FAQ’s

How Botox™ reduces your wrinkles

Did you know Botox™ is an abbreviation for “Botulism Toxin”?

In 1987, an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) extracted the toxin from a type of bacteria called Botulism, and successfully used it to treat a medical condition called Blepherospasm (spasm of the muscles around the eye).

The toxin blocks the message being sent from the brain to the muscle, so the muscle doesn’t know it’s meant to be contracting – so it stays relaxed.

Doctors quickly realised that if the same toxin was injected into the muscles on the face which cause wrinkles, your wrinkles could be treated and prevented – and so Botox™ treatment in cosmetics was born.

Number One Aesthetics

Are there alternatives to Juvederm?

Yes, there are many other brands of Dermal Filler available on market. At Number One Aesthetics Dr Alan Sweeney only uses Juvederm as it is widely regarded as being the premium Dermal Filler.

Cheaper fillers that “wear out” more quickly and do not give the same results.

What does my injectable wrinkle treatment involve?

Every patient has an in-depth complimentary consultation with Dr Alan to fully discuss their treatment, any concerns and what results could be achieved. He will give you an honest opinion on what can (or cannot) be achieved through a combination of anti-wrinkle injections and/or Dermal Filler treatments.

Together, you will come to an agreement on the most appropriate treatment option to meet your needs, then he will develop a bespoke treatment plan with follow-up appointments (if needed).

Dr Alan will ask you to perform a series of facial expressions so he can accurately assess the anatomy of your facial muscles and pin-point the best sites for injections. After marking these sites with a white pencil he will inject you.

The injections feel like a sting (often described as being bitten by an insect) and this mild discomfort is well tolerated by the vast majority of patients. However, if you are super-sensitive or super-anxious, Dr Alan will apply a pre-treatment local anaesthetic cream. Just ask.

What can anti-wrinkle injections treat?

Anti-wrinkle treatment can be injected into the muscles of the face and neck to prevent and treat fine wrinkles and creases, as well as into the armpits to treat excessive sweating.

Eleven Lines
Horizontal Frown
Crow’s Feet
Smoker’s Lines
Necklace Lines and Décolletage
Excessive Sweating

How soon will I notice a difference?

After 3-5 days you will probably notice it becomes more difficult to move the muscles that have been injected.

Over the following week the effect should increase, until it peaks at approximately Day 14. For your peace of mind, and optimum results, Dr Alan usually books a routine follow-up appointment at this point to assess your response and provide you with a “top-up” if required (free of charge).

How long will my anti-wrinkle injections last for?<br />

If this is your first anti-wrinkle injection treatment then you will usually feel the effect start to wear off after 3-4 months.

However, after approximately 12 months of continuous use, your body’s responses change and the results begin to last longer and longer. In Dr Alan’s experience, it is not uncommon for longer term users to need only two treatments per year.

Can Men have anti-wrinkle Injections?

Absolutely. Although treatment with anti-wrinkle injections has traditionally been a “female thing to do”, more and more men are experiencing the benefits.

Male creases form in exactly the same way so the treatment is also exactly the same. The only difference is that men tend to have thicker, bigger muscles which can require slightly higher doses to achieve an optimal result. An additional cost may occur if this is the case, but this will be discussed and agreed with you before going ahead with any treatments.

What happens if I stop having anti-wrinkle Injections?

You can decide to stop at any time and there will be no negative health effects.

Any creases you had before starting the treatment will return within a few months of the anti-wrinkle treatment wearing off.

Will anti-wrinkle injections work for me?<br />

Botulism toxin is effective on the vast majority of patients, with clinical studies confirming 90% of patients report a visible improvement in their lines and wrinkles.

Will anti-wrinkle injections remove all my wrinkles?

No, not necessarily advises Dr Alan. Fine, shallow wrinkles caused by expression are the ones best treated. These wrinkles are often completely eradicated following 2-3 courses.

