Many facial wrinkles occur when we use our muscles to form facial expressions. The wrinkles formed during these expressions are called dynamic wrinkles. Let’s say, when we smile, our eye wrinkles that become prominent. When we frown, the vertical lines between our eyebrows become noticeable. When we are young, our skin springs back to its initial position after facial expression, but as we get older dynamic wrinkles remain on the skin to form static wrinkles; these are the wrinkles and folds that are present at rest. The process occurs because the natural substances such as collagen (the major structural protein in the skin), elastin (the protein that causes tissues to stretch) and hyaluronic acid (that gives volume to the skin) decrease with age. This together with environmental factors, such as exposure to sunlight, smoking and stress all contribute to the creation of wrinkles and folds.
Anti-wrinkle injectables are a natural, purified protein that relaxes wrinkle causing muscles, creating a rejuvenated appearance. The active ingredient in Anti-wrinkle Injectables treatment is derived from bacteria in much the same way as penicillin is derived from the mould. It is manufactured in sterile laboratory conditions. Anti-wrinkle injectables are a prescription-only medicine, whose treatment is only available from a qualified medical professional. It is registered for the treatment of crow’s feet (the lines that radiate from the corner of your eye when you smile or squint), forehead lines (the horizontal lines that form when you raise your eyebrows) and frown lines (the vertical lines that appear between your eyebrows when you frown).
Anti-wrinkle injectables can be used to relax specific facial muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles (these are the wrinkles that are formed during facial expression). Once the muscles are relaxed, you cannot contract them and continue to make undesirable facial expressions. Thus, the lines gradually smooth.
Anti-wrinkle injectables are a non-surgical procedure whereby a small amount of Anti-wrinkle injectables is administered into the selected facial muscles by a trained medical professional using a very fine needle. Generally, Anti-wrinkle injectables treatment takes around 10 minutes. Discomfort is typically minimal and brief and no anaesthetic is usually required. The injection may sting for a few seconds, but normal activities can be resumed soon after. After the injection, it takes 2-3 days for the Anti-wrinkle injectables treatment to begin to take effect and about 7 days to see the full effect. The dose recommended for the treatment will vary depending on your individual situation and the severity of your lines. Your doctor will do what does the best for you and which muscles to inject to give you the best results.
The effect can last up to 4 months before the lines slowly begin to return. If you have repeated Anti-wrinkle Injectables treatment, the effect may last longer.
Anti-wrinkle Injectables will relax the facial muscles that cause expression lines. It does not cause more wrinkles to form. If you choose not to have further Anti-wrinkle Injectables treatments, your muscles will eventually return to normal activity and your wrinkles will gradually revert to their pre-treatment levels.
Anti-wrinkle Injectables work specifically on the muscles treated. This means that any muscle left untreated, including untreated facial muscles, should not be affected by the Anti-wrinkle Injectables treatment. Your doctor will determine the best dose for you and which muscles to inject to give you the best results.
In addition to its use for cosmetic reasons, Anti-wrinkle Injectables treatment is also used to treat patients in a variety of therapeutic indications, including Spasticity due to cerebral palsy in children, movement disorders (head, neck, shoulder, face), and severe axillary hyperhidrosis (excessive underarm sweating). In the amounts used for the treatment of upper facial lines, the side effects are usually temporary and localised to the area of injection. Possible side effects include headaches, pain, burning/stinging, bruising, swelling or redness at the injection site, local muscle weakness, including drooping eyelids/eyebrows, swollen eyelids, skin tightness, tingling sensations, itching/aching forehead, nausea and flu-like symptoms.
Anti-wrinkle Injectables treatment has been used in Australia and Zealand in therapeutic treatments for over 15 years. It has been used in Australia for movement disorders (eye & face) since 1993 and for eye spasms and crossed eyes in New Zealand since 1991.
Many people use a combination of cosmetic products and/or procedures with Anti-wrinkle Injectables. Your doctor will advise you as to whether or not you will receive better results if your Anti-wrinkle Injectables treatment is combined with other products and/or procedures.
You may be familiar with injections that treat dynamic wrinkles by relaxing the muscles responsible for wrinkle causing facial expressions. Dermal Filler is a different sort of treatment. It is a dermal filler that comes as a smooth injectable gel and is placed below the skin & surface to literally fill in or, plump up static facial wrinkles and folds that are present at rest, creating a natural and more refreshed facial appearance.
Natural substances, such as collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid that provide the skin with a structure and volume, decrease with the age. This, together with environmental factors, such as exposure to sunlight, smoking and stress, all contribute to how our skin ages. The lips are particularly vulnerable, as they have an extremely thin outer layer, which becomes progressively thinner as the body ages. Over time, the corners of the mouth can begin to droop (mouth frown), the V-shaped area of the upper lip known as the Cupid Bow begins to flatten out and the lips lose their youthful fullness. Vertical lip lines that can cause lipstick bleed may also begin to appear.
Dermal Filler can be used for either lip rejuvenation or enhancement. It can be used to add volume to your lips, to improve border definition of the upper and/or lower lip and to create a stronger Cupid Bow. Dermal Filler can also be used for lip enhancement to add volume and improve lip definition in younger lips. For rejuvenation, the vertical lines around your lips may also be treated. This gives a more youthful appearance and will also help prevent lipstick bleeding.
Dermal Filler is a smooth injectable gel that is made from a natural complex sugar. Found within the tissues of living cells including human skin, it assists in skin hydration by attracting and holding water. It also combines with collagen and elastin to help provide skin structure and elasticity. Dermal Filler is not derived from animals. It is especially for replacing skin volume, smoothing of wrinkles and for lip rejuvenation and enhancement. Dermal Filler is the only treatment that contains an anaesthetic called lidocaine to help make your treatment more comfortable.
Dermal Fillers give instant results and the majority of people resume their normal activities immediately after the procedure. In its natural form, it is a single chain sugar that is naturally broken down by the body within days. Dermal Filler is manufactured using proprietary technology, which involves a high degree of cross-linking. It slows the metabolism so that you can see the difference in your natural looks that lasts for up to a year.
Treatment with Dermal Fillers is a non-surgical procedure. It is administered through injections by a trained medical professional. If you have tried Dermal Fillers before, you may have experienced discomfort. The level of discomfort varies from one person to another. It also depends on what product is being used and what area is being treated. For example, the lips can be particularly sensitive. Dermal Filler contains an anaesthetic called lidocaine, which has been shown to increase patient comfort. Also, the addition of the lidocaine simplifies treatment, as it means that a separate anaesthetic is not required.
The procedure may take between 15 minutes and half an hour. You should be able to resume normal activities on leaving the clinic.
The Dermal Fillers have been clinically studied for many years and clinical trials have shown that it is well tolerated. While you may experience no side effects at all, there is a chance that you experience sire redness, pain, firmness, swelling, lumps/bumps, bruising, itching or discolouration. These side effects are generally temporary and should resolve within a few days. Because the Dermal Filler is naturally present in the skin and not derived from animals, there is no need for an allergy test before treatment.
Dermal Filler injectable gel has been available in Europe since 2000 and was approved in the US in June 2006.
