Anti-Wrinkle Injections

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
  

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.

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.

Before and After Gallery

Click here to visit our anti-wrinkle injections before and after gallery.

What are the most common facial areas treated with anti-wrinkle injections?

Anti-wrinkle injections are most commonly used for treatment of frowns, forehead lines, and crows feet. They can also be used to create an eyebrow lift, to stop the mouth from pulling down, reduce gummy smiles (by lowering the upper lip), and to reduce neck bands.

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?

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.

What else can be treated with anti-wrinkle injections?

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. For more information on jawline slimming and the treatment of bruxism, click here.

How much does it cost?

The cost depends on the amount administered and this can vary according to gender, strength of facial muscles treated, the degree of wrinkling and the effect of previous treatments. Our doctors will be able to advise you of the exact cost only at the time of the consultation, as each person requirements are different. As a guide, females will require about 12 to 30 units for the treatment of crows feet, and 20 to 30 units for frown lines, and from 5 to 20 units for the treatment of forehead lines (see cost table below). Males usually require larger doses than females - sometimes up to double the amount. Please note that the price of treatment per unit decreases as the number of units used per session increases.

The cost of treating underams sweating by this method  is $1400 (for 100 units Type B). This generally lasts for 8 months. The price for hand and feet sweating will vary depending on the individual requirements.

There are two types of Anti-wrinkle injections, Type B and Type D. Please note in terms of potency, 1 unit of Type B = 3 units Type D (approximately) and the more you get in one session the cheaper the cost per unit. See tables below:

Anti-wrinkle injection Type B: Cost of treatment per unit for one session. Note decreasing unit price with increasing units. $18/unit for units 1 to 20, $16/unit for units 21 to 40, $14/unit for units 41-60, $12/unit for units 61-80, $10/unit for units 80 and above.

Anti-wrinkle injection Type D: Cost of treatment per unit for one session. Note decreasing unit price with increasing units. $16.20 / 3 units for units 3-60, $14.40 / 3 units for units 63-120, $12.60 / 3 units for units 123-180, $10.80 / 3 units for units 183-240, $9.00 / 3 units for units 243 and above.

Type B / Type D treatment examples

Why should I choose The Victorian Cosmetic Institute as my provider of anti-wrinkle injections?

Our doctors specialise in anti-wrinkle injections and have extensive experience in their application. We allow you ample time to communicate your aesthetic goals to us, and  use our expertise to help you achieve your desired outcome. The experience you have with us is also important. We offer complimentary nitrous oxide (laughing gas) that helps to alleviate any discomfort and anxiety from the procedure. We also provide you with a complimentary offer (usually 2 week post procedure) where we check on the results and perform a top up if required

The first step is simply contacting us for your initial anti-wrinkle injection consultation, where we will discuss with you what is a realistic and achievable outcome, and what to expect from your treatment.

Making that first phone call about any cosmetic procedure can be a confronting task - many of our patients have preferred filling out our online enquiry form. We can then contact you with an understanding of the results you are hopeful of achieving and ensure the treatment is appropriate.

It's as easy as clicking either of the buttons below and completing the provided form.

Otherwise, you can phone us directly on 1300 863 824.