Botox: All your questions answered

We chat to Dr Reza Mia, aesthetic doctor and general practitioner, about the ins and outs of botox.

What is botox and what benefits does it offer?
Botulinum toxin (botox), a well-known injectable, is used to temporarily relax certain muscles of the face to restore youthfulness. Botox is recommended for patients seeking preventative and non-invasive anti-ageing solutions to fine lines and wrinkles such as crow's feet and frown lines. Botox® has gained popularity over the years as a less expensive, less invasive (requiring no downtime and virtually pain free) and semi-permanent solution to anti-ageing, as opposed to more traditional surgical procedures.

When would you consider using botox?
If wrinkle creams no longer gives adequate results, it is then time to move onto aesthetic treatments such as botox and fillers.

What are the various issues you can treat with botox?
Lines caused by movement of the face, excessive sweating, tension headaches and jaw clenching.

Which botox procedures are the most popular?

• Crow's feet
• Forehead wrinkles
• Chin pebbling
• Frown lines (between eyebrows)
• Lip and peri-oral wrinkles
• Relief of tension headaches
• Relief of jaw clenching and grinding
• Fine lines on the face

How does it get administered and do you need any downtime afterwards?
An aesthetic cream is applied to the area to numb it before and minimal pain is involved, as a very small needle is used. There is no downtime needed after having botox done.

What does botox contain?
Botulinum toxi which blocks nerve impulse to muscles temporarily and the relaxation allows the skin time to recover.

How long does botox last for and how often would you need to get it done to maintain the effect?
Botox should last between three to six months. With smokers the time is halved. One can have more botox done when you start to see the effects wearing off to maintain a youthful appearance.

What is the price range for botox?
R60 per unit. Amounts required per area and per person differ, ranging from one to 20 units for any specific problem. 

Are there any side effects to using botox?
Allergic reactions are rare. Still rare but more common would be eyelid and forehead ptosis (droop), asymmetry and bulging of the fat pad below the eye if excessive weakness results from using botox under the eye. The more severe systemic side effects of botox have not been observed in cosmetic treatment settings due to the fairly low doses of botox used.

* Visit Dr Reza Mia’s website for more information: www.drrezamia.com. Contact: 011 646 4044.