Botox®

“Now that you have helped me to see, I have far more wrinkles than I thought I had!”

After laser eye surgery we hear comments like this time and time again and many clients have asked to be referred to a clinic for BOTOX® treatment.

BOTOX® is currently used by personalEYES to treat various medical conditions and our Ophthalmologists and surgeons are qualified and experienced in its use. Due to popular demand personalEYES is now also offering BOTOX® treatment for cosmetic purposes, administered in our clinic in a safe, sterile environment.

personalEYES BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment is available to everyone, not only our laser eye surgery clients.

The beauty of a BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment is that it's a simple, ten minute, non-surgical process.

A few tiny injections, and within days there can be a noticeable improvement in the moderate to severe frown lines between the brows.

Treatment can last up to four months though results may vary for each person. With no recovery time you can even do it on your lunch break.

• Your doctor determines where to administer the injections by examining your ability to move certain muscles in your brow area. The location, size and use of the muscles that create a furrowed brow vary markedly for each person.
• Your doctor will administer several tiny injections of BOTOX® Cosmetic directly into the muscles that cause these moderate to severe frown lines between the brows
• No anaesthesia is required, although your doctor may choose to numb the area with a cold pack or anaesthetic cream prior to injecting. Discomfort is usually minimal and brief.
• You would expect to be in and out of the clinic without any downtime. You may see a marked improvement in the moderate to severe frown lines between your brows within days. Improvement may continue for as long as a month, and can last up to four months.

BOTOX® treatment cannot be performed on the same day as your laser eye surgery. At least a two week break between surgery and Cosmetic treatment would be recommended.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be a patient of personalEYES to have BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment at a personalEYES centre?

No, you do not have to be a past or present client of personalEYES to have BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment at personalEYES centre.

What exactly is BOTOX® Cosmetic?

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a purified protein produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. It is a nonsurgical, physician-administered treatment that can temporarily reduce moderate to severe frown lines between the brows in people 18 to 65 years of age. During treatment, very low doses of BOTOX® Cosmetic are administered via a few tiny injections directly into the muscles that cause those stubborn lines between the brows. The treatment is usually done in about ten minutes, and no recovery time is needed. Within days, you may see an improvement that can last up to four months. Results may vary.

How does BOTOX® Cosmetic work?

BOTOX® Cosmetic is injected directly into the muscles of those stubborn frown lines between your brows that form over time as a result of muscle activity. It works by blocking the transmission of nerve impulses to the injected muscles; this reduces the activity of the muscles that cause those persistent lines to form.

When will I see results from a BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment?

Within days, you may see a marked improvement in the moderate to severe frown lines between your brows. Lines continue to improve for up to a month, and results can last for up to four months. In clinical trials, nearly 90% of men and women rated the improvement in their appearance as moderate to better one month after treatment. Results may vary.

How long does BOTOX® Cosmetic last?

Results from treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic can last for up to four months. If you discontinue treatment, the frown lines between your brows gradually will look like they did before treatment.

Who should administer BOTOX® Cosmetic?

Any authorised healthcare professional can administer BOTOX® Cosmetic, but dermatologists, plastic surgeons, ophthalmologists, otolaryngologists (ear, nose, and throat doctors), or other physicians specialising in cosmetic procedures are generally more experienced. One of these physicians can help you decide if BOTOX® Cosmetic is right for you.

Is BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment available at all personalEYES clinics?

Currently BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment is available only at personalEYES Parramatta and Castle Hill. It will be available in the near future at personalEYES Penrith and Sydney CBD.

Is treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic painful?

Discomfort is usually minimal and brief. Prior to injecting, your physician may choose to numb the area with a cold pack or anesthetic cream. The entire procedure takes approximately ten minutes. Many people are in and out of the physician’s office without downtime following BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment.

Is there anything I need to tell my doctor?

Your doctor should know of all your medical conditions, including if you have a disease that affects your muscles and nerves (such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease - myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome). Tell your doctor about any and all prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

What are the possible side effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic?

BOTOX® Cosmetic can cause serious side effects. Your doctor will discuss all of the potential benefits and side effects with you so you are able to make an informed decision prior to proceeding with the procedure.

Side effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic include: dry mouth, discomfort or pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, neck pain, and eye problems: double vision, blurred vision, decreased eyesight, drooping eyelids, swelling of your eyelids, and dry eyes. Symptoms of an allergic reaction to BOTOX® Cosmetic may include: itching, rash, red itchy welts, wheezing, asthma symptoms, or dizziness or feeling faint.

Will I still be able to make facial expressions?

Although the results are visible, a treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic will not radically change your facial appearance or make you look as if you 'had work done'. The muscle activity that causes frown lines between the brows is simply reduced, so you can still frown or look surprised without the wrinkles and creases between your brows.

What will happen to the frown lines between my brows if I choose not to continue treatments?

