What are wrinkle treatments?

Facial wrinkles are caused by repetitive expressions and muscle activity. Over time, the skin eventually develops obvious lines that are perceived as signs of ageing and are cosmetically undesirable. Botox^® is the brand name of a product used to treat facial wrinkles. Several other products have since been developed for the same purpose and are now widely used including Azzalure^® and Xeomin^®.

All of these products are in fact almost identical and contain botulinum toxin (Type A). This is a natural protein produced by a bacteria called Clostridium botulinum. The protein acts on muscles to temporarily relax them. Patients and doctors have come to refer to the treatments simply as wrinkle treatments since the procedures are performed in exactly the same way no matter what product is used.

As a consequence, these treatments can be used to relax the muscles of the face. By doing so, the wrinkles formed by muscle activity are also treated. This creates a natural, refreshed and youthful appearance of the face.

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How are wrinkle treatments used?

Wrinkles treatments have been performed on millions of men and women worldwide to achieve stunning cosmetic effects. Using tiny doses of botulinum toxin administered by a trained doctor, they are an extremely effective treatment and more importantly, they have exemplary safety record.

Botulinum toxin was first purified and developed into an injectable medicine used to treat a wide spectrum of conditions in the late 1970's. It was initially used to correct eye muscle disorders and in the treatment of muscle rigidity in children with Cerebral Palsy.

More recent uses of botulinum toxin include the treatment of headaches, bruxism, lower facial slimming, overactive bladders, in vocal cord diseases and for excessive sweating.

However, by far the most common use is for the cosmetic treatment of upper face wrinkles.

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Where are wrinkle treatments performed?

Traditionally, treatments are performed on three areas of the upper face:

1) Forehead 'worry' lines - the wrinkles formed when we raise our eyebrows

2) Glabellar 'frown' region - the area of the face between the eyebrows where strong wrinkles form

3) Crow's feet - the areas around the outside of the eyes. Wrinkles form here when we squint or smile

 

Less commonly, treatments can also be performed for:

- Fine lines under the eyes

- Wrinkles of the bridge of nose known as the 'bunny lines'

- Dimpling of the chin

Each and every face is different although wrinkles tend to be distributed equally between these regions. It is possible, however, to have significantly more noticeable wrinkling in just one of these areas and this is taken into account in our treatment prices.

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Safety of wrinkle treatments

In 2006, a cosmetic licence was granted to treat frown line wrinkles with Botox^® in the UK. Botulinum toxin is used in other areas of the face and for several other procedures (such as bruxism treatments) 'off label'. This means that it is used by a doctor outside its original intended use. Using medicines off label is a common practice and many medicines and antibiotics are used in this way.

For these reasons, wrinkle treatment injections have become the world's number one non - surgical cosmetic treatment.