Botox & Dysport Injections
What ARE Anti-wrinkle injections?
Anti-wrinkle injections, such as Botulinum Toxin injections, are non-surgical treatments designed to smooth fine lines and wrinkles. These treatments use well-known brands like Botox Cosmetic and Dysport, which are injectable neuromodulators, that temporarily relax facial muscles. This relaxation prevents repetitive muscle movements that contribute to wrinkles, leaving your skin looking rejuvenated and youthful.
At Natural Aesthetics, we specialise in advanced skincare and aesthetic medicine, and our expert team is here to provide safe, effective, and tailored treatments for wrinkles to help you look and feel your best.
How Do Anti-Wrinkle Injections Work?
When administered by experienced practitioners, anti-wrinkle injections target specific facial muscles that contribute to the formation of wrinkles. Over time, repeated muscle contractions from expressions like smiling, frowning, or squinting cause dynamic wrinkles to form on the skin’s surface. Botox treatment and Dysport treatment both use botulinum toxin to block nerve signals to these muscles, reducing their activity. This process minimises the appearance of dynamic wrinkles, such as frown lines, crow’s feet, and forehead lines.
The treatment is quick, virtually painless, and requires no downtime, making it an ideal choice for those seeking effective results with minimal disruption to their daily lives. Results become noticeable within a few days and reach their peak effect in about two weeks, leaving you with a refreshed and youthful appearance.
What to expect
Botox® Cosmetic and Dysport® work by targeting specific muscle groups, not the wrinkles themselves. They block nerve transmissions that cause facial muscles to contract. This results in relaxed muscles and smoother skin. You’ll start seeing results within 3-10 days after treatment. The effects generally last for around 3 to 4 months before the muscles regain their movement, and the procedure needs to be repeated.
Botox vs Dysport: What’s the Difference?
Both Botox and Dysport injections are FDA-approved neuromodulators that achieve similar results. However, there are subtle differences between the two:
- Molecular Structure: Dysport has smaller molecules, allowing it to diffuse more widely. This makes it ideal for larger areas like the forehead.
- Onset of Results: Dysport tends to show results slightly faster, while Botox may take a few extra days to take full effect.
- Unit Measurement: The dosing units for Dysport and Botox are not interchangeable, so it’s essential to have a skilled practitioner who understands these differences.
At Natural Aesthetics, our team will recommend the best option based on your unique needs and aesthetic goals.
Before Treatment
7 Days before treatment:
- Inform the practice if you have a history of cold sores, chronic medical conditions, or are taking chronic medication.
3 Days before treatment:
- Avoid using topical products such as Tretinoin, Retinol, or Retinoids.
- Refrain from waxing, bleaching, or plucking the area to be treated.
- Refrain from using over-the-counter blood-thinning medications such as anti-inflammatories (e.g., Ibuprofen, Mypaid), Aspirin, Vitamin E, Ginkgo Biloba, St. John’s Wort, and Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
1 Day before treatment:
- Avoid consuming alcohol 24 hours before and after the treatment.
Aftercare instructions
Immediately after: You may experience mild tenderness, redness and swelling at the injection sites, which are normal and will resolve quickly. While rare, bruising may occur, which can be covered with concealer.
Remain Upright: Maintain an upright position for 4 hours following the treatment.
Avoid Pressure & Touching: For the first 3 days, do not exert excessive pressure on the treated areas, especially while washing your face or applying skincare or makeup. Also, avoid touching the treated areas. During this time, it’s also important to avoid going for treatments such as massages, where you are lying face down, applying pressure to the treated area.
Postpone Exercise: Avoid engaging in exercise for 24 hours after your treatment. Physical activity can increase swelling and redness, hindering the healing process.
Avoid Sun Exposure: Your skin will be more sensitive to the sun following the treatment, so it’s best to avoid sun exposure for at least 3-days after your treatment. As always, your SPF should be applied on a daily basis, and reapplied every 4 hours when indoors, and every 2 hours when outdoors. Usea broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher (ideally 50+).
Delay Hair Removal & Skin Treatments: Wait for at least 2 weeks before resuming any form of hair removal, including waxing, threading, laser, or IPL, as well as any skin treatments.
Makeup: You may apply makeup the day following your treatment. Opt for gentle, non-comedogenic products to avoid clogging pores and causing irritation.
Treatment Overview
Consultation: The treatment begins with a thorough consultation where our medical doctor assesses your skin and discusses your aesthetic goals and medical history. This step is crucial to ensure that you are a good candidate for the procedure and to tailor the treatment to your specific needs.
Preparation: The doctor will clean and mark the targeted areas to ensure precise injection points.
Injection: Using a very fine needle, small amounts of Botox are injected directly into the muscles beneath the wrinkles. The number of injections will depend on the size and severity of the area being treated. Common areas include the forehead, crow’s feet around the eyes, and frown lines between the eyebrows.
Our Clinics
Natural Aesthetics is a medical aesthetics and results-driven skincare practice, with clinics located in Green Point, Tyger Valley, and Somerset West. Guided by our team of medical doctors and skincare professionals, we provide effective solutions for skin improvement and aesthetic enhancement.
Anti-Wrinkle Injections Costs
We charge R100 per unit of Botox. Our doctors will determine the amount of units required, with the focus being on achieving best possible results, executed safely and in a comfortable manner, and leveraging the expertise of our medical doctors.
