Injectable cosmetics – Botox® and dermal fillers

The aesthetics industry is growing at a phenomenal rate – by approximately 15% every year, and it shows no signs of slowing. In the 80’s, the face lift was the cosmetic procedure of choice for the affluent and famous, but over the following years, less invasive and amazingly effective treatments have started to become more and more popular.

Sally Wagstaff specialises in superior, professional skin treatments to tackle skin concerns such as lines and wrinkles, rosacea, acne, sagging skin and general antiageing. Her treatments, until now, have included chemical peels, microneedling, and skin tightening treatments, as well as exceptional home skin care products from Alumier MD. However, there has always been an area of aesthetics that she has not practiced, that have been referred away to other practitioners (most recently the fabulous Michelle Worthington of MWAH Aesthetics!).

As of July, Sally now offers injectable cosmetics, for treatment of lines and wrinkles, and dermal fillers for cheeks, lips, nasolabial folds, marionette lines and more!

Botulinum toxin

Once used as a biological terrorist weapon, botulinum toxin, or ‘Botox®’, causes muscles to become paralysed. In war, this renders victims unable to move, or ultimately breathe and is highly potent (did you know that just 1g of crystalline toxin can kill one million people!!).

This muscle paralysis – or ultimately muscle relaxing – became of interest to the medical community, who initially used it in ophthalmology for strabismus (crossed eyes), and noticed that the wrinkles around the eyes and forehead became smoother and more relaxed!

And, voila, it became used as a hugely popular cosmetic treatment for lines and wrinkles.

The controlled dose of botulinum toxin is injected into very specific muscles in the forehead and around the eyes, in very very tiny doses, relaxing the muscles to smooth out wrinkles. If done well, there is no need to create a rabbit-in-headlights unnatural look!

What are the benefits of botox?

Botox – or botulinum toxin – gives really great results softening lines and wrinkles – and more importantly stops more being produced as the skin is not being constantly creased!

Can anything go wrong when injecting botox?

Generally speaking botox is a very safe treatment to have when done properly. Occasionally an eyelid droop can occur if a nearby muscle is affected by an injection, and dry eyes can be a side effect of botox. In the worst case scenario, botox wears off in around 3 months and any unwanted symptoms should resolve. For dry eyes, eye drops can be administered.

What are the benefits of dermal and lip fillers?

Rather than relaxing muscles, fillers are made from a substance called Hyaluronic Acid which is naturally made by the body. It is used to replace volume that is lost naturally with ageing. It can also be used to add symmetry to uneven features, such as uneven lips, and even reshaping of the nose during non-surgical rhinoplasty. Done well, these procedures create a safe, natural look, reducing deep lines around the mouth and nose, and lowering the visible age of the patient, aswell as helping with confidence.

Who can offer dermal and lip fillers and anti-wrinkle injectables?

The scary thing is – almost anyone can! Unfortunately, botox injections and dermal fillers fall into an unregulated black hole, meaning that anyone who can access training and a prescriber for botox, can inject anyone who is happy to let them. There is a growing movement to #makeinjectablesmedical – that is only letting those with a medical background administer them.

How should I choose an injector?

Firstly, check their medical credentials – only doctors, nurses and dentists, and some other AHPs should be administering injectables. If they are a beauty therapist, please politely decline and find somebody medical.

Next, ask for word of mouth recommendations. This won’t always answer all the questions, but someone may well have already done this research and has used someone well qualified and suitable for a while.

Next, check their online reviews. Look at their before and after pictures, and ask what they would do in the instance of adverse reactions, suspected arterial occlusion (the blocking of a facial artery with filler – this is rare but can happen, and it is vital that it is managed properly, and quickly), and side effects such as eyebrow droop etc.

Lastly – and I can’t say this loudly enough – DON’T SHOP ON PRICE AND DON’T CHOOSE SOMEONE BECAUSE THEY ARE OFFERING ‘BUY TWO AREAS GET ONE FREE’ OR BRING A FRIEND AND GET A DISCOUNT….etc etc…. this kind of unethical marketing damages what should be a professional and clinical environment. Training is clinical, and expensive. The right products are expensive, experience is essential, and if a treatment is being offered very cheaply I would be enormously suspicious and avoid like the plague. Shop on qualifications, results, recommendations, attention to detail, quality product and professionalism.