Dr Singh who runs his botox clinic in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in his latest blog talks about botox around the eyes.

The most commonest reason my patients request botox for around the eyes are due to the smile lines, also known as crows feet.

Most botox patients fall into one of two groups regarding their smile lines. The first are those that just use their eyes when they smile. In these patients the lines are quite high up the eye and normally don’t go lower down than the mid point of the eye.

The second group are known as cheek smiles and they sue their cheeks when they smile. These botox patients will have lines normally stretching from the mid point of the eyes to the cheek area.

It is vital before you administer the botox injections, you know which type of smiler the patient is. Then you can administer the botox int he correct position.

A lot of patients ask whether having botox around their eyes, will effect them from smiling. My answer is no, if done correctly. You wills till be able to smile after the botox treatment.

The other advantage that having botox around the eyes is that it can make the eyes appear slightly more open and therefore bigger.

For more information about botox hertfordshire, please call us on 01438 300111.

Dr Singh who runs his botox clinic in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in his latest blog shares his thoughts on botox in the lower face.

Botox  injections are normally associated with frown forehead and lines around the eyes. More advanced treatments can now also treat other areas such as bunny lines around the nose and lip wrinkles such as smoker lines and to lift the corners of the mouth.

Botox injections into the lips will not compare to the favored creams, gels and fillers primarily used for lip plumping. However, it is a great solution for someone seeking line or wrinkle removal close to the lip, which will in turn plump the lips and cause them to appear fuller.

The benefit of these botox injections is they do not cause any of the ill side effects such as redness, rash, and swelling more commonly associated with conventional lip injections. Patients who receive botox lip injections can go about their daily activities immediately following the procedure.

A very small dose of botox will be used initially as it can have a small affect on a person’s speech this normally takes a few days to get used to. Most people will not notice any change.

The botox is injected into the lips using a very fine needle, targeting the lip muscle group, often several times for best results.

Although the idea of injecting a small needle into the lip may seem painful, the procedure is relatively quick and painless. Expect the procedure to last anywhere from five to thirty minutes. The results can take up to 2 weeks to fully show. Patients should notice a gradually smoothing effect.

Botox lip injections can be repeated as often as necessary, as they are only temporary. Expect that your plump pout will begin to return to normal within two to four months.

For more information about botox hertfordshire, please call us on 01438 300111.

Dr Singh who runs his botox clinic in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in his latest blog talks about how to prolong the effects of botox.

Botox is an instant cure for fine lines and wrinkles. However it should not be used in isolation. There are a number of things you can do to enhance the effects of your botox treatments.

Sun – avoid if possible. If you do like to sunbathe then make sure you put on adequate protection, even if he sun is out that day

Sleep – enough sleep will allow your skin to repair itself and be less traumatised

Diet – consume anti oxidant rich foods to combat the signs of ageing

Stress – avoid it if you can

As you can see, botox does not work in isolation. With the correct lifestyle you can enhance the benefits of your botox injections.

For more information about botox hertfordshire, please call us on 01438 300111.

Dr Singh who runs his botox clinic in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in his latest blog shares how frequent you should have botox.

This is one of the commonest questions from my botox patients, when should they come back.

I explain that the duration of the effects of botox is different in each person and it is hard to know exactly when you need to come back.

As a general guideline botox will last between 4 and 6 months. However, I offer a 3 mo nth guarantee on all my botox treatments, so in case it has worn off quicker, then you can have a free top up of botox.

In addition, you will not wake up one morning and all your lines have re appeared. It is a gradual process of the botox effects wearing off and you will soon see the movement coming back slowly and that will be a good time to have your next course of botox treatment.

For more information about botox hertfordshire, please call us on 01438 300111.

Dr Singh who runs his botox clinic in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in his latest blog talks about potential side effects with botox treatments.

How to Be Prepared For The Side Effects of Botox

Have the side effects of Botox put you off from having the treatment to reduce your wrinkles? Botox is a very popular treatment to reduce wrinkles, however you need to be aware of certain side effects associated with this procedure. If you are unsure on what to expect after the procedure, we will explain all the common side effects and want you can do to minimise these or even eliminate them.

Botox is a very effective treatment and we don’t want you to be put off by scare stories you have read in the press or seen on the television. If you are informed and prepared for the side effects associated with Botox you will have peace of mind and not let it put you off the procedure.