If you do not continue treatments, the moderate to severe frown lines between your brows will gradually look like they did before treatment.

Do treatment results differ?

To get the best results, it's important to go to a doctor who is experienced in administering BOTOX® Cosmetic.

What is Botox?

Clinical use of BOTOX® is the result of more than 100 years of study into botulinum toxin type A. BOTOX® is one of the world's most versatile and widely-researched medicines. With more than 1,800 publications on botulinum toxin type A in scientific and medical journals, BOTOX® is considered by some as the penicillin of the 21 st Century.

BOTOX® is currently approved for 20 indications in approximately 75 countries, bettering the lives of patients suffering from such serious or debilitating conditions as cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, strabismus and severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis (excessive underarm sweating).

Millions of patients worldwide have been treated therapeutically with BOTOX® over the course of nearly 20 years, and Allergan is honoring its commitment to these patients through the provision of quality product, patient and physician education, and the continued pursuit of novel neurotoxin-based therapeutics. In the United States, BOTOX® is current being investigated for the treatment of other medical conditions, including chronic migraine, post-stroke spasticity, and overactive bladder.

BOTOX® is a purified protein that works by blocking overactive nerve impulses that trigger excessive muscle contractions or glandular activity. The effect is temporary and lasts from approximately one to six months, depending on the individual patient and indication. BOTOX® therapy should only be administered by a trained and qualified physician.

How it works

First, the doctor will determine where to administer the injections by examining your ability to move certain muscles in your brow area. The location, size, and use of the muscles that create a furrowed brow vary markedly among individuals.

Botox (Botulinum toxin type A) is then been injected with a very tiny needle. The injected Botox attaches itself to nerve endings. During unimpeded muscle function, the neurotransmitter acetylcholine is released from these nerve endings, causing muscle contractions. Botox blocks the release of acetylcholine, causing the muscle to become relaxed.

Normally no anaesthesia is required, although your doctor may choose to numb the area with a cold pack or anaesthetic cream prior to injecting. Discomfort is usually minimal and brief. Most patients compare the sensation to a pin prick.

In usual cases the Botox treatment lasts for about ten minutes, and no recovery time is needed. You may resume normal activity immediately. You may see a marked improvement in the moderate to severe frown lines between your brows within a matter of two to three days. Improvement may continue for as long as a month, and could last up to 6 months. However, results are known to vary from person to person depending on their medical history and lifestyle.

Botox is an effective and fast treatment for anyone who wishes to improve lines that are on their face. Using Botox, you are able to change the wrinkles that appear on your lips, neck, eyes, or forehead area. Botox Injections, even though effective, is not a substitute for other more permanent cosmetic surgeries.

Important Safety Information

BOTOX® may cause serious side effects that can be life threatening.

Call your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of these problems after treatment with BOTOX®:

• Problems swallowing, speaking, or breathing. These problems can happen hours to weeks after an injection of BOTOX® usually because the muscles that you use to breathe and swallow can become weak after the injection. Death can happen as a complication if you have severe problems with swallowing or breathing after treatment with BOTOX®.
• Swallowing problems may last for several months. People who already have swallowing or breathing problems before receiving BOTOX® have the highest risk of getting these problems.
• Spread of toxin effects. In some cases, the effect of botulinum toxin may affect areas of the body away from the injection site and cause symptoms of a serious condition called botulism. The symptoms of botulism include: loss of strength and muscle weakness all over the body, double vision, blurred vision and drooping eyelids, hoarseness or change or loss of voice (dysphonia), trouble saying words clearly (dysarthria), loss of bladder control, trouble breathing, trouble swallowing.

These symptoms can happen hours to weeks after you receive an injection of BOTOX®.

These problems could make it unsafe for you to drive a car or do other dangerous activities. See "What should I avoid while receiving BOTOX®" in Medication Guide.

There has not been a confirmed serious case of spread of toxin effect away from the injection site when BOTOX® has been used at the recommended dose to treat severe underarm sweating, blepharospasm, or strabismus, or when BOTOX® Cosmetic has been used at the recommended dose to treat frown lines.

Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you have: a disease that affects your muscles and nerves (such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis [ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease], myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome).

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins and herbal products.

BOTOX® can cause serious side effects. Other side effects of BOTOX® include: dry mouth, discomfort or pain at the injection site, tiredness, headache, neck pain, and eye problems: double vision, blurred vision, decreased eyesight, drooping eyelids, swelling of your eyelids, and dry eyes.

Symptoms of an allergic reaction to BOTOX® may include: itching, rash, red itchy welts, wheezing, asthma symptoms, or dizziness or feeling faint. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you are wheezing or have asthma symptoms, or if you become dizzy or faint.

These are not all the possible side effects of BOTOX®. Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away.

For additional information refer to Medication Guide. This Medication Guide summarises the most important information about BOTOX®.

• Overview
• Frequently Asked Questions
• What is Botox?
• How it works
• Safety Information