Anti-Wrinkle treatments
Anti-Wrinkle Treatment (Botox)
Wrinkles and lines appear in our upper face for several reasons. The most obvious one is age – after years of contracting facial muscles, lines and wrinkles will slowly form and then become permanent. Environmental factors such as sun exposure and lifestyle factors such as smoking also contribute to the development of these lines.
Anti-wrinkle treatments involve the injection of a neurotoxin into specific muscles around the upper face, helping to relax those muscles. This results in a reduction in the lines/wrinkles going across those areas.
The neurotoxin we use, botulinum toxin A, does not paralyse the muscle as we once thought. Instead it relaxes the target muscle and stops you from being able to contract that muscle. The most common brand of toxin is Botox, which you may have heard of already.
The goal of treatment is to reduce the appearance of lines when your face is at rest, however still allow you to make expressions as you normally would. If too much neurotoxin is applied it can lead to the “frozen” look that some clients find desirable, but we prefer a more natural finish.
There are three treatable areas: forehead, frown lines, crows feet.
Is Botox safe?
The short answer is, yes. Botox has been FDA approved since 2002 for treating ageing lines and is still one of the most popular treatments available, with many clinical trials showcasing its safety and effectiveness.
How long do the effects last?
Results vary from person to person, we expect it to last anywhere from 3 months onwards and on average 6 months. If you have been getting anti-wrinkle treatment for a number of years and notice the results don’t last as long as they once did, you may need to change brand as your body can become resistant to the neurotoxin.
Are there side effects?
Some people notice a little redness and swelling (which should settle within 24 hours), or some slight bruising or watery eyes (for 2-3 days). Most people experience no side effects at all. We will discuss any potential side effects with you at your consultation.
