Injections can be an effective treatment for smoothing wrinkles and fine lines on the face and neck. It works by stopping the signals from the nerves to the muscles preventing their contraction and so the wrinkles relax and soften. As the injection is acting on muscles it is most effective in treating wrinkles caused by the contraction of muscles, these are called dynamic wrinkles. These injections are less effective at treating the wrinkles caused by loose skin or gravity. These so called “static” wrinkles are best treated by fillers or therapies to boost the underlying support or procedures to re-tighten the skin.
The doctor makes a number of tiny injections into the muscles and these inhibit the normal contraction of muscles allowing the wrinkles to relax and soften. This procedure works well for frown wrinkles, lines around the eye, and forehead lines.
At the Plasma Doctor clinic, we use a highly refined formulation where any unnecessary proteins have been removed by an extensive purification process to leave the purest form of the drug.
This means that it is able to provide similar results to those achievable with other products but with a reduced risk of antibody formation.
It takes 5 to 7 days before the effects of the injections to begin to work and for you to start to see a reduction in the lines and wrinkles on the area treated. It takes 2 weeks to see the full effect of the treatment which peaks at 6-8 weeks and lasts around 4 to 6 months.
Like most treatments, it can be associated with side effects, but the injections are small and the procedure is quick with generally very few side effects In most patients.
As with all injections there is the potential for some minor bruising which is temporary or a tiny swelling at the injection site which can last a couple of hours. Headaches may also happen, but this is rare and if they do occur, they resolve within 24 to 48 hours.
Rare potential side effects you may experience, include:
Depending upon the area being treated, some patients may occasionally also experience eye lid drooping, which usually resolves within 3 weeks. Drooping is thought to occur when the drug moves in the skin and therefore we advise that you do not to rub or touch the injection site for 12 hours following the procedure.