Understanding the Benefits of Anti-Wrinkle Injections

Dr Darren Mckeown

Published by Dr Darren McKeown

Date posted — 21.10.24

If you are researching your options for aesthetic treatments then you’ve probably come across the term ‘anti-wrinkle injections’. But what does that even mean? What are ‘anti-wrinkle injections’? How does it compare with other aesthetic treatments you’ve been reading about? 

In this article, I’m going  to demystify anti-wrinkle injections. We’ll delve into the science behind the treatment, explain the procedure, and discuss potential benefits and risks.

 

Demystifying Anti-Wrinkle Injections

Anti-wrinkle injections could technically refer to a whole range of different types of treatment. In most day to day context however it refers to injecting a muscle relaxant into muscles that are responsible for causing certain wrinkles, causing the muscle to relax and therefore reducing the appearance of the overlying wrinkles. 

 

The primary component in most anti-wrinkle injections is botulinum toxin. This neurotoxic protein temporarily relaxes muscles, smoothing out wrinkles and giving the skin a more youthful appearance.

 

What Are Anti-Wrinkle Injections used to treat?

Anti-wrinkle injections are normally used to treat dynamic wrinkles – which are the wrinkles caused by repetitive facial movements. The injections are normally very effective at reducing the wrinkles caused by movement, but less effective – at least initially – for static wrinkles (those that are present when the face is at rest).

 

Botulinum toxin is licensed for cosmetic use in treating frown lines, crow’s feet, and forehead lines. The injections are commonly used for ‘off-label’ purposes on other areas of the face and neck. Whilst using the drug ‘off label’ on other parts of the face may be common, it is typically less effective than when used to treat the official indications and may be associated with additional side effects.  

 

The Science Behind the Treatment

Botulinum toxin, the active ingredient, is a neurotoxic protein. It works in a specific location in the nerve endings – stopping the nerve endings from releasing the molecule it normally produces to ‘talk’ to the muscle cells, telling them to contract. Because this communication between the nerve and muscle is blocked, it means muscle will relax causing the overlying skin to smooth out.

 

The effects of the toxin are localized. This means they only affect the specific muscles where the toxin was injected. The rest of the body is not affected.

 

The Procedure Explained

The process is straightforward and typically takes only a few minutes.

The injection is administered using a very fine needle. In our practice we use a needle that is even finer than the one diabetics use every day. The finest needles cost a little more, but we think it’s worth the investment for our patients maximum comfort!  

 

What to Expect During the Consultation

The consultation is a crucial part of the treatment process. It is an opportunity for the practitioner to assess your skin and discuss your aesthetic goals. It is also important for your doctor to review your medication history, any medications you take, any allergies as well as your history of aesthetic procedures – what has worked well for you in the past, what hasn’t. By undertaking a thorough and comprehensive assessment we can maximise the chances of a positive outcome. 

 

Post-Treatment: Recovery and Care

After the treatment it is quite normal to see some immediate redness and swelling at the injection site. This normally resolves within a few minutes – typically by the time you get back to the car. It is much less common to develop any bruising. If this happens, it can usually be camouflaged with some make up and will go away like any normal bruise. 

 

It is quite common to develop a headache following treatment – this can affect up to 1 in 10 patients. If you develop a headache, you can take over the counter pain medication like paracetamol (or Tylenol if you are in the US). 

 

Much less commonly you can develop drooping of the eyelid or eyebrow. This usually affects around 1 in 3000 patients. If it happens, there is usually not much you can do other than waiting for it to wear off. This typically happens within 2-6 weeks, although it can persist for the full duration of the treatment. 

 

Before and After: Visualizing the Results

Visualizing potential outcomes can be helpful when considering anti-wrinkle injections. Before and after photos can provide a realistic depiction of what to expect from the treatment. Here are some examples of what it may be possible to achieve. 

 

“Before and after photos of patients who have undergone anti-wrinkle injections”

 

Aesthetic Improvements and Psychological Well-being

The way we look can have a direct impact on both how we feel as well as how well we function socially. The aesthetic improvements from anti-wrinkle injections can significantly boost a patient’s self-confidence, making them feel more comfortable in social circumstances. This is something we have studied in our clinic and we have published our data in the peer reviewed literature. 

