Wrinkle-reducing injections work by preventing muscles from contracting. It prevents the release of a chemical, acetylcholine, which is necessary to allow nerve impulse s to send messages to muscles. Excessive muscle contraction can be responsible for a variety of disorders. These include ‘blepharopasm’ a condition affecting the eyes, and the flexion contractures that occur in the limbs of children with cerebral palsy. Both these conditions are greatly improved by this treatment.
Wrinkle-reducing injections are also used to reduce excessive underarm sweating, for abolishing facial ‘tics’, and treating anal fissures.
It is the contraction of facial muscles that produces lines, wrinkles, and furrows in the skin. These are sometimes referred to as ‘dynamic’ wrinkles. By preventing muscle contraction, wrinkles and lines can be reduced or abolished. These injections are used on the face to achieve a smoother, unlined, and a fresher appearance. The most popular areas for treatment are the frown lines between the eyebrows and the ‘crows feet’ at the outer edge of the eyes. It also used for treating other areas of the face, including lines around the upper lip and muscle bands in the neck.
For most people, the effect of Wrinkle-reducing injections is to abolish a tired or angry look and to produce a softer, rested, more youthful appearance
A patient that is pregnant, breastfeeding, taking certain antibiotics, prone to allergies or has a neurological disorder would not be not suitable for this treatment.
The treatment involves administering the injections with micro-needles. It takes only a few minutes and causes little discomfort. Some redness and swelling may appear at the injection sites but this normally disappears after a few hours.