Read this before you consider Botox
Christmas is coming and with it the party season preparation! For some this will mean a trip to the hairdresser or a new outfit, but for others it could involve non-surgical procedures such as Botox to boost their confidence in their appearance.
Botox these days is widely used and freely available from a variety of practitioners. However there are certain Do’s and Don’ts that should be followed to ensure you get the most from your Botox experience.
Anita Hazari, a Consultant Plastic Surgeon at the McIndoe Surgical Centre in East Grinstead, is an experienced practitioner in the use of Botox and offers the following important tips for your readers.
Do’s
- Do ensure you are seeing a trained medical professional.
- Do find out how the procedure will be of use to you.
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Do inform your trained professional of any allergies or medication you
are taking as some antibiotics and drugs may interfere with the action of Botox. - Do refrain from having Botox if you suffer from any Neuromuscular conditions such as Motor Neurone disease, myasthenia gravis or Easton-Lambert syndrome.
- Do remain upright for at least 4 hours after a Botox injection.
- Do exaggerate facial expressions in injected areas for 1 hour after injection to allow spread of the Botox within the targeted muscle.
- Do be aware that some tenderness, bruising, temporary headaches can occur which will resolve quickly.
- Do report any serious and or immediate allergic reactions. These reactions include itchy rash, swelling, and shortness of breath. Get medical help right away if you are wheezing or have asthma symptoms, or if you become dizzy or faint.
Don’ts
- Don’t use Botox if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
- Don’t take ibuprofen, aspirin, or vitamin E for 24 hours after injection.
- Don’t massage or manipulate injection sites for 48 hours after injection
- Don’t have any corrective injections within 14 days if the Botox does not have the effect you expected. Once you have the treatment, be aware that it may take a few days to 2 weeks to have the desired effect and any repeat treatments should be after 3 months when the effect has worn off or started to wear off.
- Don’t exercise for at least 4 hours as lying down or bending down may cause the Botox to spread to an undesirable neighbouring area causing droopiness or double vision.
There are many benefits to be had from Botox and it can be a very rewarding and beneficial procedure to undergo, but as with any cosmetic procedure you need to ensure you understand exactly what you are undertaking.
Anita Hazari’s set of top Do’s and Don’ts should make the whole process much more informed, however at the end of July the GMC (General Medical Council) issued new guidelines to the medical profession surrounding the prescribing of cosmetic injectables such as Botox. Until recently practitioners could prescribe Botox and other injectable cosmetics by phone, email, video-link or fax.
The new guidance came into force from the 23rd July and has been issued to all doctors in the UK, as a way to strengthen the existing regulations on prescribing these treatments. A face to face consultation must be undertaken before any decision is made on the most effective treatment for each patient.
This complete prohibition on prescribing Botox etc. without a consultation could jeopardise professionals’ registration if they decide to flout the rules.
Mr Baljit Dheansa a Consultant Plastic Surgeon at McIndoe Surgical Centre said, 'It is good that the GMC has recognised the importance of cosmetic products and their potential effects by ensuring that doctors stop the practise of remote prescribing for drugs like Botox. The cosmetic industry has expanded so much over the last few years and it has sometimes forgotten that many treatments and products can have significant side effects or inappropriate reactions. It is essential for all doctors to not only ensure patients are well treated but also protected as much as possible. It is essential that we don't forget how important it is to have skilled practitioners working safely to avoid the sometimes dreadful results we occasionally see in the media'
The guidance, states: ‘You must undertake a physical examination of patients before prescribing non-surgical cosmetic medicinal products such as Botox, Dysport or Vistabel or other injectable cosmetic medicines. You must not therefore prescribe these medicines by telephone, fax, video-link, or online.’
A copy of the new remote prescribing guidance can be read on the GMC’s website www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/ethical_guidance/13594.asp if you are interested in knowing more.
McIndoe Surgical Centre welcomes the new guidance rules having always adopted consultant led prescribing of injectables and will not have to make any changes to their processes. If you are interested in any injectable procedure then you will be seen by a consultant plastic surgeon in a face to face consultation before any treatment goes ahead. This helps to ensure they fully understand the patient’s medical history and reasons for wanting the treatment.
Furthermore if the consultant believes the process will not achieve your desired effect after the consultation then he will not recommend you for treatment. It’s all about managing patients expectations effectively no matter how large or small the treatment may be.
For further information on Botox or any other procedure please visit www.mcindoesurgical.co.uk or call our helpline on 0800 917 4922
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