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.

For expert skin advice in Essex – ask Sue at Elan!

Elan Medical Skin Clinic’s skin expert Sue Ibrahim.

Our skin is the largest organ of our body, with a total area of about 20 square feet. It protects us from microbes and the elements, helps regulate our body temperature and permits the sensations of touch, heat and cold.

Twenty square feet is a lot of area for things to go wrong, imperfections to show, maintenance to cover. But don’t fear, our nurse consultant in dermatology, Sue Ibrahim at Elan Medical Skin Clinic in Rayleigh, Essex has your skin covered!

We take exercise to improve our heart. We keep our brains active. We check our diet to ensure our digestive organs stay fit. But our skin often takes the brunt of external and internal abuse.

Platelet Rich Plasma skin therapy available now at Elan Medical Skin Clinics

Platelet Rich Plasma skin therapy is now available at Elan Medical Skin Clinics in Rayleigh, Essex and central London.

Soften wrinkles, smooth your skin’s texture and tone, and promote the growth of collagen with Platelet Rich Plasma skin therapy at Elan Medical Skin Clinics in Rayleigh, Essex and central London.

PRP skin therapy is the latest rejuvenation technique to be added to our comprehensive list of facial treatments. As well as skin rejuvenation, PRP stem cell injection therapy is ideal for curbing hair loss and treating osteoarthritis of the shoulder, knee and ankle joints.

We are delighted to introduce our experienced, award-winning practitioner who will be performing PRP therapy at Elan Medical Skin Clinic. Dr Alex Tran has been a GP for 17 years and over the last five years he has developed a keen interest in aesthetic medicine.

Essex skin expert has a nose for beauty

Elan Medical Skin Clinic’s skin expert Sue Ibrahim really ‘nose’ her stuff.

Sue Ibrahim, our medical director and nurse consultant in dermatology, has more than 30 years’ experience in dermatology and 20 in skin treatments. This makes her an ideal person to talk to if you would like to improve the appearance of your nose.

Noses can cause people to feel very embarrassed about their appearance. Many can dislike the shape of their nose, its appearance due to threat veins, warts or nasal lumps or even skin thickening.

The eyes have it, says London skin expert

Rejuvenate your eyes at Elan Medical Skin Clinics in central London and Essex

Our eyes say so much about us. They reveal our happiness, sorrow, physical wellbeing and sometimes our age. How many times has the morning after a boozy night been given away by our puffy, red eyes?! And where do we concentrate most of our make-up techniques and beauty products?

Get a helping hand to ensure your eyes look radiant and rejuvenated from Elan Medical Skin Clinics in central London and Essex. Our resident skin expert, Sue Ibrahim has more than 30 years’ experience in dermatology and more than 20 in wrinkle reducing injections and dermal fillers.

Smooth laughter lines

Mole checking is vital says London skin expert

Woman has her moles checked by a professional - Mole checking is essential says Sue Ibrahim the nurse consultant in dermatology from Elan Medical Clinics in central London and Essex

Mole checking is essential says Sue Ibrahim the nurse consultant in dermatology from Elan Medical Clinics in central London and Essex

Moles, brown spots and growths on the skin are usually harmless, but not always. If you have a certain type or large number of moles (more than 100), you are at greater risk of developing skin cancer.

The ABCDE method for checking moles is very useful but if in doubt, getting them professionally assessed is vital, says Sue Ibrahim. Sue, the nurse consultant in dermatology at Elan Medical Skin Clinics, has more than 30 years’ experience of assessing and removing moles using the latest advanced radio-wave technology. Click here to read reviews from her clients.

Asymmetry

If you draw a line through the middle of a mole, the two sides will match, meaning it is symmetrical. Anything asymmetrical is a warning sign for melanoma.

Sunburn increases risks of skin cancer

Are you aware that sunburn in childhood or adolescence can double the risk of developing melanoma, a lethal form of skin cancer in later life?

So how should you deal with sunburn if you have been burnt over the weekend? Our Dermatology Nurse Consultant, Sue Ibrahim, explains the immediate first aid steps you need to take….

Sunburn increases risks of skin cancer in later life

1. Act quickly and get out of the sun

Cover up the affected areas and stay in the shade until your sunburn has healed. Wear loose cotton clothing that allows your skin to breathe over the sunburnt areas.

2. Take over-the-counter pain relief

Analgesia or painkillers can help relieve the pain and reduce inflammation caused by sunburn. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen are ideal and should be continued for a period of at least 48 hours if there are no contraindications. Paracetamol will help with pain but has little effect on inflammation.

