Skip to content

FAQS

Botox FAQ’s

What is Botox®?

Botox® is the registered trade name of botulinum toxin type A manufactured by Allergan. Some other clinics may use other botulinum toxins, but may refer to them as Botox. At Elite Aesthetics, we only use the genuine article.

How does Botox® treatment work?

Botox®, when injected into a muscle, temporarily relaxes the muscle by blocking nerve impulses. The muscle is temporarily unable to contract so that dynamic wrinkles are not formed. This gives the overlying facial skin a softer, smoother and more youthful appearance.

What does Botox® treatment involve?

Before

At Elite Aesthetics, all treatments follow a detailed pre-treatment consultation. Your consultation starts with a discussion with the doctor of the look you wish to achieve. Dr Lakhani will advise you which treatments will be most effective at helping you reach your goals. If you decide to proceed she will make a detailed recording of your medical history and conduct a careful examination of your face. This consultation may last 30-60 minutes.
During

After cleansing the skin, the Botox® injections are placed directly into the muscle areas which you have decided to have treated. The needle used is extremely fine and most clients experience only minimal discomfort, if at all. The entire Botox® treatment takes about 15 minutes. You will start to see the effects develop slowly over the following week resulting in the lines visibly decreasing.
After

Following the treatment there may be minimal redness. Bruising is uncommon. Most clients continue with their normal day without anybody noticing. It is important not to massage or rub the areas after treatment so we advise you not to have a facial or do vigorous exercise. We also recommend that you remain upright for 3-4 hours after your treatment.

Is Botox® treatment safe?

Botulinum Toxin as a muscle relaxant has an excellent safety record and a long record of use in medicine. It has been used successfully in adults and children in variety medical conditions over the last 30 years. It has been used cosmetically to treat facial wrinkles for over 15 years and has become one of the most popular and frequently used cosmetic treatments.

Who can have Botox®?

Botox® Treatment can be used for treating wrinkles in men and women, however men often need slightly higher doses than women.
It should not be used in

  • People with infection at the proposed injection site.
  • People who have previously had an allergic reaction to Botulinum toxin type A injections.
  • People with muscle problems or chronic diseases affecting the muscles, such as Myasthenia Gravis, Eaton Lambert syndrome.
  • Children under the age of 18 years.
  • Women who are pregnant or breast feeding.

It should be used cautiously in the following conditions:

  • People at risk of bleeding as there is an increased risk of bruising post procedure. These include people who have blood clotting disorders such as Haemophilia, those who are taking treatments with anticoagulant medicines such as Warfarin, Heparin, Aspirin and Anti-Inflammatory medicines. Certain herbal remedies such as Gingiko Bilboa, St John’s Wort and Vitamin E.
  • People with excessive weakness or wasting in the muscle to be injected, such as those patients with history of Stroke or Bell’s palsy.
  • People with chronic breathing problems.
Does the injection hurt?

Botox® injections are relatively painless as the injections are performed using a very fine needle. Patients therefore and do not require any anaesthesia. The full treatment takes about 10-15 minutes to perform and you are able to drive and go to work the same day.

How long do the effects last?

It can take about 4-14 days to see the full effects after the initial treatment. The cosmetic effects can last up to six months but typically range from three to four months. Eventually most people require re-treatment as the wrinkles reappear. However in some treated areas (such as frown wrinkles), the wrinkles may return less severe after repeated treatments as the unconscious muscle contraction habit is broken. We offer all our patients a free two week follow up appointment after their first treatment to assess the effect of treatment and administer any top up treatments if necessary.

Are there any side effects?

Most people find that the injections cause only mild local pain and tenderness. Immediately after the injection there may be mild swelling at the injection site which usually subsides within 48 hours. Slight bruising is also possible. Side effects of these treatments are extremely rare. Occasionally, the treatment may relax nearby muscle groups causing temporary drooping of the eyebrow or eyelids. This may last for a few weeks but will resolve with time. As with any medicine an allergic reaction may occur, this is however quite rare. Conversely there may be some unintended benefits in some people such as easing of tension type headaches as the muscles in the forehead relax.

How often can I have treatments?