If your creases are deep and well established, treatment will give them a “rest” and their depth often lessens significantly following 2-3 courses.

Many patients are more than happy with this improvement. If you are looking for a flawless appearance, additional dermal filler treatment may be required to achieve your optimal result.

Each case needs to be assessed individually and Dr Alan will do this at your initial complimentary consultation to ensure he achieves the right result for you.

How old do I have to be for anti-wrinkle injections?

Number One Aesthetics insist that all patients must be aged 18 or over to be considered for any aesthetic or cosmetic treatments.

It is increasing popular for patients to request injections in their 20’s, before any creases even appear, as a preventative treatment. For this reason, please do not be offended if you are asked for proof of age, and bring a UK driving licence or valid passport with you to your consultation please.

Anti-wrinkle treatment after care.

At your consultation you’ll be given a detailed information sheet containing all the “do’s and don’ts” to be aware of.

This guidance from Dr Alan is both for your personal wellbeing and to maximise your results.

Here are his recommendations:

Do not touch any of the treatment areas for the next 6 hours, this is to make sure the treatment stays where it needs to be.
Stay upright for the next 6 hours. Again, this is to keep the treatment in the right place.
Raise your eyebrows, frown and smile as much as possible for the next 6 hours. It might make you look like you’ve gone a bit crazy, but treatment “takes hold” better in muscles that are active.
Avoid alcohol, exercise and heat for the next 48 hours. The dilated blood vessels and sweating can “flush” the treatment out of the skin.
Do not have any more anti-wrinkle treatment for at least 3 months. If you do, it can actually make future treatments less effective.
If for whatever reason you choose to visit a different doctor next time, please make sure you contact us and ask for your records so that your new doctor knows what products and procedures you have already had.

Are injectable wrinkle treatments safe?

Anti-wrinkle injections have been used extensively in the NHS for 30 years to treat medical conditions. Countless studies confirm it is one of the safest cosmetic treatments available.

Side-effects are minor, and include bleeding, swelling and some mild bruising where the needles have pierced the skin. To reduce these, we recommend you avoid aspirin, anti-inflammatories and vitamin E for 48 hours before your cosmetic procedure, and alcohol, exercise and heat for 24 hours after your anti-wrinkle treatment.

We do not perform anti-wrinkle treatment on anybody who is pregnant, breast feeding or with any medical condition affecting the peripheral nervous system (Motor Neurone Disease, Myaesthenia Gravis, Lambert-Eaton Syndrome).

What is Dermal Filler?

Dermal Filler is a liquid which is injected into the skin of wrinkles to instantly plump and eradicate them. It’s particularly useful for correcting deep, permanent wrinkles and folds that anti-wrinkle injections hasn’t been able to fully treat.

The liquid injected is Hyaluronic Acid. It is Hyaluronic Acid which naturally supports and gives volume to the skin when we are younger. As we move into our 30’s, the natural Hyaluronic Acid present in the skin starts to break down (especially if we’ve had a lot of sun exposure) and wrinkles start to form.

By replacing this natural Hyaluronic Acid, we can turn back time and return the skin to its more youthful look.

Is Dermal filler safe?

Dermal Fillers are incredibly safe explains Dr Alan Sweeney. Today Dermal Fillers are available which are genetically identical to human Hyaluronic Acid which eliminates any allergic reactions.

The very first Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Filler available was Juvederm. Being the first on the market, it has been used all over the world for the past decade, and no other product has had more attention and research. It is widely accepted that Juvederm is the superior Dermal Filler on the market for both results and safety which is why it is the only Dermal Filler we use at ADS Medical Aesthetics.

What does my Dermal Filler treatment involve?

Every patient has an in-depth complimentary consultation with Dr Alan to fully discuss their treatment, any concerns and what results could be achieved. He will give you an honest opinion on what can (or cannot) be achieved through a combination of Dermal Filler treatments and/or anti-wrinkle injections.

Together, you will come to an agreement on the most appropriate treatment option to meet your needs, then he will develop a bespoke treatment plan with follow-up appointments (if needed).

