Here at Skin Deep Rejuvenation Therapies, we love Botulinum Toxin type A, the purified protein used to treat lines, wrinkles and excessive underarm sweating. Commercially known as Botox®, Azzalure® or Bocotoure®. It smoothes lines and opens your face to give you a fresher, less tired appearance. As well as the upper face, in the hands of our Aesthetic Nurse, an advanced injector, it can tighten your jaw line, lift the corners of your mouth, smooth the lines around your neck, smokers lines and apple-dumpling chins can be treated and lips can be made to look fuller (always considered the domain of dermal fillers!).
Traditionally, people have loved or hated the ‘frozen, surprised’ look but latest injecting techniques have shown us that rather than freeze the face, we can use smaller amounts of product and place them more strategically in order to reduce movement, enough to lessen lines but retain a more natural look. Whilst this method has become known as ‘Baby Botox’ in the media, Cathy has always practised this technique as a lot of her clients want subtle movement …… enough to look like themselves but enough to look fresher, less lined and not obviously ‘botoxed’.
Over time crow’s feet, frown lines and expression lines become deeper and more permanent. These can be treated with wrinkle relaxants that can soften these lines, leaving your skin looking smoother and less lined. Whilst Botox®/Azzalure® can prevent dynamic lines (lines that occur on movement), deeper, static lines will become smoother but often the crease of the lines will be visible, fine dermal filler would be needed to erase these lines.
After an in-depth consultation to discuss the risks and benefits of this treatment for you, ‘before’ photographs are taken, a consent form signed and the procedure is carried out if there are no contraindications, Treatment takes less than 10 minutes and is virtually painless (pain perception being very individual). We like to see our clients between 2 and 3 weeks after the procedure to assess it’s effectiveness, any unwanted residual movement can be resolved with a top-up, included in the price.
How do wrinkle relaxants work?
Wrinkles are caused by subconscious nerve signals sent to your brain telling your muscles to contract when you laugh, frown, squint, etc. Muscle relaxant can be injected in tiny amounts in specific muscles to prevent this signal reaching the brain and thus preventing that wrinkle-causing contraction.
A wrinkle can be perceived as skin damage and whilst the effected muscles are inactive your skin can begin to repair and heal this damage reducing the depth of the wrinkle and preventing continuing damage. The human body is a wonderful thing and over time, approximately 3 to 4 months, the muscle relaxant is absorbed and excreted, the nerve regenerates and full facial expression is resumed. Repeat injections at this time are totally safe and can be given to allow your skin to continue repairing and indeed prevent further damage occurring.
Is this safe?
In 2005 more than 3 million wrinkle relaxing injections were carried out in the USA. This same product received its UK cosmetic licence in 2006 allowing it to be used to treat wrinkles. Muscle relaxing injections are so safe it is used in the medical world to treat spasticity in children, severe headaches, back pain, bladder problems and excessive sweating.
Potential side effects?
Side effects are rare. Bruising and tenderness at the injection site can occur but this resolves very quickly. Slight drooping of the eyelid or eyebrow is seen in less than 1% of people treated. This condition is temporary and returns to normal over time.
Is this treatment for me?
It is not known if it is safe to have wrinkle relaxing treatments whilst pregnant or breast feeding as no studies have been carried out to prove its safety so Skin Deep Rejuvenation Therapies do not recommend its use at these times. If you suffer from certain muscle related diseases or are on certain medication, this treatment may not be for you.
For a free consultation to discuss this more fully please call 0121 711 7038 to book an appointment with our Aesthetic Nurse.