional who has the appropriate training and when used in experienced hands can produce some fantastic results with a combination with dermal fillers.

Botox works when injected into a muscle. It prevents the signal from the nerve reaching the muscle which normally causes the muscle to contract. By blocking the signal, the muscle relaxes which results in the overlying skin looking smoother, softer and fresher.

Women and men of all ages are having Botox treatment. The areas and muscles treated vary according to skin condition and age.

As we age, we lose elasticity and volume in the skin and the added exposure of chemicals such as smoking and alcohol accelerates the ageing process. Sun exposure over the years has a big impact on the condition of the skin and ageing.

In our 20s, skin is smooth, firm and mostly wrinkle free. Dynamic lines begin to show in your late 20s-these are lines and wrinkles which appear when you are creating an expression for example frowning or smiling. The wrinkle then disappears after we stop smiling or frowning. As we age in our 30s to 40s, these dynamic lines become static lines which result in wrinkles and subsequent deeper grooves on the skin which do not disappear and are present when the muscles are at rest. These may be across the forehead, above the lips creating ‘lipstick/smokers’ lines where the lip stick bleeds into. In our 40s to 50s, further ageing occurs where the skin begins to sag a little, giving rise to a ‘jowly’ look and ‘turkey neck’ appearance.

During yours 50s, you may be seeking some surgical treatments for very lax skin. Botox may still be able to be administered with a combination of dermal fillers by a very experienced doctor to help lift and tighten the jawline and remove the ‘bandy’ look along the neck. Also injections in other areas treating the forehead lines, frown lines and crow’s feet can still be carried out. Your doctor would definitely be combining Botox with dermal fillers to improve your appearance at this stage. All treatments, concerns and potential outcomes would normally be discussed with your doctor during a face to face consultation.