Cosmetic Injectables
What are anti-wrinkle injections?
Anti-wrinkle injections are composed of a natural, purified protein. Due to restrictions from the TGA, the actual name of the anti-wrinkle injection cannot be used here.
When injected into specific facial muscles, wrinkle-causing muscles are relaxed to reduce dynamic lines and create a younger, softer, and natural-looking appearance.
A facial consultation with clinician and doctor is required prior to treatment, to determine price of desired result.
Quick Facts
- Anti-wrinkle injections help to relax certain muscles in the face that cause wrinkles
- They can be used on frowns, crows feet, and forehead lines
- They can also strategically relax certain muscles to create an eyebrow lift, reduce a gummy smile, slim the jawline, and to stop the downward pull of muscles on the mouth and neck
- They can help to prevent the permanent etching of lines into the face by constant muscle contraction
- They work after 7-14 days and last for 3-4 months
- They are a safe and effective means of reducing wrinkles
- Anti-wrinkle injections can be used to reduce teeth grinding and reduce the size of the masseter (chewing) muscle, as well as help to reduce sweating when injected into the underarms or palms.
- Anti-wrinkle injections can be used in conjunction with dermal fillers to help treat both static and dynamic wrinkles
How do anti-wrinkle injections work?
Anti-wrinkle injections treat wrinkles caused by the contraction of facial muscles. They inhibit the transmission of neurotransmitter from the nerve to the muscle and stop the muscle from contracting and forming wrinkles. For example, they can be used to relax the muscles of the frown to prevent the appearance of a vertical frown line, or around the eyes to prevent the appearance of crows feet. It is important to note that anti-wrinkle injections do not immediately improve static lines, or lines that are present at rest. These can be treated by adding volume with dermal fillers or through skin resurfacing. However, usually over a number of anti-wrinkle treatments, the skin that is normally creased has time to rest and recover and an improvement in static lines may be gradually seen. The fact that anti-wrinkle injections also stop the constant compression of skin, prevents the permanent ‘etching’ of wrinkles in the areas treated.
What does treatment involve?
Treatments with anti-wrinkle injections involve having a number of small injections in the treated areas. The process takes only a short time to perform. The needles used are extremely fine, and only a small volume is injected. The discomfort experienced is minimal and well tolerated. You can opt to have anaesthetic cream or ice put on the area prior to treatment to help reduce any discomfort. The effects of anti-wrinkle injections are generally seen only after one to two weeks. You will gradually notice a gradual relaxation of the muscles treated. This can start at 2-3 days, but may take up to two weeks to be very noticeable.
How long do anti-wrinkle injections last?
The duration of effectiveness is dependent on the dose administered and can last up to 4 months, but generally on the first few sessions, the longevity is usually shorter – around 3 months. Studies have shown that anti-wrinkle injections are more effective and last longer when given at regular intervals of 3-4 months due to progressive weakening of the muscles treated. If at any time, you decide to cease treatment, your muscles will return to normal. Wrinkling returns to its previous state, and does not become worse.
Can I resume normal activities after treatment?
Normal activities may be resumed after treatment. However, you will be instructed not to exercise, lie down, or touch the treated areas for 4 hours.
Are anti-wrinkle injections safe?
Anti-wrinkle injections have been used for cosmetic purposes for over a decade and for medical purposes for even longer without any reports of long-term side effects. In Australia, there are six registered indications for the use of anti-wrinkle injections. These are; for children with cerebral palsy in particular body muscles to help reduce spasticity and allow normal movement, to reduce spasms of they eyelid, the treatment of cervical dystonia (neck muscle spasms), treatment of primary hyperhidrosis of the axillae (underarm sweating), treatment of frown lines, and the treatment of focal spasticity in adults.
What are the side effects of anti-wrinkle injections?
Generally, there are few side effects to treatment, and no downtime involved. Occasionally, a bruise may appear over the treated area, and this is more common around the eyes. This can be covered with make-up if applicable. There is usually some transient redness and swelling of the treated area (similar to a mosquito bite), and this usually lasts for less than one hour. Other possible adverse outcomes include ; asymmetrical results, failure to cause a significant change in the wrinkles (usually due to inadequate dosing), puffy eyes (for treatments around the eyes), and a drooping mouth corner (from misplacement of the injections).
When treating the frown with anti-wrinkle injections, approximately one percent of people experience movement of the product into one eyelid and this causes a partial eyelid droop that can last for one month. Any side effect of treatment is temporary and will resolve naturally. A particular eyedrop can be given to temporarily reduce the effect of this side effect if necessary.
EXCESSIVE SWEATING TREATMENT
Injected superficially into the skin of the armpits, hands, or feet can reduce excessive sweating in these areas. It requires a starch-iodine test first, which basically highlights the sweaty areas. The area is swabbed with iodine, and then starch is put on top. The sweaty areas become darker. The substance is then injected into these areas after the areas are numbed by anaesthetic cream. It works by reducing the activity of the sweat glands by stopping the nerve transmission to the glands. It tends to last for 8 months approximately. Sweating gradually returns after this time.
Despite local anaesthesia, treatment of the hands and feet can be quite painful, and often a mild anaesthetic gas or intravenous sedation is required to ensure comfortable treatment of these areas. One of the uncommon side effects with treating the hands is mild hand weakness.
