Muscle Relaxing Treatment

Anti-wrinkle treatment is commonly referred to as ‘botox’ or ‘muscle-relaxing injections’. This treatment is provided to clients as a prescription-only treatment to help relax the strong muscles of the head and face.
The face is highly expressive, and this is created by using the muscles of facial expression. These muscles are in all areas of the face.
With expression, these muscles contract and relax and can cause the overlying skin sitting over the top of the muscles to crease and fold, creating wrinkles.
The anti-wrinkle treatment uses a muscle relaxer, botulinum toxin (produced by the bacterium clostridium botulinum). This toxin causes the muscles to relax by preventing movement.
The results are, smoother underlying muscles, to allow for the skin and tissue over the top to smooth out and rebuild, reducing wrinkles

1- Consultation– this is to ensure that this treatment is suitable for your concerns and presentation.. Your medical and social history will be discussed in order to create a prescription for the product. Photographs will also be taken for medical records to record the results of the treatment, don’t worry these don’t go anywhere! For more information regarding consultations click here
2– Cleaning: Making sure the skin is free from any bacteria is essential to safe and infection-free treatment. Your skin will be cleaned with a specialised disinfectant. It is useful, therefore to not wear makeup to your appointment
3– Marking of the skin: Specific points are marked on the skin and muscle movement is carefully recorded for the best possible results.
4- Injection of toxin: An extremely fine needle is used to inject the toxin into the lower layers of the skin. This takes about 2-3 minutes.
5- Postoperative instructions: see below.

• ‘11’s’ or Glabella: are the lines that form in-between the eyebrows from frowning.
• Forehead– Fine lines that run horizontally across the forehead from expression of surprise or concern.
• Crow’s feet‘ are fine lines that span out from the sides of the eyes towards the hairline and cheek.
• Bunny lines‘ are the little lines that run down the sides of the nose. You can spot these if you wrinkle your nose up like a bunny.
• Chin dimpling– sometimes the chin can look like it has small little dimples pressing in and can have the appearance of orange peel. Toxin relaxes these fine little muscles to smooth this.
• Brow lift: Toxin can be applied to the underneath of the eyebrows to raise them slightly.
• Gummy Smile: This is the application of toxin to reduce the show of gums when smiling.
• Hooked nose or ‘Dancing nose tip’: when talking the tip of the nose can move when speaking, toxin can reduce this movement.

• Improvement/ reduction/ eradication of facial lines
• Reduced ability to contract muscles leading to skin remaining relaxed.
• Prevention of developing or making existing wrinkles worse.
• Potential smooth/ shiny skin
• Potential reduction in headaches.

General risks include:
-Temporary bleeding/bruising
-Mild swelling
-Post-treatment headache
-Infection
-Unsatisfactory results.
If the toxin spreads to a different area this can result in temporary
-Drooping eyelids
-Drooping eyebrows
-Raised Eyebrows

The needle used to inject the toxin is the finest there is. Most clients say that the treatment feels like a ‘pop’ or a ‘click’.
The treatment should be no more sore than plucking an eyebrow hair.

• 1 week before the treatment, avoid taking aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamin E and fish oil supplements. These may increase bleeding and bruising. However, you can take paracetamol if needed.
• If you are taking any prescribed medication, including aspirin, do not stop taking it – consult your practitioner or your GP first.
• Avoid drinking alcohol 24 hours before your treatment, as this also increases the risk of bruising.

Don’t touch! Straight after the appointment, it is important not to touch the area. The areas will be a little raised and slightly swollen, however, these swellings will reduce rapidly after about 20 min. Touching the skin can increase the risk of infection.

Don’t bend down or lie down! For at least 4 hours
Don’t Rub! For at least 24 hours it is important that the toxin is not spread away from the specific areas that it has been placed, this could result in complications. This also applies to facials: we would suggest avoidance for 2 weeks.
Don’t get hot! Gym? Not for 24 hours. Steam room? Not for 2 weeks. Hot bath/ shower? Not for 48 hours.
The toxin that is applied relies on being kept at a cool temperature, no higher than 36 degrees. If it gets too warm, the toxin won’t work.
No Makeup! For at least 24 hours. The tiny little points where the toxin is injected can get infected. If you must wear make-up, wear mineral make-up instead.

Roughly 72 hours. They can vary between clients. However, two weeks after treatment should show the optimal results.

Initially, the amount of toxin injected will be a standard dose for your presentation. We review our clients 2 weeks after this treatment to review the results. If there are areas that need a ‘top up’ this will be provided free of charge,

If the ‘top up’ treatment is booked after 2 weeks we will not be able to provide the top up as this increases the risk of allergy developing to the toxin treatment.

To book your review/ top-up appointment click here.

This varies massively from client to client. On average toxin treatment should last around 5-6 months. This can be longer or shorter depending on various reasons.

There are few conditions that completely stop an over 18-year-old from receiving toxin treatment. However, it is important to mention to Dr Elder during the consultation if you suffer or have suffered from the following:
-You have a muscular disease (e.g. Bell’s Palsy)
-You have any blood or nervous system disorders
-You are taking any medications which affect blood clotting
-You are taking any medicines
-You have any psychological concerns

18 years old.