Anti-Wrinkle & Muscle Relaxant Injections with Botox® or Dysport®.

What is Botox®?

Botox® is the brand name of an injectable neurotoxin. At Clinic 1, alongside Botox® we also use other brand – Dysport® which are made up of the same Botulinum Toxin type A. Since Botox® is the most popular and familiar brand name, we’ll use this name to explain how it works.

How does Botox® work?

Botox® is one of the most popular injectable treatments here at Clinic 1. Using tiny needles, we inject units of Botox® into the facial muscles to block the message from the nerve to the muscle. The injected muscle can no longer contract which helps wrinkles relax and soften.

Is Botox® safe?

The short answer is yes, it’s very safe. Botox® is a well-researched product with a 20+ year history. There are no long-term side effects or complications. In traditional medicine Botox® was even used for children and new-borns with conditions like cerebral palsy to help with spasticity (muscle stiffness.)

How long is the appointment?

The actual procedure is very quick – around 5 minutes. But before we start, we’ll take photos and you’ll sign the consent form. Expect to spend 15-20 minutes with us unless you want to have a chat.

How long does Botox® last?

Longevity of Botox® depends on the treatment area, number of units used and lifestyle / metabolism factors. For example – if you exercise a lot your Botox® treatment might not last as long. Want a hot tip? Zinc supplements can potentially prolong the effect of Botox®. For anti-wrinkle treatments, we recommend you see us every 4 months. You’ll see the result between 3-14 days after your treatment, it will then peak at 4-8 weeks and the effect will then gradually decrease. For Hyperhidrosis, the results can last for up to 1 year. Remember the good thing (and downside) about Botox® is that it’s temporary – so if you decide Botox® is no longer for you, you’ll be back to your pre-Botox® look within 3-4 months.

Does it hurt?

The needle is very fine, so the pain is minimal and it’s over very quickly. We offer many options for pain relief, including ice, numbing cream, lidocaine injections and even Penthrox (gas) – but most clients don’t need anaesthetic options for Botox®.

Are there any side effects?

Botox® is a very safe and effective treatment. Minor side effects following treatment may include small bruises, redness, headache (this is rare and may last up to 24 hours) and temporary brow dropping (due to poor technique.)

How much does it cost?

Every client and treatment area is different, so the units used will vary. We’ve put together the following guide for the average number of units per area.

• Frown Lines > 15-22 units

• Forehead > 7-10 units

• Crow’s Feet > 6-12 units per side

• Gummy Smile > 2-4 units

• Jaw Slimming > 30-40 units per side

• Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis) > 50 units per side

Please refer to our price menu or contact us to talk about a bespoke treatment plan for you.

Concerns & Treatment Areas

The most common areas to treat with Botox® are frown lines (glabella), forehead and around the eye area (crow’s feet.) We can treat those areas to either prevent or erase wrinkles.

Muscle relaxant injections can be used to treat many other concerns.

• Brow lift – when we treat the lines between brows and relax those muscles, it naturally elevates the eyebrows and opens the eye.

• Lip flip – we strategically place a few units of Botox® along the upper lip muscles, near the border. As a result, the top lip rolls outwards to create a fuller looking lip without adding any dermal filler (please note this treatment lasts 6-8 weeks max.)

• Gummy smile – a very simple and popular procedure. Just like the lip flip, we use a few units of Botox® but we inject it into the muscles above the lip and closer to the nose. Instead of the muscles pulling the upper lip up and exposing the gum when smiling – the muscles now relax – the top lip will be lower and will cover the gums on display.                 

• Teeth grinding (bruxism) – and jaw clenching can be a real problem for many people. It can be very hard to control as people clench their jaws during sleep without knowing it. Injecting Botox® into the masseter muscles (muscles that move your jaw) reduces the tension in the face. As this is a big muscle, we need to use a high unit dosage of Botox®.

• Face slimming – achieve a more feminine look. If you suffer from bruxism (teeth grinding) and you constantly clench your jaw and teeth your masseter muscles become bigger and stronger. The constant pressure is not only bad for your teeth but can make the lower face look very heavy and square. A few weeks after the Botox® injections the masseter muscles will weaken and reduce in size. And, if you want to know something really fascinating – we can even make calf muscles slimmer using the same technique.

• Neck lift – This is one of the most important and under-utilized treatments for preventing ageing of the neck. We all do our best to try and look after our face, but our neck area is often ignored – really showing our age. Our platysma muscles are very large and run down both sides of the neck, and right up to the cheeks. When we age prominent bands are formed – and by treating them with Botox® we can dramatically improve the appearance of the neck and jaw. Goodbye turkey and tech-neck. You might also be interested in our other neck treatments – Scupltra, Radiesse, Short Threads and Ultraformer3.

• Migraines – yes, we use Botox® to help with migraines too. Usually by treating the frown area and reducing tension in the forehead. In the case of severe migraines, we can inject the occipital and cervical muscles.

• Excessive sweating (Hyperhidrosis) – this is a real problem that affects many people in different ways. The most common is under the arm area – but can also include hands and feet. Sweating underarms, hands and feet can be embarrassing for some people. Botox® injections are a safe and effective way to treat hyperhidrosis and improve quality of life.

** DISCLAIMER

BOTOX® is a prescription medicine containing 100 units of clostridium botulinium type A toxin complex for injection. It is used for the treatment of severe frown lines associated ‘crow’s feet’ around the eyes and wrinkle removal. It should be administered only by trained medical professionals. Talk to your specialists about the benefits/risks of this procedure in appearance medicine.  Caution people with neuromuscular transmission disorders, presence of infection at site of injection, pregnancy and lactation. Possible side effects include headaches, pain, burning sensation or redness at injection site, temporary local muscle weakness including eyelid droop, decreased sensation and nausea. If you have side effects or concerns, talk to your doctor. A charge applies. Allergan New Zealand Pty Ltd, Auckland. Note: Botox® treatment lasts about four months and after this time further courses of Botox treatment may be necessary. Talk to your Auckland Botox specialist about the benefits/risks of this procedure.

DYSPORT® is a prescription medicine for the treatment of frown lines, horizontal forehead lines and crow’s fee round the eyes. Dysport® has risks and benefits. Ask your doctor is Dysport® is right for you.   If you have side effects see your doctor.  You will need to pay for Dysport®, and clinic fees will apply. For details on precautions & side effects consult your healthcare professional or the Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) at www.medsafe.govt.nz. Dysport® lasts about 4-6 months and further courses of treatment may be necessary. Should only be administered by trained medical professionals. Contains 500 units of clostridium botulinum Type A toxin. Galderma (NZ) Limited, Auckland.