Are wrinkle-relaxing injections safe?
As wrinkle-relaxing injections use nerve toxins that someone else is going to inject into your face, they are not without risks. However, it is widely accepted that, when administered by a skilled and responsible practitioner, you have nothing to fear. As with any poison, the effect depends on the dose: neurotoxins can be lethal in large amounts – but then, so can paracetamol or aspirin. Also, because of their toxic nature and widespread usage, there have been a lot of studies done to ensure their safety.
In the UK, toxins and the other neurotoxins are prescription-only drugs, so they have to be supplied by a medical professional who is qualified to prescribe. That means a doctor, a surgeon, a dentist, or a nurse-prescriber (a qualified nurse who has taken a further course to become a non-medical prescriber). The injections can legally be given by someone working under the supervision of that qualified professional, though the prescriber is the one who takes responsibility for the treatment.
How long do toxin injections take?
Wrinkle-relaxing injections normally take only 10 minutes. If you need anaesthetic cream, that will add 30 minutes to the treatment time.
How long do toxins take to work?
You’ll start seeing the effects take hold within a week and the treatment will reach full effect in 10-14 days. The procedure itself takes hardly any time. About 10 minutes if you’re getting one or two areas done. The initial consultation is a longer process (which is a good thing and one of the hallmarks of a good practitioner) so set aside an additional 30-40 minutes for your first time. All said and done, you’ll be in and out within an hour.
I would always recommend always booking in for a review two weeks after treatment, by which time the full effects of the treatment will be showing. That way, if you end up with, say, one eyebrow arching higher than the other, your practitioner can make a small adjustment to even things out. Most practitioners will not charge you for this review appointment, and you can always cancel it if you are happy with the way your face is settling down.
Do toxin injections hurt?
You’ll feel the injections, as usual, but the needles are very small and the volume of liquid injected is minuscule, so there’s very little pain. If you are sensitive to pain, you can numb the treatment area beforehand with anaesthetic cream or an ice pack; discuss this with your practitioner beforehand.
What are some alternatives to toxins?
Nothing will relax the muscles that create dynamic wrinkles in the way that botulinum toxins can. But if you don’t fancy it, there are many other approaches to try. You could:
- Try other treatments that will reduce the appearance of lines by boosting collagen growth within the skin, such as microneedling, fractional laser treatment or Tixel.
- Use stick-on patches that will remind you when you are frowning, such as frownies.co.uk. Relax your forehead and stick on a patch. When you frown, the patch will tweak at your face and remind you to relax your expression.
- Try serums containing Argireline. This is a peptide that has a relaxing effect on dynamic wrinkle lines around the eyes. It will not have as marked an effect as toxins, but studies suggest that it can help if used at a concentration of 10 percent.
- Use a night cream containing retinol. This will stimulate the growth of collagen within the skin and this will reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
- Practise feeling serene. I’m not joking. Sit in front of a mirror, frown, and then work out how to actively relax your forehead. Practice that movement, along with an exhale.
As for body concerns:
- Posture is key. When you are working ensure the height of your chair and monitor are such that you don’t have to crane our your computer. Practice pulling your shoulders back and down too to release tension.
- Get a deep tissue massage to work out areas of muscle tightness where knots have formed, such as in the shoulders.
- Invest in a stronger antiperspirant – or get the advice of your GP – if your sweating feels excessive.
What happens if I stop toxins?
After two to six months, the effects of toxins will be wearing off as the muscle develops more acetylcholine receptors to pick up signals from the nerves, and the muscles will fully recover their function. Amazingly, this is a reliably observed process that happens time after time, even with serial toxins fanatics. (More seriously, this effect has been studied over many years with patients who have repeated treatment with toxins treatment to control muscle spasticity . With this sort of treatment, much larger doses of toxins are used than in cosmetic treatment.) The upside of this is that if there’s something you don’t like about the result then you can tell your practitioner and they can make sure to adjust your treatment accordingly. The downside, of course, is that this is a repeat cost that adds up over time.
What’s the difference between anti-wrinkle injections and dermal fillers?
There’s a huge difference. Anti-wrinkle toxin injections relax muscles to soften wrinkles, whereas dermal fillers – fillers injected into the skin – are used to add shape and structure to the face, and to replace the volume that gets lost as our fat pads shrink with age. For example, fillers are frequently injected into the cheeks and lips, to stop them looking deflated, or along the jawline, to make it look firmer.
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