Many patients love getting anti-wrinkle injections as it helps them feel more fresh, awake and confident.
Common questions include “will I get any side effects if I continue doing anti-wrinkle injections for years”
Or “what happens if I suddenly decide to stop doing anti-wrinkle injections?”.
How do anti-wrinkle injections work?
Anti-wrinkle injections are muscle relaxing injections. Wherever the treatment provider places the anti-wrinkle injections into the area of concern, it relaxes that specific muscle for a period of time, generally around 3-4 months.
This works to not only soften the lines on our face (such as our forehead, frown lines andcrow’s feet) but to also help in slimming various muscles and relieving pain and tension that can be associated, such as teeth grinding (masseters).
After a period of time, the effects of the anti-wrinkle injections start to wear off and a re- treatment is required to maintain the results of the treatment.
If a re-treatment is not performed, the muscle movement will continue to rise and baseline muscle movement will come back after the anti-wrinkle has completely worn off.
Who are anti-wrinkle injections suitable for?
Anti-wrinkle injections are an amazing treatment option for anyone who is wanting to soften the appearance of lines on their face that concerns them. It is also a great option for those who are wanting to still maintain a natural appearance, but are after a ‘fresh’ look.
There are however some people that are not candidates for anti-wrinkle injections.
For example, you are not a suitable candidate for anti-wrinkle injections if you are:
- Pregnant or currently breastfeeding
- On antibiotics
- Have any significant neurological diseases
A face-to-face consultation with an injector is needed to fully determine whether a patient is suitable for treatment or not.
How long do I need to get anti-wrinkle for?
Am I able to try it out once or do I need to keep doing it forever?
There is no timeframe that you must get anti-wrinkle injections for. If you get the treatment done and you do not enjoy the treatment, you can simply just not get another treatment done and wait for the anti-wrinkle to wear off.
On the other hand, if you love the results and want to maintain, you can continue to get regular treatments done every 3-4 months for as long as
it suits you.
So what happens if one day I decide I don’t want to get anti-wrinkle treatments done anymore? Will I get any bad side effects?
No you won’t! Many people worry that if they get anti-wrinkle injections, their muscles may get weaker and weaker overtime, and when they stop getting anti-wrinkle injections they will get a droopy or funny face. This isn’t the case.
When we stop getting anti-wrinkle injections done, our muscles start to become more active again, and continue to get stronger until the effects of the anti-wrinkle have completely worn off. Your muscle movement simply goes back to how it was before you started getting anti- wrinkle injections.
Your muscle movement and strength go back to how they were before you started getting anti-wrinkle injections.
” Sounds great! So I can just come in whenever I want and get frequent top
up’s and there are no side effects, right?”
No, this is not correct.
We recommend getting anti-wrinkle treatments done every 3-4 months for the best results and longevity possible.
Coming back more frequently for re-treatments or ‘top ups’ can do more harm than good! Getting mini anti-wrinkle or ‘top up’ treatments very frequently before your 3 to 4 month re-treatment can increase your risk of becoming immune to the treatments ie this means that they will not be as effective.
Anti-wrinkle injections are efficient and stay working in your muscles for 3-4 months, so there is no need to come back every month for more
Less is more! So even though it may sound tempting getting treatment done every month, please stick to your 3-4 month re-treatment.
If you are wanting to add a little bit more, or if you are finding that you are wanting a bit more of a stronger result, wait until your 3-4 month re-
treatment and your treatment plan can be adjusted on the day!
There are also risks associated in the short term with anti-wrinkle injections, these include:
- Eyelid/brow droop
- Muscle weakness
- Asymmetry
- Bruising
- Infection
How do I minimise the probability of experiencing a side-effect?
Every medical treatment comes with possible risks and side effects, but the risks are reasonably low with anti-wrinkle injection. There are ways that you can minimise the probability of experiencing a side effect.
These include:
- Following your aftercare instructions that are set out by your treatment provider
- Not coming back for frequent ‘top ups’
- Building on your dosage gradually
- Go to a qualified treatment provider
- Asking questions during your consultation
Any questions that you may have, be sure to ask your injector during your appointment!
There is no such thing as a silly question and consultations are a perfect time to get all the information you need about your preferred treatments.
If you have any enquiries, please send us an email at info@themanseclinic.com.au or
alternatively give us a call on (02) 9331 5005 or book online