Another area that can be treated with anti-wrinkle injections is the masseter muscle, the muscle that is involved in chewing. It is located at the angle of the jawline, near the ears. It is usually treated with anti-wrinkle injections for those people who that they have a square jawline/face and a protruding masseter muscle. Treatment of the masseter muscle with anti-wrinkle injections often helps with bruxism (teeth grinding), and headaches that are caused by this muscle. Usually, at least 25 units of anti-wrinkle injections are required per side to treat this strong muscle.
What is bruxism? How can I slim my jawline non-surgically?
Bruxism is a condition characterised by teeth grinding and excessive clenching of the jaw. It usually occurs at night during sleep, and can have consequences such as the blunting of teeth, headaches, temporomandibular joint problems, and an increase in the size of the masseter (chewing) muscles that result in a widening of the jawline and a square appearance of the face.
A square jaw is feature that may not be always be desired, especially in females. It can be due to bruxism or in some cases it can be a genetic trait. Furthermore, slimming the jawline can help to convert a square shaped face into an ‘upside down triangle’ shape, and this is usually a more youthful facial shape.
By injecting anti-wrinkle injections into the main muscle that causes the bulk (the masseter muscle), the squareness of the jaw can be reduced significantly, and bruxism reduced. The procedure has virtually no downtime, and starts to work in 1 week and lasts for about 4 to 8 months. Usually 20-50 units of anti-wrinkle injections are required in this area per side (total of 40 to 100 units).
Another option to slim the jawline in some cases is to have liposuction over the parts of the lower face and jawline. This is only suitable for those who have an excessive of fat (and not muscle) in these areas.
Muscle Relaxants
Muscle relaxants at Skinphoria work by relaxing specific muscles so that wrinkles gradually fade and new wrinkles are prevented from forming.
We can treat frown lines, forhead lines, lines around the eyes, teeth grinding muscles and we can treat excessive under-arm sweating also known as hyperhidrosis.
We also offer a procedure that treats the neck muscles, giving the illusion of a lower face- lift with stunning results.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are injections that are used to plump out fine lines, deep folds or to replace volume loss in an area of the face. They are wonderful for addressing problems with fine lines to upper lip area, forehead, we can create fuller luscious lips, more prominent cheek areas, a more defined jaw and other facial contouring that may be required.
It’s all about making you look and feel refreshed, natural and rejuvenated.
Dermal fillers contribute to the elastic properties of the skin that allow it to remain firm. The fillers are natural sugar biological gels that stabilise the skin structure, attract and bind water. Injections of dermal filler into the skin are thought to replenish its natural support structures damaged by aging and are commonly used for filling in facial wrinkles and hollows, restoring facial volume to areas such as the cheeks and for lip augmentation.
Compared to other methods of changing the shape of your face (such as your nose, lips or cheeks), dermal fillers offer the advantage of being non-permanent and creating a generally more youthful look.
Dermal fillers restore some of that beautiful look of bursting vibrancy to even the most mature face. With skillful application, you’ll look just like yourself … only more positive, refreshed and more alert.
Treatment costs vary based on the type of filler used and area treated and a full facial consultation is required to determine desired outcomes.
The following can be treated with dermal fillers:
- Tear troughs (hollows under the eyes)
- Cheek augmentation
- Nasolabial folds (smile lines or laugh lines)
- Lip enhancement
- Chin augmentation
- Skin rejuvenation (including face, neck, décolletage & hands)
- Facial feature imbalance
The benefits of using dermal fillers include:
- Fillers can reliably treat wrinkles at depths that other methods cannot
- They are biocompatible and rarely cause reactions
- The fillers can be dissolved by injection if there are any problems
- They are non-invasive compared to surgical solutions
What are the risks?
Ordinary side effects following dermal filler injections include swelling, redness, bruising and mild asymmetry as the inflammation settles down.
There is also a risk of asymmetry developing after the filler injections, but this is completely correctable and generally minimal.
Very rarely, more serious side effects occur. These can include:
- Tissue death in the glabellar region
- Granuloma
- Hypersensitivity
The usual procedure for patients looking to lift and liven their face with dermal fillers is:
- You’ll speak with the doctor or nurse about your background and medical history at your initial consultation
- A treatment plan will be devised, which sets out how we can use dermal fillers (possibly in conjunction with other techniques and tools) to create the face that you want
At your dermal filler appointment:
- The dermal filler product we use contains a local anaesthetic that makes the injection comfortable.
- The area to be injected is marked out
- The dermal fillers are injected, and we apply cold packs immediately afterwards.
- Mineral make-up completes the look and allows you to resume your daily activity.
The procedure takes about 30-60 minutes in total, depending on the size of the area to be treated
Is it painful?
Local anaesthesia can be used if necessary, although it isn’t needed for all patients. Without local anaesthesia, we would rate the pain of dermal filler injections at around 2.5/10. With local anaesthesia, we would rate the pain of dermal filler injections at around 0.5/10.
What should I expect after treatment?
Much of the difference you see after your initial dermal filler injection will be due to swelling; you should see the ‘real’ results after about 3 days. You’ll be able to return to work and wear makeup immediately afterwards, although we recommend you don’t commit yourself to any activities after your first-ever appointment.
What precautions should I take after treatment?
You should avoid the following for the at least 24 hours:
- Strenuous exercise
- Consumption of alcohol
It is also recommended to avoid for two weeks:
- Extended exposure to sun or UV light
- Extended exposure to heat or freezing temperatures
Exposure to any of the above may cause temporary redness, swelling, and/or itching at the injection sites. If you have swelling at the injection site you can apply an ice pack for a brief period.
It is recommended not to apply make-up for 12 hours after the injection.