Wrinkle Softening
Injections are now the UK's most popular treatment for facial lines and wrinkles simply because it really does reduce the visible signs of ageing. It is a safe, quick and straightforward procedure, and can be combined with other treatments such as dermal fillers to give you a really great aesthetic result.
Why choose Wrinkle Softening?
Wrinkle softening injections using Clostridium Botulinum, have become a very important cosmetic treatment. It has replaced unnecessary invasive surgical procedures. Its effects are outstanding and there is little, if any, recovery time.
What is it?
Clostridium Botulinum is a rod-shaped bacteria readily found in the soil and is also known as Botulinum Toxin Type A. In 1987 an ophthalmologist called Jean Carruthers discovered that one of her patients was requesting ongoing treatments with the drug even after her blepharospasm had stopped. This was because the injections smoothed away the wrinkle between her eyes producing a relaxed, untroubled facial expression!
How it works
Every time you smile or frown, you set off a series of constant contractions in the underlying muscles of your face. For example, a wrinkle in the areas between the eyebrows may appear and persist because of the repeated, often unconscious action of frowning. As these muscles expand and contract, they crease your skin with an unflattering pattern of lines. Clostridium Botulinum works by relaxing those dynamic facial muscles. The main areas used for are the frown, eye and forehead areas. After a few painless injections you can carry on your normal day and wait for lines to soften over the next 3-5 days. This relaxed, less wrinkled look will stay with you for 3-6 months. All these effects are reversible.
What can it be used for?
Muscle Relaxing injections can smooth out those lines and wrinkles on the upper part of your face, giving you a more relaxed and youthful appearance in especially the photo-aged skin. So facial lines, furrows between the eyebrows and horizontal lines in the forehead, wrinkles and crow’s feet can be easily treated. It can also be used to treat lines on the neck or chin.
Another very popular use is the reduction of excessive perspiration (sweating). This condition is known as hyperhydrosis and can affect the hands, armpits, chest and feet. It has now been shown to be effective for the relief of some patients' migraine and chronic daily headache, by injecting specific trigger points.
Are there any reasons not to have this treatment?
Clostridium Botulinum should not be used on patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have a neurological disease. It is better not used if any signs of infection in the skin, when you are using particular antibiotics (aminoglycosides potentiate effect). As well it should not be used together with medication affecting the function of the muscles or in patients with a history of muscular diseases.
Consultation
Our doctor will explain what procedure is best for your face and will carefully examine your skin to ensure that only the very best treatment is provided.
How is it injected?
The solution is injected directly into the muscle. Your specialist will determine what muscle to treat to give the desired look.
Procedure
No anaesthetic is required in general. We use a cold pack to reduce any sensations from the small injections. The volume of liquid injected is so tiny that any discomfort is minimal. It is really no more uncomfortable than having your eyebrows plucked.
As the procedure is very straightforward it can often be completed in as little as 10 minutes and you are then free to carry on with your day. Tiny injections are placed directly into the muscles that contribute to your wrinkles. The number of injections varies with the area treated and every treatment is analysed to give the best result for your unique face.
You can easily fit a treatment into a lunch hour, and you'll be able to return to work straight after. What's stopping you?
Are there any side effects?
The side effects are minimal and rare. There may be a slight discomfort from the needle and a chance of a small bruise. A rare side effect is a temporary drooping of one eyelid. This is a short lived and very uncommon in the hands of an experienced doctor.
How long before I notice an improvement?
You will notice it beginning to work in 2-4 days. It will improve over the following 7-10 days.
How long will it last?
The improvements will last anywhere from 3 -6 months. You will notice a gradual fading of its affect, at which point, you should return for re-injections. Some find that it lasts longer after having multiple treatments and will last for months more than it had in the past. This essentially means fewer annual visits to see the aesthetician and small amount of C used each time.
Is muscle relaxing safe?
To date, no significant long-term hazards of botulinum toxin injections have been identified. Muscle-relaxing treatment is a very safe treatment in skilled hands and it only works locally in that particular muscle injected.
What happens after the injections?
Please note that we do not advise clients to fly for approximately 1 week following treatment with Clostridium Botulinum it is necessary to remain upright for 4 hours afterwards. With this treatment it is inadvisable to have micro current on the same day.
Contact us
To discuss appointments or any aspects of our treatments click here.