Botox, questions answered

Botox is a muscle-relaxing injectable used to soften lines and wrinkles. It works by gently relaxing the muscles responsible for repeated expressions, so the skin above them creases less and existing lines are softened. It's a quick treatment with no need for downtime.

Botox can be applied to several different areas of the face, but the three most popular are crow's feet, the frown lines between your eyebrows, and forehead lines.

In short, yes! If you feel conscious of wrinkles and want to feel better about the way you look, Botox can relax the muscles that cause lines to form, softening them and helping to stop them becoming more prominent over time.

Women tend to require slightly less Botox than men. As a guide, 25 units can treat the frown lines between the eyebrows, while crow's feet and forehead lines each tend to need around 30 units. Smaller areas such as a lip flip, gummy smile or pebble chin need fewer units, and jaw slimming for teeth grinding needs the most, usually 40–50 units.

Botox comes in small bottles and prices vary between practices. Only a few Botox products are regulated in the UK, so it's always best to check which is being used. Generally, treatments range from around £130 to £450 — the more Botox used, the higher the cost. We'll give you a clear price at your consultation.

Generally, Botox lasts between three and four months. In some people it can last a little longer and in others a little less. It's always best to wait three months before having more Botox injected.

Most people find Botox very tolerable — the needles are tiny and the treatment is quick, with no more than a brief pinch at each point. Downtime is minimal: you may have small raised bumps or slight redness at the injection sites that settle within an hour or so, and occasional minor bruising. Most people head straight back to their day.

For the first 24 hours, stay upright for a few hours, avoid rubbing or massaging the treated area, and skip strenuous exercise, saunas, sunbeds and facials. Avoid lying down flat straight after treatment. We'll give you full aftercare advice on the day so your results settle beautifully.

Botox doesn't work instantly. You'll usually start to notice the effect within a few days, with the full result developing over around two weeks. If you'd like any adjustment, that's best assessed once it has fully settled.

Dermal fillers can be just as effective as Botox, but they work in different ways and target different things. For example, frown lines between the eyebrows can be relaxed with Botox, while fillers add volume — so fillers can plump the lips, whereas a Botox lip flip gently curls the lip outwards to show a little more of it rather than adding volume.