'Botox' Category Archives

Botox in Rayleigh, Essex

Botox treatment has been available at our clinic in Rayleigh for almost twenty years now.

Botox is a brand name of a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. There are other brand names for botulinum, such as Bocouture and Azzalure. In large amounts, this toxin can cause botulism, which you probably associate with foodpoisoning. Despite the fact that one of the most serious complications of botulism is paralysis, scientists have discovered a way to use it as an advantage in modern day medicine. Small, diluted amounts can be directly injected into specific muscles causing controlled weakening of the muscles. Botox is often used by ophthalmologists in the treatment of squints and tics. It can also be used in the treatment of urinary incontinence.

How Does Botox Work?

Botox blocks signals from the nerves to the muscles. The injected muscle can no longer contract, which causes the wrinkles to relax and soften.

It is most often used on forehead lines, crow’s feet (lines around the eye) and frown lines. Wrinkles caused by sun damage and gravity will not respond to Botox.

How Is a Botox Procedure Performed?

At Elan Medical Skin Clinic in Rayleigh, Essex, all new patients receive a thorough consultation and medical assessment prior to treatment. The consultation process includes a general assessment of your needs and a discussion about the range of treatment options available, both at Elan Medical Skin Clinic and those available elsewhere, including no treatment at all.

We will work with you and are here to help you make the right decision. We will advise you of potential outcomes, including the side effects and all known risks associated with each treatment. Most consultations last 30 minutes and you will leave feeling fully informed and assessed. This initial consultation is your first step to resolving something about your body that you are unhappy about and our hope is that when two committed parties work together, desired results are achieved.

Getting Botox takes only a few minutes and no anesthesia is required. The medicine is injected with a fine needle into specific muscles with only minor discomfort. It generally takes three to seven days to take full effect and it is best to avoid alcohol at least one week prior to treatment.  Aspirin and anti-inflammatory medications should be stopped two weeks before treatment as well in order to reduce bruising.

What happens next?

If you would like to ask our Medical Director & Nurse Consultant, Sue Ibrahim a message, by all means, do. We provide a responsive service that aims to set your mind at ease and ensure you are fully informed before booking your consultation.

Click here to read what our patients are currently saying about Elan Medical Skin Clinic

 

Neck Rejuvenation with Profhilo

If you would like are interested in neck rejuvenation, Profhilo may be the answer for you!

When Profhilo is injected into the neck and jowl area of the skin, we can create a durable lift and tightening of the skin over the next few weeks. After just two-three sessions there is a further gradual tightening of the skin with restored firmness.

Profhilo is a revolutionary new concept in injectable skin treatments as it is not a skin filler.

“When is filler not a filler? When it’s Profhilo, one of the new breed of beneath-the-skin moisturising treatments, which has to be one of the quickest and most effective cosmetic fixes I have ever tried” Alice Hart-Davis in  The Telegraph

Neck Rejuvenation at Elan Medical Skin Clinic in Essex

In some cases, we combine Profhilo with Botox in the neck and jowl area to further improve the contours of the jaw and the signs of ageing in the neck.

For some patients skin tightening treatments would be recommended for neck skin laxity in conjunction with, or instead of Profhilo.

At Elan Medical Skin Clinic in Essex, our award-winning nurse consultant, Sue Ibrahim, has almost 20 years’ experience in cosmetic dermatology and aesthetic medicine and was runner-up in the National Safety in Beauty Awards 2016. Sue Ibrahim has also been nominated and is in the finals of the Aesthetic Nurse of The Year category 2018.

All new patients receive a full consultation and medical assessment before their neck rejuvenation treatment. Your cosmetic consultation includes a general assessment of your needs and a discussion about the range of treatment options available, both at Elan Medical Skin Clinic and those available elsewhere.

We will work with you and are here to help you make the right decision.

Click here to read what our patients are currently saying about Elan Medical Skin Clinic

Give Elan Medical Skin Clinic a call on 01268 770660 today to book your Aesthetic Consultation with our experienced Nurse Practitioner.

Ageing Skin, Turning Back The Clock

Ageing skin is one of the most common concerns that we see at Elan Medical Skin Clinic. If all those expensive serums and cosmetic creams did what they claim to do then why do the women that use these products still complain that their skin is dry, dull, blotchy and wrinkled?

Let’s understand what causes ageing skin

Many things cause our skin to age. Some things we cannot do anything about; others we can influence. One thing that we cannot change is the natural ageing process. It plays a key role. With time, we all get visible lines on our face. It is natural for our face to lose some of its youthful fullness. We notice our skin becoming thinner and drier. Our genes largely control when these changes occur. The medical term for this type of ageing is “intrinsic ageing.”

Reverse the signs of ageing

Let’s look good for our age

We can influence another type of ageing that affects our skin. Our environment and lifestyle choices can cause our skin to age prematurely. The medical term for this type of ageing is “extrinsic ageing.”

