– Contraindications to the wrinkle relaxing treatment include known allergy to botulinum toxin, certain neuromuscular disorders, or if you are pregnant or nursing.  Please inform us of any allergies or medical conditions you may have.

– Avoid blood thinning medications such as ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen for 5 days prior to your treatment and for 3 days after.  These may increase your chances of bruising.  Inform your doctor if you are on any prescription blood thinning medications (do not stop taking prescription medications unless specifically instructed to do so).

– Do not drink alcohol or take Vitamin E the day prior to treatment and the day after your treatment as this can also increase bruising.

– Schedule your treatment at least 2 weeks prior to a big event to allow the results to fully appear and so that any bruising has time to resolve.

– Be sure to have a good breakfast/lunch on the day of your procedure.  This will reduce the chance of any lightheadedness during the procedure.

Want to know how to prepare for your dermal filler treatment coming up? Please read the following:

• Avoid drinking alcoholic drinks for about 3 days before your treatment, alcohol thins the blood and will increase the risk of bruising.
• Avoid anti inflamatory/blood thinning medications, if possible for a period of 2 weeks before your treatment. Medications and supplements such as aspirin, vitamin E, ginkgo bill a, ginseng, St. John’s Wort and some others have a blood thinning effect and can increase the risk of bruising and swelling after injections.
• Discontinue Retin A 2 days before and 2 days after treatmtments.
• You must reschedule your treatment at least 5 days in advance if you have a rash, cold sore or blemish on the area.
• If you have a history of cold sores, medication can be used to avoid a break out.
• Have some food! Eating and drinking plenty before your treatment will decrease the chances of lighheadness during your treatment.
• You can take antihistamine tablets or apply arnica creams on the are to be treated previous to your treatment day to reduce swelling.
• You can’t have this treatment whilst pregnant or breastfeeding.

Hey lovely people!!!

After a few months of training, and a few more to go, I decided to write a blog about anti wrinkle injections, this should hopefully give you a bit of information and answer some of your questions regarding this treatment I am now able to offer alongside a Prescribing Nurse.

If you’re fed up with your wrinkles, this could be the solution for you! I’ve put a few key things you should be thinking about before having this treatment done, which should not be taken lightly. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions regarding this treatment. Consultations are free!

Botox® is the trade name for Botulinum Toxin, in this blog post I will refer to this as anti wrinkle injections.

During the ageing process we lose collagen and elastin which keep our skin looking young, resulting in reduced firmness, expression lines, leaves our skin thinner and that glow we once had disappears. Anti wrinkle injections help reduce the appearance of unwanted fine lines and wrinkles and are a great and effective way of smoothing the skin. The theory is: Botulinum Toxin is injected to prevent the release of the chemical messenger (acetylcholine) released by the nerves which attaches to receptors on the muscle cells informing them to contract. Without this key messenger our muscles can’t contract therefore stay paralysed, resulting in the wrinkles relaxing and softening.

It is most often used on forehead lines, crow’s feet (lines around the eyes) and frown lines. Wrinkles caused by sun damage and gravity will not respond to the treatment.

How long does it last?

You won’t see immediate results, it takes up to 2 weeks for the treatment to take effect. On average, the effects last between 3-4 months. If you never had it done before, effects may last 2-3 months and for some patients, effects may last up to 6 months. The long lasting effect is actually due to the muscle relaxing enough that it breaks the habit of consistent hyper contraction.

Does it hurt?

This treatment is less invasive than surgery, but it does still involve needles. They are very small and most people don’t feel any pain while the injections is being administered. You may feel some discomfort when the needle touches the skin but it’s over quickly! I am gentle and will make you feel relaxed which results in no pain!

What are the results?

Results vary for a number of reasons. It depends on how much product is used and which muscle is being treated. The ideal effect to seek is a natural, subtle but softening of the lines rather than a frozen look. Clients will describe looking less tired, less angry and just like they’ve had a good night sleep or been on a much deserved holiday.

Does it work on all skins?

Yes it does, there are a few things to take into consideration when deciding if you are a good candidate for anti wrinkle injections, this is covered during your consultation. The most important thing to have in mind is that the treatment only really works on dynamic wrinkles (wrinkles that occur when muscle movement is present, like frowning, raising of brows or smiling).

**Anyone wanting to have anti wrinkles injections MUST see our Nurse Prescriber for a health check before any treatment is delivered. This benefits you, the prescriber and myself ensuring the treatment is safe and legally carried out. Our Prescriber is in once a month and all clinic days will be release monthly**

PRICES

1 Area – £150 (frown lines, or crow’s feet)

2 Areas – £200 (frown lines + forehead lines or frown lines + crow’s feet)

3 Areas – £250 (frown lines, forehead lines, crow’s feet)

If you are thinking of getting fillers, I highly recommend you read this first!

1- What is filler?

The most commonly used fillers are made of hyaluronic acid, which is naturally found in the skin. Hyaluronic acid, also referred to as HA, is responsible for giving skin a plump and hydrated look thanks to its ability to store moisture. Hyaluronic acid fillers are a gel-like substance that creates volume in the skin. Once injected, they begin to integrate into the substance of the skin, attracting water molecules and hydrating the surrounding tissue. Whilst other types of filler exist, they are less popular as they are non-reversible, being a major disadvantage because they can’t be dissolved in the event of complications.

