The MediShed By Dr Dill | Skincare Clinic In Balham London

Come for a consultation to discuss treatment for lines and wrinkles

at The Medi-Shed by Dr Dil in Balham

What is Botulinum Toxin?​

Botulinum Toxin Type A (commonly known by the brand name, Botox®) is a prescription-only medicine that acts as a temporary muscle relaxant to smooth lines and wrinkles caused by dynamic upper face movement – when we frown, smile, or raise our eyebrows - which are still visible at rest. From your 30s onwards, these fine lines become noticeable signs of ageing and could include forehead lines, frown or eleven lines between the eyebrows, or crow’s feet, lines around the edges of the eyes.

 

The action and effect of botulinum toxin on relaxing underlying muscles is quick – within 1-2 weeks – and over time, with repeat treatment (if appropriate, several times per year), the overlying skin will soften reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles at rest. Depending on the area of concern and your suitability for treatment, botulinum toxin can be combined with dermal filler treatment to address deeper lines and static lines for a more youthful appearance.

 

A medical consultation is required but treatment is suitable for both men and women. If you are pregnant or breast feeding, or under 18 years of age, we will not be able to treat you with botulinum toxin or other minimally invasive treatment options for lines and wrinkles.

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How Anti-Wrinkle Treatment Works:
The Science Behind Botox®​

Botox® is a neurotoxin created from the bacteria Clostridium Botulinum; this natural, purified protein is called botulinum toxin type A. Botox is well-studied in clinical trials and has many licensed medical (therapeutic) and cosmetic applications.

 

In facial aesthetics, small doses of Botox can be injected for cosmetic enhancement as a temporary muscle relaxant, targeting muscles responsible for wrinkle formation through dynamic movement under the skin. It works by partially blocking nerve impulses or nerve signals to the muscle to reduce contraction. We can use it to target and relax muscles involved in certain facial movements, like frowning, squinting, raising eyebrows etc., focusing particularly where a muscle is hyperactive or working in excess, and causing significant wrinkle formation or negative expressions; making you look angry when you are not. By interrupting the communication between the nerves and muscles, we reduce muscle activity, prevent contraction and line formation, to smooth the skin over time.

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Benefits of Botox® Treatment:

Botox® is licensed and proven to be very effective at smoothing facial lines and wrinkles caused by repetitive movement in the upper face – raising eyebrows, furrowing your brow, smiling etc. We call these 'dynamic lines and wrinkles' because these are primarily caused over time by repeated facial movement.

 

The skin on your forehead, between your eyebrows, and around the eyes is laid over muscle and these muscles move constantly as we interact with others, when you smile, frown, and grimace. Over time, this repeated dynamic activity causes the skin to crease, eventually forming visible lines and wrinkles even when you are at rest and not showing emotion. Think about what happens to a piece paper if you keep folding and unfolding it, the lines begin to remain on the paper.

 

Muscle relaxation and repeated treated with botulinum toxin injections reduce muscle activity helping to stop the skin from forming creases and lines, and in time the lines will appear smoother and reduce in appearance.

 

The severity of facial lines can psychologically effect an individual, especially if they miscommunicate their emotions to others; the reduction in their appearance can be a real benefit.

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Conditions Treated by Botulinum Toxin

Botox is a licensed prescription-only medicine. The conditions it can treat, and your suitability for treatment, will be discussed during your face-to-face consultation with Dr Dil. If you have a concern, you think can be helped with botulinum toxin treatment, please make an appointment to learn more about all the treatment options available at The Medi-Shed by Dr Dil.           

 

Botox is licensed to temporarily improve the appearance of frown lines (glabellar lines), crow’s feet (lateral canthal lines) and forehead lines. As an extensively studied medication, more and more treatment indications are being licensed for treatment with Botox.