Have you ever caught your reflection in the mirror and worried that those lines around your eyes make you look tired or stressed, rather than happy? Or are you afraid that taking the first step with Botox will erase your smiles and freeze your expressions completely?
Laugh now in front of the mirror and observe the lines around your eyes: are they light expression lines that add warmth to your smile, or are they beginning to turn into static wrinkles that remain visible even when your face is at complete rest? The fear of losing natural expressions is the most common reason patients hesitate.
From a medical standpoint, a "frozen face" is not a side effect of Botox itself (Botulinum Toxin Type A), but rather the result of standardized, high-dose injections that do not account for individual anatomical differences. Dr. Hanadi Ibrahim approaches Botox consultations in Sharjah with a simple rule: preserve facial mobility first. She uses a "conservative dosing" technique.
The session begins with a dynamic assessment where you are asked to smile, frown, and raise your eyebrows. This allows her to evaluate the strength and movement of specific muscles, such as the frontalis and orbicularis oculi. The goal is to relax the muscle just enough to smooth the skin above it, while keeping your natural expressions active.
What happens during your first session?
The procedure is quick, lasting about 10 to 15 minutes. Using fine needles, micro-doses are placed in targeted points. Most patients describe it as a minor pinch. You can immediately return to your daily tasks, but you must avoid lying down or massaging the area for several hours. Results begin to show in 3 to 5 days, reaching their peak at 2 weeks.
The effect gradually softens over 3 to 4 months as muscle movement slowly returns to normal.
Clinical References
- Carruthers, A., & Carruthers, J. (2010). Botulinum Toxin Type A in the Prevention of Facial Aging. Dermatologic Surgery, 36, 2095-2101.
- Middle Eastern Aesthetic Consensus (2021). Consensus recommendations on the aesthetic usage of botulinum toxin type A in Middle Eastern patients. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 20(8), 2411-2422.
