Wrinkle Relaxing Treatment
Smoothing and Relaxing Facial Expression Wrinkles
Wrinkles and lines can be caused by repeated facial expressions such as frowning, lifting eyebrows and smiling (dynamic lines).
It is common to see these wrinkles appear more as we age, deepening and being visible without doing the facial expression.
Botulinum Toxin Type A
The actual medical component used is ‘Botulinum Toxin Type A’ – a neurotoxin that is produced by the microbe that causes botulism, a type of food poisoning.
This medication has been beneficial to treat multiple medical indications for decades, including – blepharospasm (facial twitching), neck spasms (cervical dystonia), chronic migraine, bladder dysfunction, also muscle rigidity – i.e. in cystic fibrosis.
Also excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis).
How the Botulinum Toxin works
In cosmetic/appearance use, the purified protein temporarily ‘cleaves’ to muscle receptors and blocks the signals from the nerves to the muscles.
The treated muscle can’t contract, or contracts much less. This smooths the overlying skin and wrinkles.
It can also tighten and lift certain muscles for enhanced cosmetic appearance.
The effect of the toxin has actually dissipated by 12 weeks from original treatment, and movement starts to return, particularly with strong muscle movement/facial expressions/wrinkling.
Botulinum Toxin treaments
For the first 1-2 years Maxine may ask the patient to return every 3-4 months, to weaken the muscles and ‘rest’ the wrinkles.
Static lines, or wrinkles that have made a permanent crease in the skin may need other treatments.
Patients that have had many toxin procedures can feel that the toxin lasts longer, although it doesn’t, this is due to the muscle movement becoming much less from repeated use.
Botulinum Toxin is a ‘POM’ - A ‘Prescription Only Medication’.
It can be prescribed for individual patients following a face to face consultation, if there are no medical or psychological concerns.
Maxine will ask you to complete a Health questionnaire via email, please sign digitally and return this to Maxine to review with you at your consultation. Also she will examine your face and take notes on your skin and appearance issues.
She must inform you of your options, the procedure, risks, side-effects, benefits, future maintenance.
Any questions will be answered as you must be fully informed of the consent process. Once we have both decided to go ahead, a 50% deposit is secured and date booked.
Before the procedure, your health status will be checked and you will be asked to read and sign a consent form. Photographs will be taken.
The procedure itself is not painful as very small needles are used. A skin cleaner is applied before and after, followed by applying a Dermaseal (invisible barrier). You can apply make-up after this. Post-procedure advice will be given.
For your first treatment, Maxine will ask to see you after 2-3 weeks for a review, to check results and any adjustment required can be done then. She can then assess what will work for you with future treatments.
However, some patients will need to continue to return for reviews for various reasons, and that option is always offered to ensure maximum satisfaction.
Common areas to treat with Botulinum Toxin
The ‘upper face’ for expression lines including the frown lines, between the eyebrows, the horizontal forehead lines, and lateral canthus lines -‘crows feet’.
Other areas include the ‘bunny lines’ – the scrunch lines at the sides of the nose, wrinkles around the lips, drooping/sad mouth corners, puckering/strong/chin muscles.
To raise the tip of the nose and reduce the ‘gummy’ smile. To slightly lift the brows and the tail of the eyebrow.
Each patient will be assessed at the consultation to discuss your concerns and advise recommendations.
As we age each year, its important to adjust our treatment plans and discuss regularly what is beneficial and available options.
A combination of different treatments often achieves enhanced results, particularly as the mid and lower face starts to show ageing changes.
Maxine feels it unnecessary performing wrinkle smoothing procedures on young patients, unless there is already some fine wrinkles developing.
If there is a medical condition, asymmetry, or excessive skin damage/photo-damage, this can be discussed at the consultation.
