Used safely and effectively for over ten years to treat many disorders, Botox (Botolinum Toxin) is now commonly used to smooth away frown lines and wrinkles with amazing results. It can also be used to create lift over the eye area and helps provide a youthful glow. Botox is a preventative treatment and it is best, but not imperative, to start before lines become too deeply entrenched. Tiny amounts of Botox are injected using a micro needle relaxing the ‘expression’ muscles so they do not contract. The treatment is usually completed in seconds. Pain is minimal, no sedation or local anaesthetic is required. You can resume normal activities immediately. Side effects are temporary and can occasionally include localised bruising, slight redness and itching of the skin and slight swelling. After treatment, the overlying skin remains smooth and unwrinkled, while the untreated facial muscles contract in a normal fashion, so facial expressions are minimally affected. It take 3–7 days to see an improvement and up to 2 weeks to see the overall effects. These effects are completely reversible and last up to 6 months at which time the effect will gradually fade. For optimal results, return before the effect wears off completely, enabling the refinement of treatment. The duration of benefits are increased over time so that you should require injections less frequently in the future. Most people require injections 3 times in the first year and then 2–3 times in the second.