At the mere age of 26 and 2/3 I';m aware I'm not the average Botox-seeker. However I have started to notice fine lines creeping across my forehead, in the same way dew decorates a window pane- subtle, but still there. Many people opt to use Botox as a preventive method, as well as using it for line removal, so I headed down to the Courthouse Clinic for a in depth consultation with Dr Andre von Backstrom.
I was concerned the the quality of my skin would make me an unsuitable candidate, but he assured me that most medications make no difference to the treatment. 'We're using a neuro muscular blocker beneath the surface of the skin', he told me, which would be unaffected by medications for acne- even the super-strong Roaccutanne.
We spent around 40 minutes talking through my fears and questions regarding the treatment, and I left feeling I was a lot more knowledgeable on the topic. The clinic is licensed to treat clients 18 years and up, though Dr Andre said he'd never treat someone that young, as there would be no benefit to them, in fact he often has to turn people away.
We discussed the areas of the face that could be treated. He said that as a rule of thumb, 'Botox is best for the upper face, and fillers are best for the lower face'. Areas that can be treated are the crows feet, the glabela (the bit between the eyebrows) and the forehead
There are around 3-4 injections per area depending on the doctors judgement and they're done using a 30 gauge needle, one of the ultra thin ones that diabetics often use. Most clients don't need a numbing cream as it feels like light pinpricks, but there's a numbing agent called Emla on offer for those who are extremely sensitive (I'd be one of them!).
He told me that you'd see no immediate effect straight after the treatment apart from a slight redness where the needles went in, and possible light bruising in the area. You need to wait around 2-7 days for it to take full effect, after which you should notice a reduction in lines and a generally more relaxed face after 7 days. The clinic has a follow up appointment 14 days after treatment to see how the skin has reacted and if any areas need to be topped up. Immediately after treatment you're encouraged to perform strange face exercises like wrinkling your forehead and squinting to allow the Botulinum Toxin to work its way into the muscles.
I was concerned about the side effects of the treatment- would I get that glazed Dannii Minogue expressionless look? Dr Andre reassured me that was not the case, and that people who use Botox to look like that, actually CHOOSE to look that way. 'Europeans like a more natural look', he confided. 'They like to look like they take care of themselves, but haven't had treatment, whilst a lot of Americans demand the full works, and immovable forehead.'
Once you've had the treatment, the muscles are now unable to contract for around 12-16 weeks. This will restrict you from making movements like frowning and scrunching up your forehead, but has the positive effect of making the skin look younger and less lined. Due to the relaxed nature of the muscles, you could also appear to have a slightly larger forehead, and because the muscles aren't contracted, you can be prone to looking slightly shiny (yes Dannii Minogue, you know what I mean).
Botox isn't just useful for relaxing out frown lines as it can also be used to combat excess sweating by injecting it into the armpits, and has been used for around 15 years. An interesting effect that has been noted by Botox users is a serious reduction in the occurrence and severity of migraines. A report published in 2000 notes that those with frequent Botox injections had a reduced likelihood of getting migraines. This is most likely due to the muscle relaxant effect of the drug, which would prevent the forehead muscles from contracting, which can be a trigger for migraine users.
The doc examined me and said that whilst I didn't need the treatment, he could see some fine lines when I frown and raised my eyebrows, and he'd be happy to address them. The lack of any real static lines meant that I could quite easily wait a few years, but buoyed by the thought of looking younger and (hopefully) reducing my headaches I decided to book in for a session.
I'll report back- with pictures-once I've experienced it.
A session costs approx £200 at The Courthouse Clinic, and a consultation is completely free. 30b Wimpole Street, London W1G 8YB, 0845 555 50 50