Here are the different side effects you can expect:

1. Headaches

Botox can dehydrate your body and you will need to follow a couple of instructions to minimise and prevent this. We recommend to drink plenty of water after the procedure, at least 2 litres of water in the first 24 hours.We

also advise to avoid alcohol for the first 24 hours.

2.Drooping eyelids

There are a number of reasons why this may occur:

(a)  Too much Botox has been given in the forehead. This muscle lifts your eyes, so if it is relaxed too much it will not be able to maintain the position of your eyes.

(b)  Not enough Botox has been administrated in your frown muscle. This muscle pulls your eyes down, so if this muscle is still active, then it will have a downward pull on the eyes

(c)  The Botox may have travelled downwards to the eyes. This could have been caused by exercising straight after the procedure or bending downwards. So we recommend not to exercise for 24 hours after the procedure and also not to bend down too excessively

3.Frozen look

This will occur if too much Botox has been administrated. We would normally recommend to underdose initially and if you require further treatment then to have the Top Up after a couple of weeks. The frozen look will disappear over time as the effects of Botox begin to wear off. This is different for each person and can be anything between 3-6 months.

4.Wrinkles still there

The effects of the treatment will normally take around 2 weeks to work. The first few days your skin will feel tighter at the injection area. You should have a review appointment 2 weeks after the initial visit. At this visit the Doctor will see if you require any further Botox, known as the Top Up. This will take on average a week for you to see the results. If the wrinkles are still present then either you will need more Botox or you were not suitable for the procedure, e.g deep lines or lines at rest only (i.e no lines on facial expression).

5.Inflammation and Swelling

You will experience slight redness at the injection sites. This is common, so don’t be alarmed. This will normally resolve within an hour of having the procedure.

Due to the amount of fluid being injected you will also expect to see some swelling at the injection sites. This will be similar to a bee sting and will resolve within an hour of the procedure.

For more information about botox hertfordshire, please call us on 01438 300111.

Dr Singh who runs his botox clinic in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in his latest blog shares his ideas on how he gets referrals for new botox patients from his existing botox patients.

1.  free post kit – these can easily be obtained from the manufacturers. It cost us nothing and is given to every patient after any procedure they have. They love getting stuff for free and you can also cross sell your skin range at the same time.

2.  free mineral makeup session after treatment – similar to above, these patients are concerned with their appearance, so why not do a mini makeover with your mineral make up. They are not expecting this and you never know, they may want to purchase some of your mineral make up range.

3. free neck and shoulder massage – Jenna, my assistant, is a qualified beautician. So whilst I am preparing the toxin/filler, she will give the patient a free 2 minute massage.

4.  3 month guarantee – on all our botox patients we offer a 3month guarantee from the day of their treatment in that if they feel they need  atop up or it has worn off within 3 months, it will be free of charge. You will get a tiny minority that may abuse the system, but this is counter balanced by the patients that appreciate this safety net and tell their friends about this.

5.  mates rates – we normally charge £250 for 3 areas of botox. We will reduce this to £200 per person, if they bring 2 friends with them to have it done at the same time. You will be amazed on who our patients will try to encourage to come so they can save £50. If they take this offer then the above referral incentive is not applicable.

For more information about botox hertfordshire, please call us on 01438 300111.

Dr Singh who runs his botox clinic in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in his latest blog talks about what you need to tell the practitioner before you embark on a course of botox.

You should not receive botox if you are

• allergic to botulinum toxin, normally this means if you are allergic to eggs, as the same protein found in eggs also occurs in botox
• an infection in the area where the medicine will be injected

A detailed medical history will be taken prior to your botox treatment and special precautions should be applied to the following:

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or “Lou Gehrig’s disease”);

myasthenia gravis;

Lambert-Eaton syndrome;

a breathing disorder such as asthma or emphysema;

problems with swallowing;

facial muscle weakness (droopy eyelids, weak forehead, trouble raising your eyebrows);

a change in the normal appearance of your face;

bleeding problems;

heart disease;

if you have had or will have surgery (especially on your face);

if you have ever received other botox injections (especially in the last 4 months); or

if you have ever had a side effect after receiving a botulinum toxin in the past.

For more information about botox hertfordshire, please call us on 01438 300111.

Dr Singh who runs his botox clinic in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in his latest blog shares what he continues to go to facial aesthetic conferences.

