Wrinkle Treatments
As we age we develop fine lines and wrinkles in the skin of our face, neck and body. There are many contributing factors some of which are within and some beyond your control. Intrinsic factors are those that are associated with deterioration with time with ageing and include genetics, ageing and the body’s ability to repair itself from free radical damage. Extrinsic factors are those that we have more control over and accelerate intrinsic ageing. They include UV exposure (sun damage), pollution, smoking, nutrition and dehydration.
Fine Lines
Your face has dozens of small muscles that move and create your facial expression. Repeated muscle movement in the same place will initially cause dynamic lines which are only present when the muscle is moving but with long term repeated movement they can eventually turn into static lines, which are visible even when the muscles are relaxed.
One of the ways we can reduce lines and wrinkles is by reducing the muscle movement temporarily with a prescription only botulinum toxin via injection. This has the effect of relaxing these muscles to give a smoother appearance.
Typical areas that are treated are frown lines, forehead lines, and ‘crow’s feet’.
This treatment is not suitable for everyone and sometimes an alternative treatment may be recommended, (e.g. medical grade skin care, skin treatments, skin boosters or soft tissue fillers). Often a combination of treatments is required. A full consultation and assessment is required to ensure that this is the best treatment plan for you.
Botulinum toxin and its resulting neuromodulation also has more advanced applications in the face.
ADVANCED BOTULINUM TOXIN TREATMENTS
JAWLINE SLIMMING
The masseter muscles is a strong chewing muscle found at the side of your face. This can become tense and enlarged due to chewing gum, tenson and grinding teeth. It can start to produce bruxism, which is strong clenching of the teeth, which can cause jaw pain, teeth grinding and headache. Botulinum toxin can be used to treat overactive muscles to relieve these symptoms. It will also have the effect of reducing visible size of the muscle which results in the slimming effect of your face and a softer jawline.
‘GUMMY SMILE’ & ‘LIP FLIP’
Some people may find that their upper gum is visible, or may find that their top lip ‘disappears’ when they smile. Botulinum toxin can be used to relax the muscle pull which causes this in order to reduce the amount of gum visible or to stop the lip from curling in while smiling. This treatment is sometimes combined with lip filler treatment.
Down-Turned Mouth
If the depressor muscles at the side of the chin are strong they can pull down the corners of the mouth. People often report that they 'look sad all the time'. Relaxing these muscles can help reduce the downwards pull giving a more neutral appearance to the lip line. Sometimes other depressor muscles (in the chin and neck) need to be treated in conjunction.
Chin dimpling reduction
A stronger mentalis muscle can cause significant dimpling of the chin, often giving an orange peel type appearance. Relaxing the mentalis muscle will help to give a smoother appearance.
Neck bands and Lines
Sometimes known as the 'Nefertiti Neck Lift,' by placing toxin in the superficial muscle of the neck, it can help to relax the large muscle that can cause visible neck bands and lines in the neck, giving a smoother and more youthful appearance along with definition to the jaw line.
‘Bunny lines’ on the nose – usually seen when smiling
These are the horizontal lines seen on the bridge of the nose when smiling. Some people have more prominent use of the muscle that causes these lines. Treating it with botulinum toxin will help to relax the lines.
ADVANCED BOTULINUM TOXIN TREATMENTS
JAWLINE SLIMMING
The masseter muscles is a strong chewing muscle found at the side of your face. This can become tense and enlarged due to chewing gum, tenson and grinding teeth. It can start to produce bruxism, which is strong clenching of the teeth, which can cause jaw pain, teeth grinding and headache. Botulinum toxin can be used to treat overactive muscles to relieve these symptoms. It will also have the effect of reducing visible size of the muscle which results in the slimming effect of your face and a softer jawline.
‘GUMMY SMILE’ & ‘LIP FLIP’
Some people may find that their upper gum is visible, or may find that their top lip ‘disappears’ when they smile. Botulinum toxin can be used to relax the muscle pull which causes this in order to reduce the amount of gum visible or to stop the lip from curling in while smiling. This treatment is sometimes combined with lip filler treatment.
Down-Turned Mouth
If the depressor muscles at the side of the chin are strong they can pull down the corners of the mouth. People often report that they 'look sad all the time'. Relaxing these muscles can help reduce the downwards pull giving a more neutral appearance to the lip line. Sometimes other depressor muscles (in the chin and neck) need to be treated in conjunction.
Chin dimpling reduction
A stronger mentalis muscle can cause significant dimpling of the chin, often giving an orange peel type appearance. Relaxing the mentalis muscle will help to give a smoother appearance.
Neck bands and Lines
Sometimes known as the 'Nefertiti Neck Lift,' by placing toxin in the superficial muscle of the neck, it can help to relax the large muscle that can cause visible neck bands and lines in the neck, giving a smoother and more youthful appearance along with definition to the jaw line.
‘Bunny lines’ on the nose – usually seen when smiling
These are the horizontal lines seen on the bridge of the nose when smiling. Some people have more prominent use of the muscle that causes these lines. Treating it with botulinum toxin will help to relax the lines.
Wrinkle Treatments FAQ
Will My Face Look Frozen?
At Lecale Clinic our aim is to give you a natural look. We will tailor the treatment to you and your specific concern. You will not look frozen and you will be able to make expressions. The degree of muscle movement required to make a natural looking appearance after treatment will depend on your age, ethnicity and individual characteristics.
How long will my treatment last?
You may begin to see the effects of treatment from around one week after treatment however the full effects will not be apparent until around 2-3 weeks after and this will peak at about 6 weeks following treatment. After that time the muscle function will slowly recover with usually complete muscle power returning at around 12 weeks after treatment. Ultimately everyone is different and there is no way to accurately predict your individual response to treatment.
Is there anything I can do to make my treatment last longer?
Unfortunately not and there is a large individual variation. Some lucky people find their results last longer than 6 months while other people find it lasts 3 months.
Does Wrinkle Reduction Treatment fill in lines and creases in my skin?
In treating the cause of the lines by reducing the muscle movement underlying the skin creases it will act to reduce and help smooth the lines but it will not completely remove them or fill them in. Sometimes static lines can be directly filled afterwards with dermal filler. By maintaining reduced muscle movement with repeated treatments over a longer period of time the permanent lines may persistently soften and this can be improved on by other treatments such as skin treatments and medical grade skin care.
Will I need any other treatment?
The process of ageing is multifactorial. While wrinkles can be caused by the action of the muscles pulling on and repeatedly creasing the skin, the skin itself also ages. Your skin becomes thinner with age, and it loses its collagen and elastin scaffolding support. We recommend addressing all causes of ageing skin for optimal results. This usually includes medical grade skin care and sometimes, other injectable treatments.
HYPERHYDROSIS
Also known as excess sweating, hyperhidrosis is a common condition that can have a profound effect on daily life with social and psychological impact. Injection of botulinum toxin into the affected areas such as underarms, hands, feet, or parts of the face, we can reduce the excess sweating and the results can last up to 6 months or longer.