  • The sun – UVA and UVB rays are present 365 days per year. USA rays can penetrate through four inches of glass. So think about this when you are sitting next to a window in the office or driving in your car.
  • Smoking –  I know, we are all told how smoking is bad for your health but smoking greatly speeds up how quickly skin ages. It causes wrinkles and a dull, sallow complexion. Why, because the toxins in cigarette smoke replace the oxygen content of your blood.
  • Alcohol – Alcohol is rough on the skin. It dehydrates the skin, and in time, damages the skin. This can make us look older. So drink alcohol in moderation and for every alcoholic drink, drink two glasses of water. This will help to re-hydrate you.
  • Unhealthy diet – Findings from a few studies suggest that eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables may help prevent damage that leads to premature skin ageing. Findings from research studies also suggest that a diet containing lots of sugar or other refined carbohydrates can accelerate ageing.
  • Lack of exercise – Findings from a few studies suggest that moderate exercise can improve circulation and boost the immune system. This, in turn, may give the skin a more-youthful appearance.
  • Over Moisturising – Believe it or not, over moisturising the skin will send your skin cells to sleep. When your skin is slightly dry, your skin cells react by producing more collagen. If you over moisturise the skin, you will be inhibiting your own collagen production. Use a sunscreen in the morning instead! Mind you, it needs to be a UVB and UVA Sunscreen of at least factor 30 for it to really protect your skin.
  • Skin Scrubs –  Scrubbing your skin clean can irritate your skin. Irritating your skin accelerates skin ageing process. Gentle washing helps to remove pollution, makeup, and other substances without irritating your skin. Some anti-ageing products prescribed by a dermatologist may burn or sting. When using a prescription anti-ageing product, this can be okay.

Even people who already have signs of premature skin ageing can benefit from making lifestyle changes. By protecting your skin from the sun, you give it a chance to repair some of the damage. Smokers who stop often notice that their skin looks healthier. By taking some preventive actions, we can slow the effects that this type of ageing has on our skin.

There is so much conflicting advice out there

If signs of ageing skin bother you, you may ask a beauty therapist for advice. However, this may result in you spending a lot of money on treatments and cosmetic creams that make no difference to your skin at all.  Why not consult a dermatologist instead? Yes, you will have to pay for a consultation, but you may end up spending a lot less money in the long run. Why? Because prescription skincare contains the right amount of active ingredients that are designed to penetrate deeper into the skin. New treatments and less-invasive procedures for smoothing wrinkles, tightening skin, and improving one’s complexion are giving many people younger-looking skin.

This woman was treated with Restylane skin fillers by Sue Ibrahim. Photos taken 3 weeks apart

Treated by Sue Ibrahim, these photographs were taken four weeks apart.

If you are worried about the effects the ageing process is having on your skin, then why not book in to see Sue Ibrahim. With over thirty years working within the medical and cosmetic dermatology sector, Sue has helped thousands of women and men improve the texture and appearance of their skin. Her professional but friendly approach is well known throughout the industry. Sue will never sell you any treatment that you do not need. As a Nurse Consultant in Dermatology she has won a number of industry awards and constantly receives a string of positive reviews about the treatment and service she provides.

Book your consultation today!

 

Botox, what is it and is it safe for me?

What are BOTOX ® injections?

BOTOX ® is the brand name of a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. In large amounts, this toxin can cause a form of muscle paralysis known as botulism, which is usually associated with food poisoning. Even though one of the most serious complications of botulism is paralysis, scientists have discovered a way to use it to human advantage. Small, diluted (weakened) amounts can be directly injected into specific muscles, causing controlled relaxation of the muscles.

Frown lines? What frown lines?

The FDA approved such usage in the late 1980s when it was discovered that BOTOX® could stop ailments such as blepharospasm (uncontrolled blinking) and strabismus (lazy eye). Cosmetic doctors and cosmetic nurses have been using BOTOX® for years to successfully treat wrinkles and facial creases. BOTOX ® is approved for treatment of frown lines on the forehead, crow’s feet (lines around the eye), and axillary hyperhidrosis (increased sweating of the armpits). Within the past few years, new products that have similar preparations have been introduced into the UK market and have been well-received by patients.

We will refer to the toxin as BOTOX® from here on out, but please know that this includes all of the formulations that we use at Elan Medical Skin Clinic in Essex :

How does BOTOX ® work?

BOTOX ® blocks the signal from the nerve to the muscles. The injected muscle can no longer contract (tighten) as forcefully, which causes the wrinkles to relax and soften.

BOTOX ® can be used on the forehead lines, frown lines, crow’s feet, bunny lines (lines in the nose), chin (for dimpling), skin bands on the neck, and around the mouth (for smoker’s lines and down-turned corners of the mouth). Wrinkles caused by sun damage and gravity often will not respond to BOTOX®. It is important to re-emphasise that BOTOX® is NOT a facial filler (that is, it does not fill existing wrinkles) – it merely relaxes the muscles that are creating those wrinkles.