Muscle Relaxing Injections

Muscle relaxants can take years off your appearance by relaxing frown lines, crows feet and other wrinkles caused by overuse of facial muscles. They can even give the illusion of a longer neck when used to relax the platysma bands and can soften lines around the mouth caused through smoking and pursing of the lips.

 The most commonly performed wrinkle treatment involves tiny little injections of botulinum toxin. Many people wrongly believe that the purpose of these injections is to cause a "frozen face". Unfortunately, in the hands of a poor injector, this can be true. There are also enough examples of celebrities that have chosen to go for the overdone look which gives the treatment bad press!

Botulinum Toxin is a medical toxin, which temporarily blocks the messages that are sent from the brain to the muscle. It is easily injected into the muscle, and will cause it to relax and stop moving for several months, reducing or even eliminating the lines. The product starts working three days after the injection and takes ten to fourteen days to reach the peak effect, which is then sustained for about eight weeks and gradually wears off over a period of time. Repeated three month treatments will enhance results and may give longer lasting treatments.

A proficient injector will relax your facial muscles enough to soften or reduce the wrinkles, but not enough to take away all expression. If you are a virgin to these treatments, and are scared by the horror stories of frozen faces and dropped eyebrows, here are some tips for a better result.

1. Consider the degree of relaxation that you are looking for - to what extent would you still like to move your eyes and forehead?

2. If you currently have just one area treated, try a second area to experience the difference - you will be astonished with the results.

3. Try a 'baby' wrinkle treatment. A smaller dosage version of the normal treatment offers a more subtle effect and is particularly suitable for women in their late twenties who want to prevent wrinkles but do not wish to look startled.

Anti-wrinkle parties

"Anti-wrinkle parties" are considered medically unprofessional and unethical because:

- A party does not provide the right environment for a professional consultation and informed consent. There have been many reported instances where people have been persuaded to have a treatment that they didn't really want, just because they got carried away with the moment, had too much to drink, or were influenced by friends.

- Alcohol will increase bruising.

- Botulinum toxin is a medical grade toxin, and requires careful handling and storage. It should be administered in a clinic environment with the backup of specialised equipment. The product should not be transported in an uncontrolled environment from location to location. 

TIP

Never have the full "frozen face" look if you are planning a job interview! I have lost count of the girls I have interviewed that have overdone their treatment. The lack of expression makes it impossible to gauge their responses to questions and it is difficult to trust an expressionless face.        

 Deb

The TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) Regulations prevent us from naming the product on this web site. For more details on this wonderful product, please contact the surgery to arrange a consultation.