FAQs
Here are some of the most common general questions that we are asked at The MW Clinic London. If you have any other question which is not answered here please contact us and we will do our best to answer it!
Where did Dr Meg Minasian train to be a doctor?
- Dr Meg Minasian trained in the UK, attending medical school at University College London, before completing her training in the NHS.
- She worked at many hospitals including the world-renowned Moorfields Eye Hospital.
Does The MW Clinic London treat both men and women?
- Yes, Dr Minasian has always treated men and women throughout her medical career and at the MW Clinic London this is no different.
Why does The MW Clinic London insist on patients first having a personal consultation with one of our doctors?
- Before any aesthetic or medical treatment can be recommended a full medical history is essential for patient safety and to help inform an effective treatment plan.
What advice would you give to someone considering their first aesthetic treatment?
- Think about why you want a treatment, do your research and do not be in a hurry.
- Be wary of clinics marketing special offers & reduced pricing or suggesting signing up to treatment plans prior to receiving the first treatment.
- Aesthetics is a branch of medicine, so choose in the same way as you would approach choosing a practitioner for any other medical treatment. Bone fide practitioners will not be offering you a price reduction.
There seem to be so many aesthetic and medical clinics these days why should I choose The MW Clinic London?
- Every client has the choice as to who should carry out any aesthetic or medical procedures. The recommendation is for you to be treated by a qualified and experienced doctor as this will reduce risk and ensure a greater chance for a positive outcome.
- Clearly the more experience a practitioner has the more positive it should be for the client.
- Dr Meg Minasian is a NHS-trained doctor and former NHS consultant with considerable experience, enabling her to deliver your treatment effectively and safely.
Many more people seem to be having aesthetic treatments these days - are they safe?
- Currently there is no formal licencing process for practitioners of aesthetic treatments. This will hopefully change in the near future as there is a government commitment to introduce regulation.
- Without this regulation there have sadly many examples of unscrupulous practicing and unfortunate outcomes for patients.
- Best approach is to do your research thoroughly and listen to personal recommendations from people you trust.
Some other clinics have offers or seasonal discounts like for Black Friday. Why does The MW Clinic London not offer these?
- At The MW Clinic London we are very clear that any treatment, especially a prescription-only treatment, is simply not the same as other non-medical retail purchases.
- It requires a prior consultation, serious consideration from both the doctor and patient, and should not be affected by pressure to conclude a treatment to take advantage of some kind of offer.
- Our doctors are professionals in clinical practice maintaining the same high ethical standards as in the NHS. Their valuable time and considerable expertise is therefore not subject to discounts.
Injectables
Why do you talk about muscle-relaxing injections instead of just Botox?
- There are a number of neurotoxins that have been approved by the Food & Drug Adminstration (FDA) in the USA. Botox is just one of those and is a trademark owned by the large US company Allergan.
- All clinics are obliged to avoid using the name Botox in their communications.
- In addition, Botox is a prescription-only treatment in the UK so it should not be advertised to the general public, as set out by the UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) and Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP).
How many types of botulinum toxin are there?
- There are seven antigenically different serotypes of botulinum toxin (A -G), however it is serotype A (BTxA) that is commonly used clinically.
- There are several different formulations, marketed under various brand names, including: Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, Azzalure, Bocouture and Vistabel.
- These are all formulations of the same active ingredient, but the specific chemical composition of each product may differ slightly.
Is botulinum toxin safe?
- Botulinum toxin A has been formally approved for use in aesthetic treatments. Over 8 million anti-wrinkle injection treatments are performed around the world every year.
- It is considered a common and safe treatment if delivered in the appropriate setting, by an experienced professional.
Do botulinum toxin injections hurt?
- The volumes of botulinum toxin required to treat aesthetic concerns are very small and typically these injections are not painful. However, pain is an extremely subjective and variable response, both from one individual to another and also experienced by the same individual on different days.
- It is a multi-factorial response, highly dependent on many other variables such as: age, gender, co-morbid disease, mood, motivation, fear, fatigue smoking and hormonal status.