2- What are they used for?

Fillers are used to treat facial lines and creases in order to reduce the signs of ageing, fillers can also be used to augment and enhance facial features such as creating sharper cheekbones, more defined jawlines and straighter noses.

3- What is the difference between fillers and Botulinum Injections (Botox®)?

They both reduce and treat signs of ageing but are very different from each other. Fillers are used to add volume and plump the skin, Botox® (which is a brand name for botulinum toxin) temporarily blocks nerve signals in the muscles where it’s injected to restrict movement and therefore smooth ‘expression lines’.

4- Where are fillers used?

Fillers are injected into different parts, depths of the skin and have different consistencies, all of this dictates the results that will be achieved.  Deep injections usually use firm fillers and creates volume and shape to the face, mid-depth injections usually use medium-firm fillers and reduces the appearance of creases, superficial injections into the dermis using soft fillers help smooth out wrinkles, plump and hydrate the skin.

5- What are the results?

I often come across clients that dread the thought of looking “fake”. It’s important to understand that your interest must dictate the results, therefore if you don’t want “fish lips” for instance, you will not have them! It’s important to spend time with your practitioner to make sure they fully understand your goals. It is practically impossible to “over-do” fillers in a single cautious treatment. Things can go wrong when people keep adding filler over numerous sessions until their results look disproportionate and unnatural.

The results following a filler treatment vary from person to person . It is normal for there to be some swelling and possibly even some bruising for a few days after facial fillers but generally you will see an immediate difference in volume and shape of the treated area. The results tend to improve as the swelling settles and the filler begins to sit more naturally in the skin. This may take around two weeks.

6- Do your research!

For those who know me, know I don’t get tired of saying: Do your research! Ask to see before and after pictures, you want to see consistency and always remember, cheap treatments mean you are not getting a good quality treatment and cheap products are being used.  Make sure you fully research your practitioner before committing to a dermal filler treatment and make sure you discuss how realistic your results will be. Ask what product will be used and the reasons for the product choice, how much will be injected, the technique of injection (needle or cannula?), how long the results are likely to last and if there are any risks and side effects. A good practitioner should also be able to discuss alternative treatment options with you.

Another very important thing to consider is: Can your practitioner treat filler complications? Are they able to dissolve your filler if needed and will they charge you for this?
Make sure you are fully at ease with your chosen clinic. Sometimes seemingly awkward questions about qualifications, training and experience are good ways of sussing out if your practitioner is someone who is able to put you at ease.

7- I’m sure you heard this before: Less is more!

I can hear my mum saying this to me, and like may things, when it comes to fillers, less is usually more. When done correctly, it shouldn’t feel as though they are there. I love the subtle and natural look.

Hyaluronic acid fillers integrate with the skin and form part of the natural architecture of the skin. This process takes approximately one month. Once integrated, you will not be able to feel that there is filler in the skin, it will simply feel like your own skin – but plumper! It is always possible to add more filler later and you should never feel pressured to have more than what you are comfortable with.

8- How long do they last?

Please keep in mind that filler can take up to two weeks to fully settle. Hyaluronic acid fillers are naturally broken down by the skin. On average, this process takes 12 months but it does depend on the filler used and area treated. Areas with little muscular movement or tension such as the tear troughs, temples or jawline tend to last well; whereas areas with more movement or tension such as the lips, nose and cheeks will tend to last less.

9- Are there any risks over time?

As hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in the body, it is accepted by our bodies as being natural – there is no evidence to suggest that long-term use is at all damaging.

Have more questions? Email me at naysbeauty@hotmail.com

– Don’t apply make up on the area for 4 hours

– Please note it is normal to experience tenderness for 7-14 days following treatment

– Apply some ice to the area if it becomes tender or swollen

– Avoid alcohol for 24 hours following treatment

– Avoid strenuous exercise for 48 hours following treatment

– Avoid exercise for 4 hours

– Avoid direct sunlight and wear a high SPF sunscreen to prolong the duration of the fillers

– Avoid creams with Alpha Hydroxy Acid or Glycolic Acid around the area

– If you suffer from cold sores, there is a small risk that injections around the lips may cause a flare. Use a topical cold sore cream or any usual oral medication if signs appear

– If you take aspirin, clopidogrel, warfarin and other blood thinning medications, you should be aware that there will be an increased likelihood of bleeding or bruising at injection sites

– If itching or swelling occurs, a general over the counter antihistamine can be taken for a period of one week

– Alcohol, smoking and sun will reduce the life of the filler

AFTERCARE

For the next 4 hours following your treatment:

• Avoid touching the treated areas
• Remain upright – do not lie down or rest head forward for long periods of time i.e. no gardening, etc
• Avoid drinking alcohol
• Avoid any physical exercise

Slight redness will subside and any minor bruising will disappear in a few days

Avoid saunas, hot tubs and sunbeds for 24 hours

Avoid skin peels and laser treatments for 2 weeks

Wear a high SPF suncream to minimise sun damage

The full effects of anti-wrinkle injections will be seen 14 days following treatment, however noticeable differences can be seen between 7-10 days

Recommended follow up treatment plan is every 12-16 weeks