Anti-wrinkle injections are one of the most commonly administered cosmetic skin procedures in Australia and for good reason.
Anti-wrinkle injections are quick and easy to administer, and can visibly reduce lines and wrinkles caused by ageing, providing a fresh and more youthful appearance.
If you’re considering anti-wrinkle injections, here’s what you need to know.
What is botulinum toxin type A and how does it work?
Anti-wrinkle injections, known widely as botulinum toxin type A, is the original skin injectable and has been used by doctors to treat wrinkles and facial creases for years.
The drug used comes from the toxin clostridium botulinum, which can also go under other names.
Anti-wrinkle injections work by blocking signals from the nerves to the muscles. The injected muscle loses the ability to contract, making wrinkles relax and soften and become less visible.
What do anti-wrinkle injections treat?
Anti-wrinkle injections are most commonly known for cosmetic applications, often used to soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in the face, normally found around the eyes and in the forehead.
What’s less known is that anti-wrinkle injections are also used to treat a number of medical conditions including a painful neck condition called cervical dystonia, lazy eye, excessive sweating, chronic migraines, bladder dysfunction, and eye twitching.
When would you consider getting anti-wrinkle injections?
In cosmetic procedures, anti-wrinkle injections are most often used to reduce the appearance of forehead lines and wrinkles, crow’s feet around the eyes and frown lines.
However, anti-wrinkle injections are not effective on wrinkles caused by sun damage or gravity.
What can you expect during a procedure?
Anti-wrinkle injections are administered in a skin doctor’s office or clinic. During the procedure, the doctor uses a thin needle to inject small amounts of the solution into the skin and muscles.
How many injections will depend on the number and depth of lines and wrinkles, and this will range from patient to patient.
The procedure will only take a few minutes and no anaesthesia is required. The full effect of the anti-wrinkle injections will become visible 7-14 days after it has been administered.
What kind of results do anti-wrinkle injections provide and how long do they last?
The results of anti-wrinkle injections are usually visible for 3-6 months after administering the injections. Over time, muscle action slowly returns, and lines and wrinkles will become visible again.
Lines and wrinkles tend to appear less obvious after several treatments due to muscle shrinkage.
What are the side effects of anti-wrinkle injections?
Side-effects of anti-wrinkle injections are temporary, with most patients experiencing none at all.
In the first couple of days, some clients may experience mild bruising or swelling around the treated area.
In rare cases, they may experience temporary headaches and flu-like symptoms, or numbness and drooping around the eye or smile.
Speak to our skin doctors
Anti-wrinkle injections aren’t for everyone and it’s important that if you are considering them you speak with a qualified and experienced skin doctor.
Anti-wrinkle injections should only ever be performed by qualified nurses or skin doctors, and our doctor-led skin clinic has practitioners that are extensively trained and experienced in delivering them.
Are you looking for a skin clinic that offers anti-wrinkle injections near San Remo or Phillip Island? Bass Coast Skin Doctors can help.
Get in touch to discuss how anti-wrinkle injections can help address your skin concerns. Call (03) 5618 7007 or book an appointment online.