Anti Wrinkle Injections

Anti wrinkle injections usually cause muscle relaxation of the injected area three to five days after the injection. The full effects may not be seen for two weeks, however, this may vary from patient to patient. Cosmos Clinic encourages all patients to return for their complimentary follow-up appointment after two weeks.

Patients may notice some small red bumps on the treatment area, but this should subside within 15 to 30 minutes. Minor bruising may also be present and should fade within a few days to one week. Patients may experience headaches for a short amount of time after treatment, however, many patients notice that the muscle relaxing nature of the wrinkle removal treatment generally improves their headache symptoms in the long term. Anti-wrinkle injections can actually be used to specifically improve migraine symptoms.

After the treatment, vigorous rubbing of the injected areas should be avoided for at least eight hours. Exposure to extreme heat, such as saunas, should be avoided for the first few days after treatment and it is important to keep the treatment areas clean. Contrary to what was formerly thought, the position of the patient during or after properly performed preparation or injection of anti-wrinkle injections does not influence the area or the intensity of the effect. However, we do encourage you to move the muscles in the treated area in the first few hours after the treatment. This will increase the action and onset of the Anti-Wrinkle Injections. You will be given detailed recovery instructions that are tailored to your individual treatment so that you can effectively care for the treated areas.

Anti-wrinkle injections can last from three to eight months. Patients need to keep in mind that the goal is to minimise the appearance of lines caused by movement to create natural looking results, not to have a “frozen face,” or to keep the injected muscles paralysed. Experience with thousands of patients has shown that the vast majority using wrinkle relaxers on a regular basis will need treatments two or three times a year to maintain the improvement.

Who are suitable candidates

A consultation at one of our Cosmos Clinic locations, such as Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, Adelaide, or Gold Coast, will be the best way to determine if you are a suitable candidate to receive treatment with anti-wrinkle injections. Generally, good candidates are patients that would like to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, and creases that are caused by underlying muscles beneath the skin. Patients should be in good physical health and have realistic expectations for treatment results. All skin types and colours are suitable for wrinkle treatment.

However, some patients may not be particularly suited to this type of treatment. This may be due to factors such as having any active skin infections or known allergies to the product. Patients with neuromuscular disorders such as myasthenia gravis, or nerve conditions such as ALS, should not be treated with relaxers. While no side effects from anti wrinkle injections have been reported in pregnant women or breastfeeding mothers, safety during pregnancy or breastfeeding has not been firmly established. We recommend consulting with your doctor or specialist before receiving wrinkle removal treatment to ensure that the procedure is a suitable option for you.

Possible side effects or complications

After treatment, some bruising, swelling, or redness may develop, but most symptoms will subside within a few hours to one week after the procedure. Anti wrinkle injections are quite effective with the vast majority of patients experiencing no complications. It is not absorbed by the blood stream and only affects the muscles injected. Wrinkle relaxers are eliminated from the body in a few days, but the machinery required for the nerve impulse to travel to the muscle is disabled for three to four months. No serious or long-term health hazards have been attributed, even after years of use and millions of injections. However, some mild transient side effects can occur. These may include:

• Mild swelling or redness at the injection site, which will settle within a few hours
• Bruising at the injection site can occur but is not common. This can be avoided by the application of ice packs prior to the injection and by carefully inspecting the area to be injected for blood vessels. The bruising should settle in two days to one week and can be covered with makeup. Smile lines are an area typically affected by bruising.
• Occasionally, the injected muscles will not be weakened enough and touch up injections will be needed for correction after two weeks.
• Drooping of the upper eyelid, which can last up to three weeks, is rare. This may be treated with eye drops until it resolves by itself, typically after a few days.
• Drooping of the forehead can occur if too much of the anti-wrinkle injection is injected into this area. This can be prevented by making sure that you choose an experienced clinic with highly trained doctors and nurses for your procedure.