Botulinum toxin ("botox") injections

Injections with botulinum toxin (“botox”) are used to treat a wide range of medical and age-related cosmetic conditions. Some of the most common include wrinkles, expression lines, and excessive underarm sweating (known as axillary hyperhidrosis).

The main cosmetic use for botox injections is to decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles across the forehead and around the eyes. Most of these wrinkles occur naturally but can also be caused by decreased skin elasticity and sun exposure (an important cause in Australia). Wrinkles are formed by skin thinning (dermal atrophy) and the regular repetitive contraction of underlying facial muscles.

Local area injections using botulinum toxin A injections improve the look of fine lines and superficial wrinkles caused from every day facial exercises like smiling, frowning or squinting.

Treatment of frown lines and crow’s feet, and horizontal forehead lines, offers predictable results, has few adverse effects, and is associated with high patient satisfaction.

While these injections are most commonly associated with anti-ageing measures, they have been used for medical indications for well over 20 years. Conditions such as double vision, facial muscle spasms, uncontrollable blinking and cross eyes are all examples.

Cosmetic procedures are not without risk and the best person to help you with your aesthetic goals is a trained medical professional using a TGA approved and certified form of botulinum toxin A.

When should I consider injections for cosmetic appearance?

Botox injections are not just for those who already have lines and wrinkles. Indeed, by starting treatment early on, anti-wrinkle injections can delay and even prevent lines from setting in. Patients who receive ongoing treatments can maintain a more youthful appearance over the long term.

Treatment involves giving a series of localised injections directly into the muscles beneath the wrinkles. Each injection stings for a few seconds and in rare cases, some bruising and swelling will occur.

It is advisable to move the treated muscle for five to ten minutes after the injections have been administered. Patients will also need to avoid touching or rubbing the treated area, and remain upright for several hours. Touching the area too much could cause the medication to spread to surrounding areas, and lead to unwanted drooping of eyelids.

The wrinkle reducing results of injections start to appear after 3 to 4 days, with the effects lasting as long as six months. The results often last longer with further follow-on treatments.

Are cosmetic injections safe?

Anti-wrinkle injections were approved by the TGA many years ago and have been used in millions of treatments since then. The only time that wrinkle relaxers are potentially dangerous is if they’re administered by an inexperienced injector. Injectors need a thorough understanding of the product as well as the structure of the underlying muscles.

Our doctors are skin experts with postgraduate training in the field of aesthetic dermatology. We only use Xeomin®, which contain no additives (so there is less risk of developing antibodies against Xeomin® than other available types of botox).

Adverse reactions are uncommon, however are not impossible. In around 2% of cases, partial eyelid droop can occur, resulting in a slightly uneven appearance. Fortunately, an unusual complication such as this won’t last longer than three weeks.

If you are pregnant or lactating, you are not able to receive these anti-ageing injections.

Where can cosmetic injections be given?

Anti-wrinkle injections are primarily recommended for the treatment of forehead lines, frown lines, and crow’s feet. They are also used to freshen up the brow area by lifting the position of the brow.

What can I expect during treatment? Is it painful?

During treatment, which usually takes about 10-20 minutes, your doctor will inject Xeomin^® into the muscles in your forehead that cause frown lines between your eyebrows. No numbing cream or injection is required; however, if you are concerned about discomfort, a topical numbing agent or cold pack can be applied to the treatment area to reduce any discomfort.

Based on patient feedback, anti-wrinkle injections do create a slight sting but aren’t overly painful. However, keep in mind that everyone’s pain threshold is different.

Can I go back to work afterwards? What will I look like?

After your wrinkle relaxer treatment, you may experience slight redness and swelling. However, most patients are fine to go back to work directly after treatment. To reduce the risk of infection, you should avoid wearing makeup and engaging in any vigorous exercise for the first day following treatment.

How long before it works? How long is it effective?

You may begin to see visible smoothing as early as 3-4 days after injection. The average first onset of effect is normally less than a week. The maximum effect occurs at 30 days. The typical duration of effect was 3 to 4 months but may last significantly longer or shorter in individual patients. It’s possible for the effects to last longer following a series of treatments.

How does 'botox' work?

When you squint or frown, the muscles between your eyebrows contract, causing the skin to furrow and fold. Over time, as your skin ages and loses some of its elasticity, these repeated contractions can cause persistent frown lines. Botulinum toxin type A – the active ingredient in Xeomin^®– acts on nerve endings in muscles to prevent muscle fibers from contracting (i.e. relax the muscles that cause expression lines and wrinkles). Botulinum toxin works by blocking the nerve impulse signals between facial muscles and their relevant nerves. By reducing these contractions, Xeomin^® can temporarily reduce the lines between your eyebrows. Crow’s feet, as well as forehead and frown lines, are most commonly treated to create a more refreshed look.