Anti-Wrinkle Treatment (Anti-wrinkle Injections)
A wrinkle is a fold or crease in the skin. As we age, the supportive components of our skin such as elastic fibres, and other substances that maintain the skin texture get destroyed slowly. As a result our skin becomes thinner, drier, and less elastic and starts to sag. Wrinkles begin to develop in the areas such as the forehead, and around the eyes and lips.
Anti-wrinkle injections are indicated to smoothen forehead lines, frown lines, crow's feet and neck bands and potentially prevent formation of new wrinkles. Frown lines and crow’s feet wrinkles may give a person an angry, tired, or displeased appearance - even when they are not experiencing those emotions. The anti-wrinkle injections can give you a more relaxed, yet expressive face. Neck bands are visible bands on the neck formed as a result of aging. The cords or bands that protrude from the neck tend to sag with the aging process and pull the neck down. Treatment with anti-wrinkle injection can also reduce these neck bands and give you a more natural look. Anti-wrinkle injections work by relaxing the contracted muscles which cause these wrinkles.
Procedure: It is a simple office procedure. The area to be treated is cleansed thoroughly. An ice pad may be applied to reduce discomfort and the anti-wrinkle agents are injected with a fine needle directly into the muscle beneath the wrinkle. The muscle function becomes weakened, eliminating part or all of its function. The final results will be a softer, more relaxed and pleasing appearance.
The procedure may take as little as ten minutes. You may return to work immediately. It is a relatively painless procedure, though a mild stinging sensation may be felt.
Adverse Effects: Redness and bruising at the site of injection may be seen which will resolve in a day or two. You may experience mild headaches, double vision, drooping or swollen eyelid, dry eyes, and reduced blinking.
Precautions: To reduce bruising after treatment
- Stop taking anti-inflammatory medicines and aspirin 2 weeks prior to treatment
- Avoid rubbing the treated area or lying down after your treatment as the injected anti-wrinkle substance can spread to other areas nearby and paralyse other muscles
Results: The outcomes of anti-wrinkle injections usually last from four to six months. If you are dissatisfied with the benefits from a single injection, a second injection can be given after 2 weeks. Once you get a satisfactory result, the next visit is scheduled after about 3 months.
Other uses of anti-wrinkle injections: has been used since the 1970s for the treatment of excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), migraines, abnormal twitching of the eyelids (blepharospasm), muscle spasticity after stroke, and improving circulation to the fingers, which may occur due to some medical conditions.