Wrinkles and Fine Lines

The drugs used in anti-wrinkle injections are natural, purified protein that relax the muscles responsible for wrinkles. The active ingredients in this drug are derived from bacteria in much the same way as penicillin is derived from mould.This process is carried out under sterile laboratory conditions.

Anti-wrinkle drugs are prescription only medicines and are only available from a qualified medical professional.

Anti wrinkle injections are a non-surgical procedure whereby small amounts of the drug are injected into selected facial muscles using a very fine needle.

Treatments generally take around 10 minutes to complete.

Discomfort is typically minimal and brief, and anaesthetic is usually not required, but available if so.

Normal activities can be resumed immediately post procedure with the only restrictions being no strenuous exercise or lying down flat for 4 hours.

It takes 2-3 days for the treatment to start taking affect and up to 2 weeks for the full effect to be evident.

Drug doses vary depending your individual situation, the areas treated and the severity of your lines.

Effects vary depending on the facial muscles treated. For instance, any anti wrinkle injections around the mouth typically last 8 weeks as theses muscles are extremely active compared to other facial muscles. Other facial muscle injections typically last up tp 4 months or more in some individuals.

Administering the correct dose is important in achieving longevity but avoiding the 'Frozen' look.

We've all noticed people whose faces appear frozen, ultra shiny and overdone. This is a personal choice and a decision made between the patient and their injector.

The results of anti wrinkle injections are very much dose related and can be modified based on the injectors advice and the desires and needs of the patient.

At Laser Therapeutics we advocate conservative doses that help reduce and slow down the signs of ageing, achieving a fresh, not 'done' natural result.

For the majority of patients, any side effects are temporary and limited to the area that has been injected.

Possible side effects include pain, burning or stinging; bruising, swelling or redness at the injection site; local muscle weakness including drooping eyelids or eyebrows; swollen eyelids and skin tightness; tingling sensation, itching or aching forehead; headaches, nausea and flu-like symptoms.

There is very little downtime with anti-wrinkle injections. After your procedure, you can return to your day-to-day activities straight away.

Dermal fillers are injectable gels containing hyaluronic acid, a substance that occurs naturally in the skin. They give your skin hydration and volume, reducing the depth of wrinkles and restoring facial balance and volume loss through the ageing process.

Hyaluronic acid is a complex sugar found naturally in the body.

Its main role is to attract water and provide hydration to the skin.

Our levels of Hyaluronic acid diminish with age.

Dermal filler gel containing hyaluronic acid and lidocaine(local anaesthetic) is injected into or below the skin to smooth wrinkles, enhance lips and restore facial volume loss due to ageing.

Dermal filler injections produce instant results and usually take 15-30 minutes to perform.

The effects of dermal fillers can last anywhere from 9 to 24 months depending on the dermal filler product used as different types of products have different longevity.

There is usually mild discomfort in the form of a stinging sensation as the needle penetrates the skin.

Most dermal fillers these days contain local anaesthetic to reduce injection discomfort so they essential numb the area during the injections.

There are a number of other ways to reduce injection discomfort:

• Topical local anaesthetic cream application prior to the procedure
• Ice pack application during procedure
• Local anaesthetic nerve blocks inside the mouth similar to those performed by dentists are available for lip filler treatments

Reported dermal filler side effects include injection site redness, pain, firmness, swelling, lumps and bumps, bruising, itching or discolouration. In the vast majority of cases, these effects are temporary and usually resolve within a week.