Anti-wrinkle injections are a safe, incredibly convenient way of temporarily altering facial aesthetics, but they are often confused with other cosmetic injections, such as dermal fillers – which serve a different purpose. And, when administered by a well-versed professional, anti-wrinkle injections will not make you look frozen! So let’s clear up the confusion, and put some other common misconceptions to bed.
N.B. You might also know of anti-wrinkle injections by their brand name, or the men’s nickname, Brotox. But as it’s against AHPRA guidelines to use the commercial name, in this article, we’ll refer to these injections as either anti-wrinkle injections or wrinkle relaxers.
MYTH #1: Anti-wrinkle injections fill up lines
No. This is simply misinformation. In this case, people are confusing anti-wrinkle injections with dermal fillers or volumising fillers. Anti-wrinkle injections comprise of a natural substance that is injected into muscles to relax them, smoothing the surface of the skin. Dermal fillers are injected into the skin to plump the skin and smooth out any lines. Sometimes, a combination of anti-wrinkle injections and dermal fillers are used in one treatment session.
MYTH #2: Wrinkle relaxers can only be used when deep lines have appeared
This is not the case. This product is an excellent and effective preventative treatment, helping to ward off premature ageing. If we start with a younger client, treating dynamic lines (lines that move with expression), there is less chance of the patient developing deep, furrowed, premature wrinkles (static lines).
MYTH #3: Stop having wrinkle relaxers, and you will look worse
Not true. Let’s reword this: stop having wrinkle relaxers, and you will go back to how you looked before but with fewer wrinkles. Wrinkle relaxers only last three to four months so treatment must be ongoing. Let your appointments pass, and your facial muscles will slowly become active again, increasing the chance of wrinkles forming.
MYTH #4: Anti-wrinkle injections will make me look frozen
If administered by a ‘less than experienced’ professional where too much of the product was used, yes, you could look frozen. We prefer patients to look ‘fresh, not frozen’ and inject only a conservative amount of the product. Dr Feldman also believes that a small number of laugh lines and other expression lines in the face are simply natural-looking – and attractive.
MYTH #5: Wrinkle relaxers have serious side effects
Fortunately, this is not true. Side-effects for wrinkle relaxers are minimal and rare. If you do have side-effects, they usually only last a short while and include things like short-term eyebrow or eyelid droop, asymmetry or, very occasionally, double vision.
MYTH #6: Anti-wrinkle injections are suitable for everyone
MYTH #6: Anti-wrinkle injections are suitable for everyoneNot everyone can have anti-wrinkle injections. If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you should not have anti-wrinkle injections. However, it should be noted that although the risk is low for pregnant women, there are no clinical trials testing this group. If you are under 18, you also are not allowed to be treated (unless you’re being treated for medical purposes and have parental consent).
MYTH #7: Anti-wrinkle injections are for women only
Not so! men have been having anti-wrinkle injections. Men often combine this treatment with dermal fillers.