Non-surgical Procedures

Getting anti-wrinkle injections: what really happens

Article medically reviewed by Dr. Gavin Chan (MBBS, cosmetic doctor, liposuctionist)

Templestowe Lower, Berwick and Beaumaris Clinics

Dr. Gavin Chan has a background in intensive care, anaesthesia, and emergency medicine. Since 2005, Dr. Chan has provided cosmetic procedures, including anti-wrinkle injections, dermal fillers, liposuction and laser treatments. He is a doctor trainer for various dermal fillers and anti-wrinkle injections. Read More

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Do you want to reduce wrinkles and fine lines on your face while preventing further ones from appearing? Or perhaps you want a fresher, more relaxed appearance? Anti-wrinkle injections can effectively treat fine lines and wrinkles on your face that are caused by muscle movement. If you look into a mirror and squint, you’ll probably see lines around your eyes forming. But what happens when you stop squinting? As a result of years of constant muscle movement, many people notice that the static lines remain. Anti-wrinkle injections relax the muscles that have caused the dynamic lines to develop while reducing the static lines.

Dr Natasha Moscato gets Botox done by Dr Gavin Chan

When Dr Gavin Chan (MBBS, Cosmetic Doctor, Liposuctionist) treated Dr Natasha Moscato (MBBS, FRACGP, Cosmetic Doctor) with anti-wrinkle injection treatment they discussed different injection techniques and the best ways to minimise pain. When Dr Gavin Chan examined Dr Natasha Moscato he said, “I think the fact that you’ve had regular anti-wrinkle injections has prevented a lot of wrinkles forming.” Before treating Dr Natasha Moscato’s forehead with anti-wrinkle injections, Dr Gavin Chan marked out where her veins were by using an Accuvein Vein Finder. He then marked out where the anti-wrinkle injections would go.

How anti-wrinkle injections reduce and prevent wrinkles from forming

Anti-wrinkle injections are based on an inhibitor that blocks the nerves that cause your facial muscles to contract. When these muscles are relaxed, the lines and wrinkles on your face smooth out, creating a more refreshed and youthful appearance. Anti-wrinkle injections are the best non-surgical choice for preventing and reducing upper, middle and lower face wrinkles and fine lines.

The common areas of the face that we treat with anti-wrinkle injections include:

  • Bunny lines (the nose lines that appear when your nose moves)
  • Crows feet (the outer corners of your eyes)
  • Down turned mouth
  • Eyebrow area
  • Forehead
  • Glabella (also referred to as “11’s” is the area between your eyebrows)
  • Masseter (the muscle that you use to chew)
  • Mental crease (the horizontal line between your chin and lower lip)
  • Platysmal bands (the bands of muscle that stand out from the neck and make the neck look stringy in appearance)
  • Upper lip
  • Vertical lip lines

It is important to note that before you have anti-wrinkle injections, the overall balance of your face must be considered. If wrinkling is reduced in your lower face without addressing your upper face you may get sub-optimal results. The dosage amount of your treatment also must be carefully considered. If your forehead wrinkles are over treated your brow will appear heavy and low. Similarly if your crow’s feet are over-treated with anti-wrinkle injections you will get compensatory muscle contractions under your eyes, resulting in increased wrinkles. Visiting a reputable medical clinic that focuses primarily in non-surgical facial rejuvenation ensures highly trained and experienced Cosmetic Doctors and Cosmetic Nurses will administer your anti-wrinkle injection treatment.

Where anti-wrinkle injections are placed to reduce and prevent frown lines

Static frown lines can make people appear to be unhappy or angry when they’re not. Dr Natasha Moscato recalled a patient who wanted to get anti-wrinkle injections as a result of a stranger in a queue saying, “Cheer up love, it’ll be alright!” She also noted, “some people have naturally heavy foreheads which can make it harder to treat frown lines. For these patients it’s important to assess where their eyebrows are and how heavy their eyelids are.” This highlights the importance of having your anti-wrinkle injections performed by experienced Cosmetic Doctors and Cosmetic Nurses who are highly trained and have a good aesthetic eye for assessing your facial muscles.

The frown comprises of two main muscles; the procerus and the corrugator. The procerus is a pyramid shaped muscle that extends from the lower part of the nasal bone to the middle of the forehead between the eyebrows, where it attaches to the frontalis muscle. This muscle pulls the skin between your eyebrows down. When these muscles are overactive you, “get vertical lines from the corrugator muscle and a horizontal line from the procerus muscle.”

The corrugator is a strong muscle that extends from bone near the top of the nose to the underside of the skin just over the mid portion of the eyebrow. When you contract the corrugator, it causes vertical wrinkles between the eyebrows, often called “frown lines” or “11’s”.

The frontalis muscle is the only elevator of your eyebrows that starts at the brows and ends in your scalp. This muscle allows your forehead and eyebrows to move upwards. Anti-wrinkle injections used in the frontalis muscle will help stop the formation of wrinkles in your forehead.

Dr Natasha Moscato Getting Anti-Wrinkle Injections

What does it feel like to get anti-wrinkle injections?

For patients that have not had anti-wrinkle injections before, one of the key concerns is that the treatment may leave bruises or be painful. Led by Dr Gavin Chan, our highly trained and experienced Cosmetic Doctors and Cosmetic Nurses use trained techniques to minimise any discomfort that include:

  • Local anaesthetic cream: Before your anti-wrinkle injections, an application of local anaesthetic cream can be applied to your skin to help numb it.
  • Ice: Because pain and temperature sensation travel along the same nerve pathway, using ice on your skin before your anti-wrinkle injections ensures less pain will be felt.
  • Vibration: When a vibrating device is used on your skin, nerve pathways that conduct pain become overloaded with vibrations and are unable to pass pain signals to the brain as easily.
  • Inhaled anaesthetic gas: Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) is commonly used for dental procedures or during labour. The effect of the inhaled anaesthetic gases we use tends to wear off quickly without any lingering effects after the anti-wrinkle injection treatment is completed.

Bruising occurs when a needle disrupts a vein under your skin. To reduce the likelihood of bruising occurring, we use the Accuvein Vein Finder. This hand held device visualises the veins beneath your skin, and helps the Cosmetic Doctor or Cosmetic Nurse make adjustments to their injection points to avoid your veins and reduce the risk of bruising.

Where to get the best anti-wrinkle injections in Melbourne

Since 2005 led by Dr Gavin Chan our highly trained and experienced team of Cosmetic Doctors and Cosmetic Nurse have treated thousands of people’s wrinkles and lines. Our subtle approach with anti-wrinkle injections will refresh your look without losing your natural facial expressions and smile. Find out how we can treat your eye wrinkles without looking like your face is ‘frozen’. Call us 1300 863 824 to find out more or fill in the form below