There are a number of reasons I choose to go to courses:

1. Network – you see colleagues and discuss latest treatments and techniques with regards to botox injections. You can learn a lot from your fellow professionals and discuss cases with them
2. The content you learn on the day will always improve the treatment you offer your botox patients. Even if you just pick one tip from the whole day, it will still be worth it, in my eyes.
3. You get a chance to speak to the botox reps and see what latest products they have available. You also pick up what other clinicians are using or doing.
4. It raises your game. You become who you hang around with. And I want to hang around the best in the botox business, so I can reach a higher level to what I am at the moment.

For more information about botox hertfordshire, please call us on 01438 300111.

Dr Singh who runs his botox clinic in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in his latest blog talks about what we can do to prolong the effects of our botox treatments.

By having botox injections we are either aiming to reduce or eliminate our fine lines or slow down the ageing process. Whatever your reason for having botox treatment, there are certain things you can avoid to help you maximise the effects of the botox treatment.

Alcohol – this is know to dry (dehydrate) the skin. In addition in excessive amounts alcohol could cause tiny red veins appear on your skin.

Smoking – this reduces the blood circulation and thus can stop collagen production. This can result in more fine lines and wrinkles, exactly the opposite effect you want when undertaking botox procedures.

Sleep – we need adequate sleep to allow the body and skin to rejuvenate and recover.

Diet – your skin complexion is directly affected by what you eat. You want to avoid an acidic diet (fast foods, nutrient poor food) and have a green based/alkaline diet.

Stress – when we get stresses, we release a hormone called adrenaline. This hormone reduces blood flow, which can lead to slower cell turnover, resulting in an aged face.

Sun – the best to last. This is the number one reason for premature ageing and I see this in the patients that request botox treatments from me. You must have adequate sun protection or the results of botox will be wasted.

For more information about botox hertfordshire, please call us on 01438 300111.

Dr Singh who runs his botox clinic in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, in his latest blog shares a extract from the CODE association regarding different types of botox and how to mix them.

Botulinum toxin type A

Botulinum toxin type A is a protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum which reversibly paralyses muscle to smooth and soften the wrinkles caused by dynamic or hyperfunctional muscle activity. It acts by blocking the release of acetylcholine at nerve endings thus inhibiting muscle contraction. By selective injection, the lines caused by muscle activity such as crow’s feet or frown lines can be reduced; in most cases these lines soften and become less visible within a week to 10 days. Botulinum toxin type A is generally known as ‘Botox’ but the UK formulation that has recently received a licence for cosmetic use in the glabellar region is registered as Vistabel.

Dysport (Ipsen Ltd) is another commonly used formulation of botulinum toxin type A.

Vistabel

Vistabel is only licensed for the treatment of glabellar lines, which are the frown lines between the eyes. Use on any other areas of the face, e.g. crow’s feet, is still ‘off-licence’. You will need to make this clear to your patients if you intend to use it in areas that are outside the licensed indication.

Botox and Dysport can also be used in these unregistered indication areas, so long as you inform the patients (this should form part of the consultation process).

Approval of Vistabel for glabellar lines, however, does mean that you can assure patients about the proven safety profile of the product and substantiate claims with scientific data from properly conducted clinical studies. Vistabel is available in 50 unit vials, licensed for single patient use only, the vials have a purple label, a red lid and the Allergan hologram on the label.

Botox

A Botox vial contains 100 units of toxin and is usually used for more than one patient. In the UK, all uses of Botox for wrinkle treatments are off-licence.

Dysport

A Dysport vial contains 500 units of toxin but the dose administered is 3-5 times higher than the dose of Botox or Vistabel for each area of skin treated. The treatment of wrinkles with Dysport is also an off-licence use. The CODE AFA Board currently recommends that Dsyport is used 3:1 compared with Botox and Vistabel units. E.g. if you need to use 4 units of Botox, you would use 12 units of Dysport, see the next section for further information.

Reconstitution

We recommend that inexperienced users should reconstitute both Botox and Dysport with the same volume of preserved saline – 2.5 ml. The volume of product used in each area of the face will then be similar. (Note that Vistabel would require 1.25 ml.) For example one way of treating the glabellar region is:

5 injection sites – 1 in Procerus, 2 in each Corrugator

Total dose is 20 units of Botox or Vistabel, 4 units per injection site (0.5ml)

Total dose is 60 units of Dysport, 12 units Dysport per injection site (0.3ml)

With experience you may use different doses and dilutions to achieve optimal effects. The use of botulinum toxin is an art as well as a science, each practitioner develops their own techniques.

For more information about botox hertfordshire, please call us on 01438 300111.