3. Cool the skin

Apply a cool compress to the skin such as a towel dampened with cool water for 15 minutes, or take a cool bath or shower. Aim to keep the temperature just below lukewarm. Make sure the shower has a gentle flow of water rather than being on full power.

If blisters are starting to develop, then a bath is preferable. Do not rub your skin with a towel, but gently pat it dry when you get out.

4. Moisturise

After a bath or shower, use an unperfumed cream or lotion to soothe the skin. Repeated applications of this are necessary to reduce the appearance of peeling and this may need to be continued for several weeks.

Aloe vera or soy-containing gels or lotions can be beneficial in soothing the skin. Aloe vera not only has a cooling effect on the skin but also acts as an anti-inflammatory.

Be wary of using creams or lotions that contain petroleum, benzocaine, or lidocaine. These can either trap heat in the skin or cause local skin irritation.

5. Stay hydrated

Sunburn can encourage fluid loss through the skin. Drinking plenty of water will prevent dehydration and help your body recover. Alcohol should ideally be avoided during this time as it will make dehydration worse.

6. Leave blisters alone

Try not to pop blisters as this can lead to infection and scarring. They will settle by themselves after a few days. In the meantime, treat the skin gently.

Remember sunburn can cause long-term damage to the skin and prevention should be the key.

For further information about skin cancer and its prevention, make an appointment to see our nurse consultant in dermatology who can discuss sun-protection and mole monitoring with you in detail.

Aftercare is as important as your treatment says London skin expert

Elan Medical DermaActives has recently launched DermaRecovery Stem Cell Cream, a brand new powerful skin rejuvenating aftercare cream that revitalises and nourishes ageing and traumatised skin.

Having a new skin treatment is very exciting – but please don’t forget your aftercare warns Sue Ibrahim, the skin expert at Elan Medical Skin Clinics in central London and Rayleigh Essex.

Following skin treatments such as veinwave, chemical peels, laser treatment, fractional skin resurfacing, plasma soft surgery, dermal fillers and wrinkle reduction our skin can become highly sensitive. This means that it is more prone to infection, which can lead to scaring. The solution? Ensure you use aftercare products that are:

Dramatic results with wrinkle reduction and dermal fillers at Elan Medical Skin Clinic

Masters of dermal fillers have an exceptional knowledge of the skin. Sue Ibrahim is an award-winning nurse consultant in dermatology with more than 30 years’ experience in this area and more than 20 years’ experience of skin fillers and wrinkle injections.

With her guidance and knowledge you can expect transformational results. But don’t just take our word for it – take a look at these impressive before and after photos!

In Restylane We Trust

Restylane is a range of dermal skin fillers designed to refresh, restore and enhance the youthful appearance of your skin, offering definition, firmness and deep hydration. The broad range of Restylane products used by aesthetic healthcare professionals helps to provide a treatment programme tailored to your individual needs.

We recommend Restylane Skin Fillers at Elan Medical Skin Clinic.

With established safety profiles, long-lasting results and high patient satisfaction, the Restylane range of dermal fillers now includes a wide range of gel textures, from firm gels that offer volume and lift, to soft gels that distribute more evenly to smooth the skin, as well as products specifically designed to offer skin hydration. This means that we can now tailor your Restylane treatment to suit your individual needs.

Sue Ibrahim was originally trained in Restylane dermal skin fillers around 17 years ago and has continued to use this brand over the years because of it’s high patient safety record and long lasting results. “When you find a winning product you stick with it” Sue says, “and our clients love the way Restylane skin fillers sit naturally in the deeper layers of the skin, enhancing the profile of the face and lubricating the skin.

There are cheaper products around but when it comes to dermal skin fillers, you definitely want to be safe, not sorry. And because Sue Ibrahim has years of experience behind her, your face will be safe in her hands.

Sue Ibrahim also recommends Restylane in the lips too. Not only do lips look more defined following treatment, the lips feel more hydrated. Your Restylane Lip Treatment begins with a thorough Consultation prior to treatment. We are an ethical clinic and you will never be urged to proceed with treatment during your consultation. We do not offer promotions or incentives to encourage you to make snap decisions. We will just provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision. We also encourage clients to take their time to reflect on whether to go ahead with treatment or not. And this is the reason our clients return to us time and time again.

Lip fillers from Elan Medical Skin Clinic in central London restore appearances

Lip fillers from Sue Ibrahim at Elan Medical Skin Clinics.