What
are wrinkle relaxing injections?
Doctors have used wrinkle relaxing
injections in medical practice for over 15 years for
treatment of muscle spasticity and facial spasms. They
are also successfully used to treat facial lines and
wrinkles.
In the UK, the only product that has a licence to treat
frown lines (glabellar area) is Vistabel. Other areas
of the face can be treated off 'licence' and this has
been done safely for over a decade.
How does it work?
Acetylcholine is a chemical messenger produced in our
nerves to stimulate the muscles to contract. The Botulinum
toxin reduces the release of acetylcholine therefore
reducing muscle contraction. The action on the muscle
is never permanent.
How does it work to reduce
facial lines?
Facial lines are caused by repeated use of the facial
muscles of expression e.g. squinting and frowning. By
reducing the amount of facial muscle movement the lines
can be softened.
Injections are given into the muscles, temporarily
putting them to ësleep' for a period of three to six
months. The freezing of the muscle is always temporary
and is sometimes called 'The Hibernation Period' as
the muscle 'hibernates' for a short period. The aim
of the treatment is to break the habit of frowning or
squinting and so reduce the appearance of the lines
and also reduce the development of further facial lines.
After your treatment it will take 2-3 days for the
effects to start to be seen reaching its maximum effect
at 7-10 days. The treatment may last from to 3-6 months,
on average 4 months. With ongoing treatment the effects
may last longer.
Occasionally you may require a top-up injection at
two weeks if the muscle is not fully asleep. It is always
better to inject a conservative amount of the Botulinum
toxin and add more if required. The Botulinum toxin
will make it difficult to frown and squint and therefore
reduce facial lines However if you try very hard you
will be able to move the muscles a little. This does
not mean the treatment has not worked.
Where can wrinkle relaxing
injections be given?
Eyes – to reduce crow's feet
Forehead and brow – to reduce frown lines
Mouth – to reduce the fine vertical lines on the upper
lip or to treat down turned mouths
Neck – to treat lines and lift the jowl line.
Are there any side effects?
The side effects are minimal and all are temporary.
The injections may sting very slightly but they are
not painful. Other side effects are minimal redness
and swelling at the injection sites that usually disappears
after an hour or so. There is also a small risk of bruising
at the injections sites. You may experience transient
headache and numbness at the treatment sites.
There is a very small risk of eyelid drooping (ptosis)
and slight puffiness following treatment. In the unlikely
event that this occurs, it is always temporary and usually
settles after 2-3 weeks. The incidence of ptosis is
about 2% but always ask your practitioner what problems
they have had with treatments as this will differ between
doctors.
After several treatments, very rarely some patients
become resistant to the drug and it no longer works
effectively.
Who cannot have muscle relaxing
injections?
It is not recommended in anyone who is pregnant or breast
feeding or who suffers from a neuromuscular disorder.
You should make your doctor aware of any medication
you are taking including Gingko Biloba and St John's
Wort.
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