Wrinkles are part of the ageing process and can be attributed to sun damage, effects of gravity and muscle contraction resulting from facial expressions such as frowning and laughing. Wrinkles due to the effects of gravity represent natural sagging of tissue with age and are generally only improved by surgical tightening procedures. Wrinkles caused by muscle contraction such as frown lines, forehead lines and crows’ feet can be improved by anti-wrinkle injections.
A minute quantity of muscle relaxing agent is injected into the muscles that cause dynamic lines, for example frown lines. The injection temporarily prevents nerve signals from reaching the muscle and, as a result, the muscle relaxes. As the muscle relaxes, the skin smoothes out. Treatment can take as little as 10 minutes and most people return to normal activities immediately afterwards. The smoothing effect of the first treatment usually lasts for up to 4 months and may take 7-10 days to be fully effective.
These injections can also be used to treat excessive sweating of the armpits and palms of the hands.
