What is the Botox?

Botox (Botulinum toxin) injections relax the muscles in your face to smooth out lines and wrinkles, such as crow's feet and frown lines.

It's not permanent – it usually lasts for around 3 or 4 months.

In the UK, the cost of Botox injections can vary from about £100 to £350 for each treatment, depending on the clinic and the area being treated.

What does Botox do to your face?

Botox injections block certain chemical signals from nerves, mostly signals that cause muscles to contract. The most common use of these injections is to temporarily relax the facial muscles that cause wrinkles in the forehead and around the eyes.

Is getting Botox painful?

With topical anesthetic, a Botox® procedure can be virtually painless. Even without a numbing agent, pain is minimal, and you may only feel a little pinch. Injections are very quick and with a trained medical professional, you may not even notice when they happen.

Are there any risks or side effects?

Minor bruising or discomfort may occur, but should improve within a few days. Other side effects may include:

• swelling or drooping in the eyelid area
• tiredness
• headache
• neck pain
• double vision
• dry eyes
• allergic reactions, such as rash, itching, or asthma symptoms

What is radiofrequency?

Radiofrequency (RF) is a popular treatment that uses oscillating electric currents through an antenna or electrode to generate electromagnetic waves. These wavelengths radiate through space at the speed of light and can range from less than a centimetre to 100 kilometres. Due to this level of frequency, radio waves do not interfere with the neuromuscular structure (unlike simple electrical current) and thus can be safely used for medical and aesthetic practices.

When radiofrequency is conducted through the skin, it penetrates down to the subcutaneous layers, producing an exothermic reaction – meaning it is a catalyst for heat production within the body. In fact, the skin can heat up to 38–40 degrees during radiofrequency treatments.

This has many physiological effects on the dermis, the primary being tightening, firming and brightening, and this is because the thermal reaction causes the contraction of collagen in the short term and collagen synthesis in the long term, tightening the underlying skin structures without damaging the top layer.

It is particularly effective on areas that commonly suffer from skin laxity such as the brows, jowls, jaw and neck, ensuring skin looks lifted even after just one application.

How long does a radiofrequency treatment last?

Radiofrequency sessions tend to last between 20 to 40 minutes and may require a topical anaesthetic cream. Many aestheticians favour a grid approach to application, which assures an even and more efficient treatment.

Following radiofrequency, many clients will experience redness but this quickly dissipates, particularly with application of cooling gels and calming products, so there’s very little downtime with the treatment.

The number of radiofrequency treatments needed in a course depends on the client’s skin laxity, but for truly visible results, I would suggest between three-to-five sessions over a period of three-to-five months. By using the technology consistently, it ensures maximum contraction and synthesis of collagen production, even affecting the more resistant cells.

Who is this treatment ideal for?

The ideal client for radiofrequency is a middle-age man or woman who is beginning to see signs that denote a degradation in skin firmness. These clients would also benefit from combining radiofrequency with other advanced treatments such as photo-rejuvenation or chemical peels.

While radiofrequency alone will help to remodel tissue to lift, firm and tone the face, it does not address any surface issues on the skin. That is why I often recommend radiofrequency to coincide with laser treatments and injectables; the first serves to resurface and reduce the appearance of pores, pigmentation and visible vascular lesions, while the latter helps to plump, volumise and hydrate areas that will no longer produce collagen.

Laser is an ablative treatment that works by evaporating the skin’s surface (it sounds scary but it isn’t) to trigger tissue repair. It is the treatment I hear the most positive feedback from clients about, many of whom proudly show me their disappearing pores, post-inflammatory pigment and crow’s feet. By combing laser with radiofrequency, you are treating the skin at multiple levels for a more holistically youthful result.

Are there any contraindications?

While radiofrequency is widely lauded, it is still limited in its effects. Contraindications include patients who suffer from significant amounts of redundant skin as they will not see the desired results, or patients who suffer from rosacea because they will see exacerbated symptoms due to the additional inflammation that occurs post-radiofrequency treatments. 

The future of radiofrequency looks so promising, with so much development in the category having taken place in the past decade. There is still space to grow for the treatment to be used in fat-reduction and body-contouring by inducing temperature manipulation. I expect we will see advancement in that realm in the years to come.