 

Selecting the Right Practitioner

Choosing the right practitioner is a critical step in ensuring a safe and successful treatment. You should always chose a doctor who has advanced understanding of anatomy, physiology and pharmacology to allow them to tailor the procedure to your specific needs, rather than follow a ‘painting by numbers’ approach.  

 

Dr Darren Mckeown

Dr Darren McKeown

Our founder, Dr Darren McKeown, is renowned for his expertise and artistry with dermal fillers. As a peer-reviewed medical author, he is passionate about treatments that stand up to scientific scrutiny. Above all, Dr McKeown believes in a global approach; delivering flawless results – and rejuvenation that lasts.

Related Articles

The UK continues to be the international outlier when it comes to the regulation of cosmetic procedures. Today I got to write about some of my thoughts on why this is for the Agenda column in The Herald. 

This is something I’ve been campaigning about for years. At some point the government will have to do something. What’s your thoughts on it? 

Read the full article at the link in our bio.
The hollow upper eyelid - one of the trickiest challenges in eyelid surgery! As well as the eyelids developing excess tissue with age, some people also really lose volume from the eyelid.

 In these patients simply removing the skin can look ok and better than before, but it doesn't necessarily make the eyelid look any more youthful. To really create youth again you need to restore some of the softness, which is exactly what we did for this patient. 

This was a joint effort between @bramhallplasticsurgery and myself. Russell did an upper blepharoplasty to remove the excess skin, and I then followed up with some filler below the brow and in the eyelid to give her back the youthful softness. 

The patient is literally ecstatic with this result. What do you think?
Now the clocks have changed we are now well and truly into laser season. 

This is one of our patients who had full resurfacing just two weeks ago. She's still a bit red, but already loving her new skin. She told me that she invented a new game called 'find the wrinkle'. She's still looking! 

Look at how the lines and wrinkles around the mouth have been erased, as well as the lines and wrinkles on her cheeks, under her eyes and above her eyebrows. 

When it comes to removing wrinkles, nothing does it quite like full resurfacing!
We recently shared the incredible results our patient Gary has achieved just a few weeks after being the first in Scotland to be treated with VenaSeal™ for varicose veins. Here’s the fabulous Dr Alex with an overview of the treatment.

VenaSeal™  is the star of our new vascular surgery treatments. It is already the most popular treatment for varicose veins in the US because it’s less invasive and you can walk out straight after treatment, without the hassle of wearing compression bandages for weeks afterwards. It’s also less painful than other procedures! 

If you or someone you know has varicose veins and would like to come along for a consultation with Dr Alex, send us a message or drop an email to enquiries@drdarrenmckeown.com.
This is our fantastic patient Gary just three weeks after being the first person in Scotland treated with VenaSeal™ - the revolutionary new treatment for varicose veins that allows the patient to walk out immediately after treatment with only a small sticking plaster (no bandages or compression garments!) 

It takes three months to achieve the best result, but at three weeks Gary’s improvement is remarkable already. He also has a few spider veins on his leg that can be treated later with foam sclerotherapy (you can choose to have those treated at the same time if you wish). 

If you or someone you know has varicose veins and would like to come along for a consultation with Dr Alex Vesey, send us a message or drop an email to enquiries@drdarrenmckeown.com.
We’re so excited to share this patient’s story with you!

Jen came to us last year feeling that what she looked like on the outside no longer matched how she felt on the inside. After consulting with Dr Darren and Dr Russell (@bramhallplasticsurgery) we worked together to develop a bespoke treatment plan to help her feel happier in her skin and make her feel like herself again. 

We’re so grateful to Jennifer for sharing her story with us. If you happen to be travelling via Queen St station, take a look up at the billboards to see Jen’s lovely face before and after. If it wasn’t for brave people like Jen we would never get to really show you the value of what we do in the clinic, and so we truly are appreciative of Jen and all the other lovely patients who allow us to share their journeys. What do you think?

Join us on Instagram to keep up with the latest results and expert insights from the clinic team.