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.
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 by resurfacing them with plasma skin regeneration. 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 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?
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. It is also helpful to use the treated muscles to help the uptake of botulinum toxin into that area.
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 with can be quite painful, and often a mild anaesthetic gas 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 non-surgical facial shaping, 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 $1320 (for 100 units). This generally lasts for 8 months. The price for hand and feet sweating will vary depending on the individual requirements.
Table: Cost of treatment per unit for one session. Note decreasing unit price with increasing units. $18/unit for 1 to 20 units, $15/unit for 21-40 units, $13/unit for 41-60 units, $11/unit for 61-80 units, $9/unit for 80+ units.
Units
Cost
Units
Cost
Units
Cost
Units
Cost
Units
Cost
1
18
21
375
41
673
61
931
81
1149
2
36
22
390
42
686
62
942
82
1158
3
54
23
405
43
699
63
953
83
1167
4
72
24
420
44
712
64
964
84
1176
5
9
25
435
45
725
65
975
85
1185
6
108
26
450
46
738
66
986
86
1194
7
126
27
465
47
751
67
997
87
1203
8
144
28
480
48
764
68
1008
88
1212
9
162
29
495
49
777
69
1019
89
1221
10
180
30
510
50
790
70
1030
90
1230
11
198
31
525
51
803
71
1041
91
1239
12
216
32
540
52
816
72
1052
92
1248
13
234
33
555
53
829
73
1063
93
1257
14
252
34
570
54
842
74
1074
94
1266
15
270
35
585
55
855
75
1085
95
1275
16
288
36
600
56
868
76
1096
96
1284
17
306
37
615
57
881
77
1107
97
1293
18
324
38
630
58
894
78
1118
98
1302
19
342
39
645
59
907
79
1129
99
1311
20
360
40
660
60
920
80
1140
100
1320
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. As part of our service, we offer a free check up two weeks after your treatment, and if any additional top-ups are required, you will receive this at no charge. You will also receive a complimentary microdermabrasion or mild chemical peel at this time.
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 (03) 8850 0655 (Templestowe branch), or (03) 9707 0888 (Berwick branch).