Anti-wrinkle Injections
Anti-wrinkle Injections
These cosmetic injections work by relaxing particular facial muscles – those that we use to frown or squint – that cause lines, or wrinkles to develop. Once the targeted facial muscle(s) is relaxed, it can’t contract again; and this inability for the muscle to contract is what prevents wrinkles from forming, creating a smoother, rejuvenated and more youthful appearance.
How are the injections administered?
Anti-wrinkle injections are administered as numerous tiny, micro, injections that relax the targeted facial muscle by blocking nerve impulses that trigger wrinkle-causing contractions.
Do they hurt?
Everyone’s pain threshold is different. However, the sensation of these injections has been described as similar to that of an ant bite, lasting for a few seconds.
How long does the treatment last?
The effect of anti-wrinkle injections typically last three to four months. However, their effect can last longer with ongoing, more regular, treatment.
Where can the injections be used?
The anti-wrinkle injections are used widely to remove the expression lines that give an impression of anger, anxiety, sadness or tiredness. Some common areas include:
- frown lines between the eyebrows
- crows feet around the eyes
- horizontal forehead wrinkles
What could go wrong if you get anti-wrinkle injections?
Possible side effects of this type of treatment are usually temporary and restricted to the area of the where the injections were given. Such side effects include drooping of the eyelids, bruising, headache, face pain, redness, swelling at the injection site(s), skin tightness, muscle weakness, numbness or a feeling of pins and needles, and nausea.
In rare cases, the injected substance can also spread away from the injection site, causing more serious side effects including issues with swallowing, speaking, or breathing. This is due to an over-weakening of the targeted muscles. These side effects usually only have a chance of occurring when very large doses of the product are administered, such as in the case of treating spasticity.
Everyone should be aware of the risk of a bacterial neurotoxin and it’s consequences if anti-wrinkle injections aren’t administered correctly. There are a number of people performing injectable treatments on individuals without supervision – we do not encourage this type of practice at all. Non-invasive procedures like fillers and anti-wrinkle injections are considered to be low risk, but that doesn’t mean no risk. Most risks are minor, but they are there.
Injectable treatment checklist
- Choose a practitioner who is either a qualified doctor, or supervised by one to perform the procedure.
- Attend a consultation before committing to the treatment, and ask for a treatment plan to outline how much work you are going to have done, where the work will be done, and how often you will return.
- Consider the ongoing cost of keeping up with the treatments.
- Make sure you leave several days after your initial consultation before having the treatment (a cooling off period) to give you time to think about your decision.
If you have any questions or would like to book an appointment with one of our doctors, please call us on (03) 9828 7500.