When the effect of the Botox® injection wears off the wrinkles will always return to their pre treatment state. Treatments can be repeated to a minimum of three monthly intervals, but the effects may last longer for some individuals, especially if they have had previous treatments to the same area.

Will I still have expression in my face?

Botox® treatments are designed to smooth dynamic wrinkles in the forehead and around eyes; they do not affect your facial expression. Dr Lakhani is a firm believer in natural results. The final result can be tailored to each patientand can be discussed at the initial free consultation. A follow-up appointment is made 2 weeks after your initial treatment, at which time a top-up can be given if required.

What after-care advice should I follow?

  • Try to contract the treated muscle areas for 1-2 hours after treatment, by frowning and lifting eyebrows to allow the toxin to reach all of the treated muscle.
  • Remain upright for 3-4 hours after your treatment.
  • Avoid rubbing or touching the injected areas and avoid having facials and massage for 48 hours this is to ensure that the treatment remains at the site of injection.
  • Avoid vigorous exercise and alcohol for 48 hours.
  • If bruising develops the you can apply Arnica cream
  • Paracetamol can be taken for mild pain post procedure

Dermal Filler Information

What are dermal fillers?

Dermal fillers are a soft injectable gel used for facial aesthetic treatments, and are injected into the skin. Dermal fillers are based on Hyaluronic acid (HA) which is a substance that naturally exists in your body. They are designed to effectively reduce the appearance of unwanted wrinkles, contour and create volume, and to revitalise the skin. They are long lasting, but not permanent.

What is hyaluronic acid?

Hyaluronic acid is a sugar molecule that exists naturally in almost all living organisms. It binds water and can act as a lubricant and shock absorber in movable parts of the body such as joints. It is also important for the transport of nutrients and in regulating water balance in skin and maintains skin elasticity.

How do dermal fillers work?

By boosting the skin’s supply of hyaluronic acid, dermal fillers revitalise and add volume to the skin, instantly diminishing the appearance of lines and wrinkles, and giving a natural softer look. Dermal fillers are a soft injectable gel consisting of stabilized, non-animal hyaluronic acid. The gel is tissue-friendly and closely resembles the hyaluronic acid that exists naturally in the body. It is long-lasting but not permanent.

What are the benefits of dermal filler?

Dermal filler injections provide an easy way to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, smooth the skin and give a more youthful appearance. The result of a single treatment can be seen instantly and can last for around 6 to 9 months. Dermal filler injections can give a natural looking result that does not affect facial expression.  As your face changes over time, dermal fillers allow you to control you looks subtly as you age.

What Our Clients Say...

4.97/5 from 1229 reviews

Dr. Shirin is a fully-trained and highly-experienced aesthetic physician, who works diligently to ensure a 5 star quality service, and brings an honest and ethical approach to every one of our clients. With over 20 years of experience in the medical field, including several years as a GP and a sub-speciality in anaesthetics, Dr. Shirin is fascinated by the harmony between medicine and aesthetics, and with her expertise, Elite Aesthetics is able to offer effective, doctor-led treatments to vastly improve the lives of our clients.

To find out more about how we’ve put a smile on customers faces in the past, read our testimonials below for first-hand accounts of a variety of our treatments. You can also find out more about what we think at Elite on our blog, as well as reading more about what the press says about us. Our delighted clients hail from areas including Dartford, Gravesend, Bromley, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, and West Malling – as well as from further afield.

Had a consultation with Elite yesterday, I must say I was a bit nervous, but Dr Shirin was so friendly and helpful.
I was given lots of advice and was given treatment options that were within my budget.
A few weeks after the P Shot I've really started to see a difference and have gained my confidence back.

Thank You!

 

AZ

Elite is an outstanding professional clinic with high standard treatments. All the staff members are friendly and offer you honest opinions when it comes to products and treatments. This is a welcoming clinic that I can 100% recommend. Treatments are spoken through and explained in detail, also aftercare. I have been going nearly a year now and am happy with all the treatments I’ve had, wouldn't go anywhere else. The Bocox treatment started to work within a few days, which I was surprised about. So glad I went to Elite for treatment.

