Anti-Wrinkle Treatment

Anti-wrinkle injections use botulinum toxin (b.tox) in tiny amounts to relax muscles. These injections are most commonly used in the upper face to smooth the skin and produce a fresher, younger appearance.

The injections can also be used to:

• Correct high smile lines (gummy smiles)
• Reduce wrinkles on the chin
• Turn up the corners of the mouth
• Reduce excess sweating (hyperhidrosis) of the hands, feet, back, forehead
• Reduce tension headaches
• Reduce the force of muscles in grinding/clenching the teeth

These injections will only work on dynamic lines, which show up when we make facial movements. They will not work on static lines like those caused by sun damage.

Treatment takes less than 10 minutes and is administered via tiny relatively painless injections into the above areas. The treatment takes about 2-3 days to start working into the muscle and the full effects are seen 2-3 weeks after treatment. On average it lasts from 3-9 months, however with repeated courses the effects last longer.

These treatments are very popular worldwide and the toxin we use is one of the safest drugs on the market. It has been used for more than 20 years in the medical field and has undergone years of clinical testing. As a result, it has been granted a licence in the UK from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency for the temporary improvement in the appearance of wrinkles.

When administered correctly, side effects are very rare and temporary. These may include some redness at the site of injection, very occasionally a small bruise, eye brow drooping (very rare) and allergy. Most people have no side effects at all.

This treatment is not suitable if you have any of these conditions:

• A known allergy to B.Tox
• Active infection at the injection site
• Pregnancy
• Neurological disorders (ALS, myasthenia gravis, Lambert Eaton Syndrome)
• Bleeding disorders or on anticoagulation therapy
• Recent general anaesthetic
• About to undergo an operation
• Taking aminoglycoside antibiotics

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are popular treatments for permanent static wrinkles and facial lines. They can also be used to enhance features (lips, nose, cheeks or jaw line) or to increase volume and definition to areas which have lost it (tear troughs, chin or temples).

There are a number of reasons why our skin loses its elasticity and structure – weather, pollution, stress, ageing or weight loss. On top of this our skin contains a moisture-retaining compound, Hyaluronic Acid (HA) which declines with age. This combination causes sagging and hollowing of the face which leads to lines and volume loss.

The dermal fillers that we use contain HA to replace this loss. It acts a space filler and a hydrator by moisturising the skin from the inside out. This helps give it elasticity and tone.

The most common areas where dermal fillers are used includes:

• Lips (for volume and smoothing ‘smokers lines’)
• Chin
• Cheeks
• Jaw line
• Tear troughs
• Marionette lines
• Filling in scars

Treatment:

Samantha will see you initially for an assessment to talk to you about what you would like to achieve, go through your medical history and explain the procedure. When a treatment plan has been agreed, you can book in for treatment. Treatment is carried out once the area has been numbed with a topical solution for twenty minutes. Samantha uses the cannula technique for the majority of her treatments as it is the safest technique available. As well as being safe, the cannula technique reduced post-operative pain, increases healing after treatment and minimises the formation of scar tissue.

Depending on the area to be treated and the severity of the treatment you should expect to be in the chair for approximately 20-30 minutes.

The results will be immediate and your skin will look plumper and fresher straight away. There will be a small-moderate amount of swelling which you should expect to decrease over the next 3-4 days. Once this has subsided you’ll be able to see the end results.

The HA fillers which Samantha uses will last between 6-12 months depending on the individual and area treated.

The possible side effects are redness, swelling, bruising, itching and tightness. These may last up to 7-10 days, however most clients experience minimal or no side effects.

If you require further information or would like to book in any of our skin care services, you can call us on +44 (0) 1534 875 587 or book online using our booking system.