Anti-Wrinkle Injections
(Botulinum toxin Type A)
Anti-wrinkle injections are one of the little miracles that nearly everyone has heard of but don’t talk about. What most people don't know is just how many different areas can be treated.
Cosmetic uses
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Wrinkles of the face
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Crow's Feet
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Frown lines the ‘elevens”
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Forehead lines
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Drooping Brow - Brow Lift
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Bunny lines of the nose
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Depressed corners of the mouth
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Gummy smile
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Puckering of the chin
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Neck lift
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Facial slimming
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Under arm sweating (hyperhidrosis)
What are anti-wrinkle injections?
Anti-wrinkle injections are made up of a natural, purified protein extracted from bacteria called Clostridium botulinum. Formulations, potency, and approved doses vary among botulinum toxin products, which means that one product cannot take the place of another. Those are a few reasons why there is no such thing as a “generic” form of botulinum toxins. This is a prescription medicine that been used for over twenty years to treat a variety of medical conditions such as cerebral palsy, facial spasms, excessive sweating, etc.
How does it work?
It causes temporary relaxation in any muscle it is injected into and stops the muscle from contracting, leaving the overlapping skin smooth and unwrinkled. This starts to work two to three days after the injection and reaches its full effect within seven to fourteen days.
How long does it last?
The effect typically lasts three to six months, depending on the individual. Repeated injections may have a cumulative effect. The results will wear off progressively and you will need to repeat the injections two to three times a year to maintain the results.
Where can it be used?
The areas most commonly treated are between the brows, around the eye area and the forehead. Anti-wrinkle injections can also be used to give a brow lift, soften smoker’s lines, nose wrinkles and relax a crunched up chin. It is also used for other applications such as excessive perspiration, migraines, etc. It is not suitable for wrinkling which is obvious when facial muscles are at rest, dermal fillers in combination may be an alternative.
What else do I need to know?
Avoid Vitamin E, Fish oil, Aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs one week prior to injection to minimize bruising. Anti-wrinkle injections are not suitable for those with neurological or muscular diseases and should not be used by pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are generally used for smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, and for adding volume and fullness to skin beginning to suffer from volume loss. Dermal fillers can also be used for cheek and chin augmentation, and successfully used to non-surgically reshape the nose. Dermal fillers are popular for plumping the lips, and some of these dermal fillers can even be used on the chest or hands for smoother, hydrated skin.
What is a dermal filler?
At our clinic we use dermal fillers, which consist of non-animal stabilised hyaluronic acid (NASHA). This is a complex sugar chain, which strongly binds water and is naturally found in human skin.
Cosmetic uses
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Lip augmentation
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Cheek enhancement
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Chin augmentation
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Forehead re-shaping
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Nose augmentation
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Brow lift
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Lines around mouth
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Naso labial folds
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Skin hydration on face, chest and hands
What does the treatment involve?
Once the area is anaesthetised / cooled, small amounts of the filler are injected into the dermal layer of the skin to fill out lines, wrinkles, enlarge the lip volume and more clearly define the lip shape. The actual procedure can be done in as little as ten minutes, depending on how many areas are to be treated, and then you are free to resume your daily activities and go back to work immediately.
How long will my improvement last?
The duration of effect varies from client to client and area treated. The average time for the first lip treatment is 3 months with a range of 9 months. Other dermal fillers can last 18 -24 months depending on the area and product used.
What will I look like after treatment?
Most patients look perfectly fine immediately afterwards, however if the lip area has been treated swelling can be noted for about 24 - 48 hours. It is usually mild and only noticeable to the patient or friends who know them well. Make-up can be worn immediately after treatment to cover any redness.
Is the treatment painful?
Depending on the area to be treated a local or topical anesthetic agent may be used to numb the area. Alternatively, the area can be cooled with ice. This reduces the feeling in this area and also helps to reduce the formation of bruises.
Is the treatment safe?
Side effects are generally rare and most very mild and short lived.
Dermal fillers should not be used by pregnant / lactating women or people suffering from keloid scarring.
What else do I need to know?
It is best to avoid vigorous physical activity or large intake of alcohol for 12 hours prior as this increases the risk of bruising. Aspirin and Vitamin E should not be taken for one week before the treatment.