Wrinkle relaxers are a quick, simple, safe and extremely effective procedure for removing or reducing facial wrinkles, and for the prevention of future lines. This treatment has become the gold standard in anti-aging treatments, and is now a very common and popular procedure.
Wrinkles are formed when the facial muscles contract, causing the overlying skin to crease. As we age facial lines and wrinkles also develop as our skin starts to lose collagen and elastin, and so wrinkles start to become more pronounced. Other factors including sun exposure, smoking, diet, genetics facial expressions all contribute to the development of wrinkles. The role of wrinkle relaxers therapy is to remove, reduce or even prevent facial wrinkles.
What are wrinkle relaxers used for?:
Wrinkle relaxers can be used as a very effective treatment to relax the muscles that cause the upper facial lines to form. Most commonly, these include:
Wrinkle relaxers can also be used in other areas of the face including the chin (to reduce chin dimpling), the masseters (to slim the jawline), bunny lines and around the mouth to improve the smile.
Wrinkle relaxers are also being used to treat a number of medical conditions including migraine and tension headaches, excessive sweating and the grinding of teeth.
What is involved in the treatment of wrinkle relaxers?
Treatment is quick and simple and involves several injections of a naturally purified protein into specifically located sites using a very fine needle. These injections work by inhibiting the transmission of signals between the nerves and the injected muscle. This stops the affected muscle from contracting, and in turn, reduces the creasing of the overlying skin. Wrinkle relaxers can be used both in the treatment of existing lines, and in the prevention of future wrinkles from occurring.
Typically the procedure is very quick with no anaesthetic required and no downtime. The pain is minimal and very temporary. The client can resume their normal daily activities immediately after the procedure.
What are the risks and side effects of wrinkle relaxers therapy?
All medical procedures come with the potential of some risk. To minimise this, it is essential that the wrinkle relaxers treatment is performed by an experienced and fully-trained cosmetic doctor.
Side effects are usually minimal, temporary and limited. These include:
- Pain – burning and stinging
- Bruising
- Swelling or redness at the injection site
- Headache
- Temporary local muscle weakness- eg drooping eyelids/eyebrows
There are no documented long-term or permanent side effects of wrinkle relaxers.
What results can I expect to see from my wrinkle relaxers treatment?
Wrinkles can be either dynamic (only appear when the muscle contacts), or static, the lines are present all the time. Static lines are due to the loss of elastin and collagen in the skin and the resultant loss of elasticity. Wrinkles can be completely eliminated if the lines are all dynamic. Static wrinkles can be dramatically softened but never completely removed by wrinkle relaxers treatments. The final result of your treatment will depend on how dynamic/static your wrinkles are. Also, the client has the ability to choose how strong the treatment is, from frozen or no movement, to allowing a small amount of expression.
When will I see the results of my wrinkle relaxers treatment, and how long does it last?
The results of the procedure start to appear within 2-3 days, but can take 7-14 days to take full effect. Each treatment usually lasts 3-4 months, and is not permanent. Over time, if the procedures are done regularly, the treated muscles will weaken and you should get longer out of each wrinkle relaxers treatment. If you choose not to have further treatments your muscles will return to normal activity and your facial lines will gradually revert to their pre-treatment level.
Wrinkle Relaxers are a common and safe procedure, but need to be done by an experienced injector. Contact Dr Tandra Paul for more information about Wrinkle Relaxers treatments using the contact page here.