FAQ
What is Wrinkle Relaxer?
Wrinkle Relaxer contains a purified protein which is injected into muscles to temporarily block nerve impulses. It is effective in reducing the appearance of facial, neck and chest lines. Wrinkle Relaxer is also used to treat a number of medical conditions such as excessive sweating and migraine headaches.
What are Wrinkle Fillers?
As their name suggests, Wrinkle Fillers ‘fill’ wrinkled areas of the skin. They are injected underneath the top layer to plump and smooth the skin’s surface, and are frequently used to reduce the appearance of lines and to add volume to facial areas such as the lips.
Wrinkle Relaxer- How does it work?
By temporarily blocking communication between the nerve and the muscle in a small area around the injection site. During this time the muscle remains weakened or relaxed and is unable to form skin creases. The nerve endings gradually recover over a period of months, and if no further injections are given the skin creases simply return to their previous appearance.
Can Wrinkle Relaxer be used to treat all facial lines?
No, not all areas where wrinkles appear are amenable to treatment with wrinkle relaxer injections. The areas where it is highly effective are mainly in the upper part of the face. The 3 most common treatment areas are:
(1) Outer eye area/ Crows Feet: when we smile, we contract the muscle that encircles the eyes, causing creasing of the skin on the outer eye area. These creases are a natural part of our facial expression, but with ageing they become more prominent, and can be present even when the muscle is relaxed (crows feet). Facial appearance can be easily enhanced in this situation by injecting wrinkle relaxer into the outer portion of this muscle. This ‘opens up’ the eye during smiling and with repeated treatments persistent ‘static’ expression lines can fade or even disappear.
(2) Frown lines/Glabella Lines (the area between the eyebrows) – this group of muscles draw the eyebrows together and downwards, bunching up the skin between the eyes and above the bridge of the nose. Treatment of this area reduces the stern or worried expression that some people unconsciously make, and if combined with treatment of the crows feet area further ‘opens up’ the eyes, enhancing facial appearance.
(3) Forehead Lines – these are the horizontal lines that appear when the eyebrows are raised. Treatment of this area is technically easy, but careful judgement of the dose of wrinkle relaxer is required to avoid excessive weakness causing a ‘frozen’ appearance, and flattening of the natural eyebrow arch which is particularly undesirable in women.
Other Areas:
‘Bunny’ Lines – these appear at the sides of the nose, in between the eyes in some people when they frown or smile.
Nonsurgical Brow ‘lift’ – by injecting at the arch point of the eyebrow, it is possible to slightly weaken the portion of the muscle around the eye that pulls the eyebrow down. This allows the forehead muscle above to lift the eyebrow slightly, typically 2-3mm, and gives the eyes a more feminine appearance.
Lips Lines – while often called ‘Smokers Lines’, these lines can also develop in nonsmokers, and are caused by puckering the lips. While a small amount of wrinkle relaxer can be used to ‘soften’ these lines, higher doses cause unacceptable weakness. Wrinkle filler is generally a better solution if patients wish to reduce these lines, and is often combined to wrinkle relaxer to give optimal results.
‘Cobblestone’ Chin – puckering up and lifting of the chin area, which makes the lip area look less attractive. This is easily treated with wrinkle relaxer
Marionette Lines – the downward pointing lines that appear in some people, running from the corners of the mouth and down alongside the chin. If they are not deep, wrinkle relaxer can successfully reduce these, but if they are severe then wrinkle filler is required to restore volume to the underlying tissue. Both treatments can be combined to give an even better result.
Neck bands – these are thin rope-like muscles that stand out in the neck in some people during facial expression, and are easily treated with wrinkle relaxer. Neck lines or soft folds of skin can also appear with ageing, due to loss of the skins’ elasticity, and these should be distinguished from muscular neck bands, as wrinkle relaxer injections will not improve theire appearance.
Jaw reshaping – in people with strong chewing muscles, the jawline may appear excessively square. By injecting wrinkle relaxer into the chewing muscles just in front of the ear (the masseters), they become less prominent, and after 2 or 3 treatments typically become smaller. As there are not the only muscles responsible for chewing patients can eat normally.
Bruxism/Tooth Grinding – While in some cases this can occur as part of a medical disorder, for unknown reasons some otherwise healthy people grind their teeth. This can occur during the waking hours, or more often at night during sleep. If severe, it can cause jaw pain, headaches and dental problems. By weakening the masseter muscles with wrinkle relaxer injections, the grinding can be reduced or even completely resolve. Sometimes this occurs after a single treatment, or in others repeat treatment is required, and if severe the chewing muscles in the temple are also need to be injected.
Will it make my face look unnatural?
No, the amount used can be tailored to suit your desired outcome. A lower dose can be used to ‘soften’ the movement or appearance during normal facial expression, such as over the forehead or around the eyes. In areas like the frown or chin, higher doses can be given to stop movement completely, as the lack of movement in these areas goes unnoticed by others, providing a subtle enhancement to your natural facial expression.
Can it be used to treat the wrinkles and fine lines under my eyes?
Generally, lines in the under eye area do not respond to wrinkle relaxer, as they are caused by other factors, such as the cheek moving upwards and creasing the skin. Other treatments such as PRP or surgery to remove excess skin may be necessary to achieve the desired outcome.
Can it be used to the treat the smile lines around the mouth?
No. The lines between the side of the nose and the corner of the mouth are called the ‘nasolabial folds’, or NLF. They become accentuated with age due to a combination of factors, one of which is loss of soft tissue volume from the middle of the face, but muscle contraction is not the main cause. Although smiling deepens them, the muscles that do this also support the cheeks, and wrinkle relaxer should never be injected into these for cosmetic reasons as the risk of facial droop is high. Treatment with wrinkle filler is the best way to improve the appearance of these lines.
How long does the procedure take?
The injections themselves are very quick, and can be done in 5-10 minutes by experienced doctors. However, the consultation process can and should last longer, as the most important part of the treatment is determining how we can best improve your facial appearance.
During the consultation you will be asked which facial lines are of concern to you, and while looking at these lines in a mirror your doctor will describe what is possible to achieve with wrinkle relaxer injections. If these areas are not suitable for wrinkle relaxer injections, alternatives can be discussed.
The doctor will then calculate the exact dose (in standardised ‘units’) for each area, and briefly ice the skin (which minimises discomfort) before injecting the wrinkle relaxer with a very fine needle. The injections are slightly painful, but very well tolerated by most patients, and anesthetic is not needed.
How does a ‘Wrinkle Relaxer’ stop sweating?
Sweat gland output, particularly from the axilla, palms and feet, is controlled by tiny nerve endings in the deep layer of the skin called the dermis. When wrinkle relaxing agents are injected into the dermis, they blocks nerve endings to the sweat glands, thus reducing sweat production. For Axillary Hyperhidrosis, tiny amounts or wrinkle relaxer are injected in a grid-like pattern covering the area. The aim is to reduce sweating to a normal level, not to completely stop its production, and this generally lasts 6-9 months.
How long does it take to work? How long will it last? Is there anything I should not do after the injections?
Movement begins to reduce by 3-4 days and is usually stabilises after 1-2weeks. Movement begins to return gradually, until by 3-4months the beneficial effect is no longer apparent. If it wears off sooner than 3 months your doctor can increase the dose at the next treatment to prolong the effect, but should make you aware that this may cause less movement than is desired in some areas e.g. forehead.
How often should I have it?
Regular treatments at 3-4 month intervals is required for a consistent effect on your facial appearance, and to allow time for the static lines to fade or disappear.