What is Botox?
Botox is what is known as a dermatological filler treatment for fine lines and wrinkles. It is one of the most commonly used cosmetic skin treatments in the world and is the most widely used cosmetic treatment in the United States. It is derived from the clostridium botulunim toxin. It is potentially harmful to humans but the amounts used in the cosmetics industry are so minute as to be completely safe. Botox is used most commonly in the treatment of fine lines and wrinkles around the forehead, crow’s feet (around the eyes) and the frown lines between the eyebrows (glabella). Part of the reason why it is such a popular procedure is not just because it is very effective, but also because it is relatively affordable compared to other kinds of cosmetic surgery, although ideally the treatment should be repeated at least every six months for the full effects to be maintained.
What does the procedure involve?
Botox has medical uses, most notably for the treatment of excessive sweating, but it is principally associated with the cosmetic treatment of fine lines and wrinkles. It is injected in very small amounts into the particular area of the face in question. The botox then effectively paralyses the muscles under the surface of the skin, helping to relax the area and reduce the appearance of and smooth out the wrinkles. The paralysing of the muscles prevents them from contracting which has the effect of making the skin look smoother and more youthful. As mentioned earlier, whilst it is an effective treatment the effects are relatively short-lasting and ideally you should have the treatment at least every six months to maintain the effect.
Prices for Botox treatment
Prices for Botox treatment in the London area can depend on several factors including the location and reputation of the clinic you use, the extent of the wrinkles being treated and the number of areas being treated. Obviously, an established clinic in Harley Street will be at the top end of the scale of expense but usually prices tend to be lower in a city or large town because there is greater competition for business, which inevitably tends to push prices down. Most specialists recommend a course of around 3-5 injections to gain the maximum benefit. Injections can start from £190 and go up to around £250-£275 depending on the amount being used. Most clinics will offer discounts if you have more than one area treated at the same time. Often, more mature patients will opt to have the three main areas – forehead, crow’s feet and the glabella (between the eyebrows) treated at the same time and will be given a larger discount. If you need help finding the best deal you could try using a price comparison site as they make the whole process of comparing the prices from the various clinics around London much easier and save you time. A few good comparison sites are botox.cliniccompare.co.uk, plasticsurgeryguide.com and botoxforum.com.
Finding a Clinic in London
There are obviously many clinics and beauty salons in London where you can have botox treatment but it is important to make sure that you choose a clinic with a good reputation and properly qualified practitioners. In general, avoid high street salons offering botox injections at a reduced price because you can not be sure about the expertise of the people administering the injections. Administering botox is a specialised skill requiring training and several years experience so it is best to go to a clinic with a good reputation with properly qualified practitioners. If it goes wrong it can leave you looking worse than before so it’s worth taking the time to choose the right clinic and pay that little bit extra if necessary to make sure you get the best treatment. You can ask to check the qualifications of the practitioners you are using and you should also check that they are a member of one of the main regulatory bodies of the cosmetic surgery industry in the UK. Hopefully you now have a better idea of how to go about finding a reasonably priced botox practitioner in London.