 

HV

Thank you Dr Shirin, the O Shot has really helped me with my Lichen Sclerosus. I'd heard about the treatment on the LS Facebook Groups and message a few people that had treatment with Dr Shirin. I was like many in the group who had run out of treatment options and using creams on a daily basis. I have to say a few months after treatment, I can see a real positive change and I'm hoping my LS will continue to improve. Dr Shirin did say that I might have to have a second treatment given how severe my case is.

 

 

RE

A great discovery in the neighbourhood ! There is no need to go up to London for a beauty treatment of any kind. You'll find a whole range of different treatments suiting all age groups and concerns. Welcoming, reassuring, friendly, professional, high tech. I shall be back for more. I love the results of the Thread Lift I had.

CS

Great service as always, skin is glowing very happy

AH

Very happy with the result of my recent visit. For sure will continue with Elite in future

AE
  • Accreditations
  • accreditations

We have extensive knowledge and experience in the medical and aesthetics industries, but we know that above all, the results matter! All of our treatments are vigorously tested in-house before we offer them to our clients to ensure they are safe, effective and will give you, our wonderful clients, the results you want. Your happiness, well-being and satisfaction are at the very core of everything we do here at Elite Aesthetics, and as a result we will never over-treat or carry out a procedure that Dr. Shirin, deems inappropriate or unsafe. Ethical treatment guides our practice, and we aim to become an industry leader in this respect. This means you can always feel confident that you are in safe hands when you choose Elite Aesthetics.

Our practice is led by our founder, Dr. Shirin Lakhani, who is an advocate for greater regulation in the aesthetics industry. Dr. Shirin and Elite Aesthetics believe greater regulation is vital to the development of aesthetics industry as a whole, and as such, our clinic’s philosophy is based on providing doctor-led care to the highest, medically approved standards. We adhere to stringent ethical and medical principles ensuring all the procedures we offer are safe and effective. Dr. Shirin is also fully registered with the GMC (reference number 4634863), and Elite Aesthetics is Save Face accredited, an endorsement recognised by the UK Government, The Department of Health, NHS England and the CQC (Care Quality Commission).

Elite Aesthetics has been awarded Thread Lift Certification by MINT Threads.

Aesthetics Clinic

Elite Aesthetics
4.9
Based on 338 reviews
powered by Google
A MA M

17:16 05 Jun 23
Hi, Alex here,Just had my Lichen treatment today with Dr Shirin,The whole team at elite are very friendly, comforting and understanding, and did everything they could to give me a wonderful and welcoming experience. They are all so kind, friendly and knowledgeable, world experts at what they do. I am lucky to have them near London. They are also super responsive on the phone and email, so I know they care about thier patients, and I'm very well taken care of, (as with other clinics I have been to, its often difficult to get them to respond to questions), but this clinic is the most responsive I have ever seen!This is a beautiful and wonderful place and I highly recommend it, and I will be recommending it to all my friends as well. They definitely deserve the super high reviews they are getting, so I'm happy to add another one! A Big thank you from me and my family for all you have done for us during this journey!

Margaret QuirkeMargaret Quirke

19:44 11 Apr 23
Great team, friendly and professional. Made me feel very comfortable. They explain everything in detail.very welcoming upon arrival too.I've been going now for a number f weeks and the attitude and cleanliness is consistent. The reception area is always spotless no matter the weather.The staff attitude is always friendly and they put me at great ease

Salima CharifSalima Charif

09:34 30 Mar 23
Good service, honesty and excellent customer service as always 👍

Valerie LambValerie Lamb

08:40 15 Mar 23
Yesterday I had a 'body sculpt' session, to help lymphatic drainage. I was zipped into a suit up to my waist. This massaged and lightly squeezed my feet, ankles, calves, thighs and abdomen. I was breathing oxygen rich air via nasal tubes. It was very relaxing and I slept really well last night. Thank you Elite Aesthetics.

Izzy ChaplinIzzy Chaplin

20:11 09 Mar 23
Today was the first time I visited Elite. The staff were all so friendly and accommodating. Dr. Shirin is so knowledgeable and really helped me understand all the concerns I had. I will definitely be returning. I highly recommend Elite to everyone, especially those concerned with the menopause !

js_loader

Take Your First Step...
Testimonials (Avg: 5 / 5) of 1229