Anti Wrinkle Treatment

Cosmetically, at The Clinic Holland Park, West London, we use Anti Wrinkle injections to smooth fine lines and wrinkles in the face and jaw, notably in the following areas: glabella frown lines (wrinkles between the eyebrows); orbital creases (‘crow’s feet’); and frontalis creases (surprise lines on the forehead). Anti Wrinkle Treatments can be targeted at one or more area, or over the full face; and we can also slim the jawline.

The Clinic Holland Park also treats hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) with this injection. (In other areas of medicine – not available with us – it is used in higher doses for a range of treatments: migraines, muscular disorders, and some bladder and bowel disorders.)

Aesthetically, the benefits are that our Anti Wrinkle injection is an excellent non-surgical solution to smoother skin and a flawless complexion. This is a minimally invasive procedure that can erase the wrinkles in the face and forehead. It can also be used to lift drooping eyebrows, or slim the jawline, resulting in a more youthful appearance. Medically, there are many benefits and uses (see above).

Botulinum toxin has an excellent safety record as a muscle relaxant. It has been used successfully in adults and children in a variety of medical conditions over the past 20 years, and used cosmetically to treat facial wrinkles for over 15 years. It has become one of the most popular and frequently used cosmetic ‘tweakments’.

Side effects? Most people experience only mild, localised pain at the time of the injections, or for a very short time afterwards. Immediately after treatment, there may be mild swelling at the injection site, which usually goes within 48 hours; slight bruising is also possible. Further side effects of these treatments are extremely rare.

Our Anti Wrinkle Treatment can be used for treating wrinkles in men and women; however, men often need slightly higher doses. However, we do not use the Anti Wrinkle Treatment in any of the following circumstances:

• Clients with infection at the proposed injection site
• Clients who have previously had an allergic reaction to botulinum toxin type A injections
• Clients with muscle problems or chronic diseases affecting the muscles (such as Myasthenia Gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome)
• Children under the age of 18 years
• Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
• Individuals with excessive weakness or wasting in the muscle to be injected, such as patients with history of stroke or Bell’s Palsy.

The Anti Wrinkle Treatment should be used cautiously when treating individuals at risk of bleeding, because there is an increased risk of bruising post procedure. These include: people with blood-clotting disorders such as haemophilia; or those who are taking treatments with anticoagulant medicines such as warfarin, heparin, aspirin and anti-inflammatory medicines. Please let your clinician know at initial consultation whether this applies to you. Certain herbal remedies – such as those derived from Gingko Biloba, St John’s Wort and Vitamin E – can also increase the risk of bruising, so please inform your clinician if you are taking any herbal supplements too.

The Anti Wrinkle Treatment takes about 15 minutes; although a full consultation, including consent, photographs, and aftercare advice, can take up to 30 minutes.

There is little or no recovery time after the injections. You are able to drive and go to work the same day. If you experience any pain (usually very minimal) it can be treated with paracetamol. The working effects of the injection may be seen after 2-3 days, with maximum benefit reached in 2 weeks. We offer all our clients a free 2-week follow-up appointment to assess the effect of your treatment.

The cosmetic effects of the Anti Wrinkle Treatment can last up to 6 months, but typically last up to 3 months. Eventually most people require re-treatment as the wrinkles reappear. However, in some treated areas (such as frown wrinkles) the wrinkles may be less severe when they return after repeated treatments, because the unconscious muscle-contraction habit has been broken.