All your Botox Questions Answered
Dr Caitlin Rooney (BDS) is a qualified dentist who has done extra training in the administration of anti wrinkle injections. When seeking injectable treatments please make sure you see a fully insured, qualified medical professional.
What is Botox and how does it work ?
Botox is one of the brand names for botulinum toxin. It works by temporarily freezing the muscles. One of the reasons wrinkles form is due to repetitive moving of the same muscle and a crease forms in this area. Therefore by stopping the muscle moving, the crease does not form. It is most commonly used in the upper part of the face - the forehead, frown and around the eyes.
Is it actually preventative or is this a myth?
Botox is definitely preventative. If you stop a muscle from moving, you are preventing a line from forming. If you wait until a deep line has formed then Botox is far less effective.
At what age should you start getting Botox?
I wouldn’t say there is a certain age when you should start, however a good time to start is when you begin to see early signs of fine lines. Botox works much better on the lines when your face is moving than lines at rest so don’t leave it until the wrinkle has become more established. It is also worth mentioning that Botox is not a replacement for good skincare, you need both to keep the youthful look.
What is the recovery like?
Immediately afterwards there can be a small amount of bleeding, a small amount of swelling and occasionally people can bruise but this is for the most part very minor.
When can I see the results?
Botox doesn’t start working instantly, it takes 1-2 days to start working and 2 weeks to fully kick in.
How long do the results last?
The effects of Botox are temporary, everyone metabolises it at different rates and it tends to wear off quicker in men than women. On average, after about 3 months a lot of the movement will have returned.
As a bride-to-be, when should I have it done?
It is best to have a trial at least 6 months before your big day to see how your muscles react and so we can make sure the dosing and positioning is perfect and just how you like it. There’s never a day where you need to feel your best self !