- The pain response is also different in different treatment areas. Typically injections around the eyes and mouth are painful and we would always apply a local anaesthetic cream prior to injecting. In contrast, injections to frown and forehead lines are often tolerated without anaesthetic.
- Most importantly Miss Meg Minasian will do her utmost to mitigate any pain or discomfort during treatments and will always respect a patient’s desire to have all forms of available pain relief at their disposal.
Who is allowed to inject botulinum toxin or other aesthetic treatments in the UK?
- Unfortunately there is currently no UK register or specific regulation around the regulation of practitioners who can inject Botox.
- However, these injections bring the risk of a range of medical complications so we strongly recommend that you only consider trained doctors to inject you with any form of injectable aesthetic treatment.
- It is highly likely that regulation in this area will be introduced into the UK in the near future, which we very much welcome.
What does having a botulinum toxin injection involve?
- After a comprehensive assessment and discussion of agreed treatment goals and fully informed consent. A local anaesthetic cream would have been applied if necessary/desired.
- This is wiped off and the numbed skin cleaned with alcohol/disinfectant. The patient will not need to see the syringe or needle (which is extremely small and fine gauge) when possible the muscle belly is pinched whilst the injection is given, a brief stinging sensation is usually felt during the injection which lasts less than 1-2 seconds.
- Pressure is then applied to the area momentarily before the next injection is given. One area typically takes a few minutes to treat depending on how long pressure needs to be applied.
- The patient can leave the clinic straight away, a little redness in the area is sometimes seen afterwards and very occasionally a small bruise, but there is no significant downtime.
Are all fillers the same?
- No, not all cosmetic fillers are the same. Different types of cosmetic fillers are made from different materials and have different properties, such as the duration of effect, the areas of the face they are used in, and the results they produce.
- Some common types of cosmetic fillers include hyaluronic acid fillers, calcium hydroxylapatite fillers, and poly-L-lactic acid fillers.
- It's always important to consult with a licensed practitioner to determine the best type of filler for your needs and goals.
Can you reverse the effect of an injectable?
- For botulinum toxin injections, the effect typically wears off after 3 months and there is no way to reverse the effect prior to this.
- For hyaluronic acid fillers, unwanted results can be reversed with a second injection of an enzyme known as hyaluronidase.
A-Z of terms
What is Botox?
- Botox is a trademark for a botulinum toxin A product produced by Allergan. Botulinum toxin A is a naturally occurring neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
- It acts at the neuromuscular junction, weakening or paralysing the muscle it is injected into, thus improving the appearance of wrinkles on the face.
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
- Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally occurring substance in the human body that provides hydration and bounce to the skin.
- It is a type of sugar molecule that attracts and retains water, helping to keep the skin hydrated and plump. In skincare products, hyaluronic acid is used as a moisturizing ingredient.
What is Profhilo?
- Profhilo is a type of injectable skin treatment used for skin rejuvenation and hydration.
- It contains a specific formulation of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the skin, and is designed to improve skin quality and texture.
What are Fillers?
- Cosmetic fillers are injectable substances that are used in medical aesthetics to add volume, smooth out wrinkles, and enhance facial features.
- They can be made from a variety of materials, including hyaluronic acid, calcium hydroxyapatite, and poly-L-lactic acid, amongst others. Cosmetic fillers are used to plump up the skin, fill in wrinkles, enhance lips, and restore volume to the face.
What is Hyperhidrosis?
- Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition characterized by excessive sweating, beyond what is needed for normal regulation of body temperature. It affects about 3% of the population and can be a source of significant embarrassment and social anxiety.
- This condition can occur on specific areas such as the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, underarms, and face or can be generalized affecting large areas of the body. The exact cause of hyperhidrosis is unknown, but it is believed to be related to overactivity of the sweat glands or nervous system.
What is the GMC?
- The GMC (General Medical Council) is a regulatory body in the United Kingdom that is responsible for maintaining standards in medical education and practice to ensure that doctors are fit to practice.
What is the Care Quality Commission?
- CQC is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England.
- They make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and they encourage care services to improve.
- They monitor, inspect and regulate services and publish what we find.
