Combination therapy 'the way forward' for cosmetic surgery

Botox is becoming increasingly popular, thanks to studies showing its long-term safety and its approval by both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the UK's Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

However, the latest advance in facial cosmetic surgery combines botox with other treatments and this, according to consultant dermatologist Dr Nick Lowe, is the "way forward".

Dr Lowe, of the Cranley Clinic, said that experts are constantly coming up with more ways to combine botox with other treatments.

"It is a great combination if you are doing laser rejuvenation of the face," he explained. "If I am treating someone with fraxal laser rejuvenation and they have got intense frown lines or smile lines, if you can reduce those with botox before doing the laser, it helps the laser rejuvenate the skin into a much smoother state."

The treatment works well when applied to the lower face and Dr Lowe revealed that the combination of botox and a filler "means that each treatment helps the other to last longer".

In addition, the treatment can be combined with non-surgical lifting systems such as radio frequency Thermage.

"We can partially elevate the brow if the botox is injected in the right place. If you then also treat some of those patients with Thermage to tighten the forehead, you get a better result."

The vast majority of patients opting to have botox treatment are over the age of 30, with the average age in the region of 45 to 50 years.

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