Forehead lines | R1,600 – R2,000 |
Crow's feet | R1,600 – R2,400 |
Frown lines | R2,000 – 3,000 |
Frown lines & Brow lift | R2,500 – R3,500 |
Bunny lines / Nose Wrinkles | R1,000 |
Gummy Smile | R1,000 |
Upper Lip Barcode Lines | R1,000 |
Mouth Corners (DAO) | R1,000 |
Chin dimpling | R1,000 |
Neck Lines / Platysma Bands | R2,000 – R3,000 |
Underarm Hyperhidrosis | R10,000 |
Botox for Bruxism/TMJ | R2,000 – R4,000 |
EXPLORE BY TREATMENT AREA
Treat horizontal lines and wrinkles across the forehead.
A Botox brow lift involves injecting Botox into specific points around the eyebrows to relax the muscles that pull the brow downward, resulting in a subtle lift of the eyebrows.
Treat the glabella muscles, or frown wrinkles, which are vertical lines that form between the eyebrows.
Crow's feet are the fine lines and wrinkles that form around the outer corners of the eyes, often caused by repetitive facial expressions like smiling or squinting.
Bunny lines are the wrinkles that appear on either side of the nose when you scrunch it up, and can be effectively reduced with Botox.
A gummy smile occurs when excessive gum tissue is exposed when smiling, and can be improved with Botox injections to relax the muscles of the upper lip, allowing it to cover more of the gums for a more balanced smile.
We treat the DAO (depressor anguli oris) muscles with Botox, which are responsible for pulling the corners of the mouth downward, resulting in the onset of marionette lines.
Pebbled chin, also known as chin dimpling, is a condition where the chin appears bumpy or dimpled due to overactive mentalis muscles, and can be effectively smoothed with Botox.
Platysmal bands are the vertical cords that become prominent on the neck due to the contraction of the platysma muscle, and can be softened with Botox, resulting in a smoother and more youthful neck appearance.
Before & after
Meet our doctors
Our team of doctors—Dr. Wade Merchant, Dr. Aimee Gericke, and Dr. Melinda Dommisse—are medical doctors with a passion for aesthetic and anti-ageing medicine. They are internationally trained and highly skilled in delivering a range of non-surgical aesthetic treatments.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Here are a few of the most common questions and answers regarding the use of anti-wrinkle injections. If you have other questions or concerns about treatment, please consult with one of our medical doctors.
What is Botox and how does it work?
Botox is a purified form of botulinum toxin that temporarily paralyzes muscles to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. It works by blocking nerve signals to the muscles, preventing the m from contracting.
What areas can be treated with Botox?
Common areas for Botox injections include:
- Forehead: Treats horizontal lines across the forehead.
- Crow’s Feet: Targets the wrinkles around the eyes.
- Frown Lines: Reduces the vertical lines between the eyebrows.
- Mouth (DAO Muscles): Addresses areas around the mouth and downward pulling mouth corners, known as the DAO muscles.
- Neck (Platysmal Bands): Smooths the neck area.
Additional uses for Botulinum Toxin injections include:
- Bunny Lines: Treats wrinkles on the nose.
- Chin: Softens chin dimpling.
- Masseter Muscles: Used for teeth grinding (TMJ) and facial slimming.
- Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis): Reduces sweating in areas like the underarms.
Are Botox and Dysport Safe?
Yes, both treatments are considered safe when administered by qualified professionals. At Natural Aesthetics, we follow the highest standards of care to ensure your safety and satisfaction.
What Are the Benefits of Anti-Wrinkle Injections?
Anti-wrinkle injections offer numerous benefits, including:
- Reduction of wrinkles: Smooth out fine lines for a youthful appearance.
- Preventative care: Prevent the formation of deeper wrinkles over time.
- Quick results: Visible improvements within days.
- Non-surgical: Minimal discomfort with no recovery period required.
How long does a Botox treatment take?
The procedure typically takes about 10-30 minutes, depending on the number of areas being treated.
How soon will I see results?
Results usually start to appear within 3 to 7 days, with full effects visible in about 10 to 14 days.
How long do the effects of Botox last?
Results typically last 3-4 months, depending on the individual and the treated area. Regular maintenance treatments can prolong the effects.
Is the procedure painful?
Most patients experience minimal to no discomfort during Botox treatments. The needles used are very fine, eliminating the need for topical numbing cream, resulting in a well-tolerated and comfortable experience for most patients.
Can I resume normal activities after the treatment?
Yes, you can resume most normal activities immediately. However, it’s advised to avoid strenuous exercise, lying down, or rubbing the treated areas for the first 24 hours. Please refer to our aftercare instructions.
When is the appropriate time to start Botox?
There is no specific age to begin Botulinum Toxin injections. If you have lines or wrinkles that bother you when your face is at rest, this treatment might be suitable for you. Many young people opt for these injections as a preventative measure.
Can Botox be combined with other treatments?
Yes, Botox can be combined with other cosmetic treatments such as dermal fillers, chemical peels, and laser treatments for enhanced results.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Botox or Dysport?
Anyone experiencing dynamic wrinkles or wanting to prevent their formation may benefit from these treatments. A consultation will help determine the best approach for your specific needs.
Can I get Botox if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?
Botox is not recommended for individuals who are pregnant or breastfeeding due to the lack of sufficient studies on its safety in these populations.