If we decide that Dermal Filler treatment would be an appropriate step forward for you, treatment can be carried out immediately.

Injections of Dermal Filler can cause minor discomfort, especially when injected into the sensitive skin of the lips for lip enhancements, so a local anaesthetic cream is applied before all Dermal Filler treatments to keep any discomfort to an absolute minimum.

What areas does Dermal Filler treat?

Dermal Filler injections improve loss of volume, which is typically anywhere that creases, folds or wrinkles have developed.

Juvederm Dermal Filler is especially useful for:

The creases between the nose and mouth (nasolabial lines).
A down-turned mouth and the lines that develop downwards from the corner of the mouth (marionette lines).
Loss of volume to areas of the face due to age including cheek enhancements.
Lip enhancement.
The neck, décolletage (cleavage area) and backs of the hands.
Deeper, more established ones smoker’s lines that cannot be completely eradicated with anti-wrinkle treatments.
A down turned mouth.

How long does my Dermal Filler treatment last for?

The results typically last 6-9 months. If the area containing the Dermal Filler experiences a lot of friction, rubbing and movement then it will wear out faster than an area that doesn’t. A classic example, is lip augmentation (increased volume to the lips). We tend to find that patients who do a lot of kissing, need their lips topping up earlier than those who do not.

How long does Dermal Filler take to start working?

The results are instant. Once the filler is injected into your skin it will immediately plump the skin up and the results can be seen straight away (unlike anti-wrinkle injections, which take up to 14 days to reach maximum effect). You can see the transformation occurring in the mirror as it happens.

How long does my Dermal Filler treatment last for?

Can men have dermal filler?

Absolutely says Dr Alan. We are seeing an increasing number of men at our clinic.

Male creases form in exactly the same way so the non-surgical treatment is also exactly the same. If anything, male creases tend to be deeper and more pronounced, because the muscles that form them are usually bigger and thicker. Dermal Filler treatment in men often produces a very impressive result.

How old do I have to be for Dermal Filler?

Number One Aesthetics insist that all patients must be aged 18 or over to be considered for any aesthetic or cosmetic treatments.

It is becoming increasing popular for patients to request filler in their teens, usually for their lips. For this reason, please do not be offended if you are asked for proof of age, and please bring a UK driving licence or valid passport with you to your consultation.

What happens if I stop using Dermal Filler?

You can stop using Dermal Filler at any time without any negative health effects.

Any creases that were present before starting treatment will return within a few months of the filler wearing off. Many patients return on 1-2 times per year for a top up.

Will dermal filler work for me?

Yes, Dermal Filler will work on everybody. During your initial complimentary consultation with Dr Alan he will discuss what is possible to achieve and advise you on the best treatment, or combination of treatments, for you.

Will dermal filler get rid of all my wrinkles?

Dermal Filler is the best non-surgical tool available. In the right hands, excellent results can be achieved, but as with all medical treatments there are no 100% guarantees. Even if creases are not completely eradicated, they will be significantly reduced.

Dermal filler treatment aftercare.

At your consultation you’ll be given a detailed information sheet containing all the post treatment “do’s and don’ts” to be aware of.

This guidance from Dr Alan is both for your personal wellbeing and to maximise your results.

Here are his recommendations:

Even though there may be some slight itchiness and swelling at the sites of injection, do not touch any of the treatment areas for the next 6 hours. This is to make sure the filler stays where it needs to be.
Stay upright for the next 6 hours. Again, this is to keep the Dermal Filler in the right place.
Avoid alcohol, exercise and heat for the next 48 hours. The dilated blood vessels and sweating can “flush” the filler out.
You can have the procedure repeated as many times as you like. Lip treatments typically last 6 months and skin treatments 6-9 months.
If for whatever reason you choose to visit a different practitioner next time, please make sure you contact us and ask for your records so that your new practitioner knows what products and procedures you have already had.