Wrinkle Injections

Wrinkles, fine lines, laughter lines, crow’s feet and lines above the upper lip generally resulting from smoking, can be tightened and visibly reduced in a non-surgical way.

Through the use of anti-wrinkle injection, we are able to fill in the tissue with hyaluronic acid (synthetic collagen). Injections with the natural protein botulinum toxin, which is also known by the name as BTX or BoNT, have proved highly effective in the treating of laughter and speech lines. For optimum results, we recommend to combine botulinum toxin with anti-wrinkle injection.

Medical Term: Botulinum Toxin & Hyaluronic Acid

Type of Anesthesia: None or anesthetic creme

Treatment time: 15-30 minutes

Length of hospital stay: Outpatient

Aftercare: Local Cooling

Back to public: After a few hours

Back to work: The following day

Time of recovery: A few days

Botulinum toxin is a protein that is extracted from bacteria. In the medical field, it is mainly used to treat muscle cramps but botulinum toxin is also suitable for smoothing expression lines in the face.

Treatment procedure

The actual treatment only takes a few minutes. Botulinum toxin is injected into the areas to be treated using a thin needle. The full effect then develops over about three days and generally lasts three to four months but can be extended by being administered several times.

The treatment is not associated with any time off. Occasionally, there may be some redness or small bruises at the injection sites though. Slight headaches are extremely rare too.

How botulinum toxin works

Injected under the skin in the right dose, botulinum toxin reduces the mimic activity without looking unnatural. The reason for this: The nerves’ link to the muscles is temporarily blocked. Making muscle contractions weaker and skin smoother.

Botulinum toxin has proved to be particularly successful in treating mimic lines on the forehead, base of the nose (frown lines) and the eyes (crow’s feet).

Mimic lines can also be treated with fillers, as well as Botulinum toxin. There is a choice between dissoluble and permanent injections.

Dissoluble injections

If mimic lines are filled out with dissoluble fillers the effect usually lasts six to 24 months. Hyaluronic acid is used most frequently. The reason: as a natural component of the connective tissue, hyaluronic acid virtually never produces allergic reactions.

Calcium hydroxyapatite is particularly suitable for deep wrinkles. It is injected under the skin and stimulates the body’s own production of connective tissue substances, thus providing extremely long lasting results.

Permanent injections

As a result of possible side-effects, permanent, non-dissoluble injections are only used if dissoluble fillers are not successful. It is essential here though that all risks of possible intolerances are ruled out beforehand.

Depending on how long they last, the filler materials should be well tolerated and above all biocompatible (not identifiable as a foreign body). Also make sure that only certified original preparations are used.

Approximately 1 hour before the start of treatment, the area is anesthetized with an ointment. Hyaluronic acid is injected under the wrinkles and botulinum toxin into the muscles. The effect of hyaluronic acid is apparent immediately while the visual results of botulinum toxin may take up to 7 days for full visual effect. With the combined effect of these treatments to enhance performance and longevity, results can be expected to last between 2 to 6 months.

Allergic reactions are extremely rare, however as a purely preventative measure, we initially conduct a tolerance test to ensure that you will not experience reaction to treatment. Likewise, incidents and complications are extremely rare, but they can never be entirely ruled out. Any swelling resulting from injection quickly subsides with elevation of the injected area and cold compresses.

Pain is rarely experienced after the treatment and patients are able to return and resume their usual activities straight away. On the following day you can resume to work and a few days later sports and physical activities can be started again. 1 to 2 weeks after treatment occasionally a short after treatment is required to achieve the best possible result. Usually the effect of botulinum toxin lasts for 4-6 months and that of fillers of the newest generation 1-2 years.

As with any cosmetic procedure, the use of botulinum toxin and hyaluronic acid costs can vary widely dependent upon the patient, area of treatment and quantity of fillers and botulinum toxin used. Naturally, all surgical fees are discussed and agreed in advance. In general most health insurances do not cover cosmetic use of botulinum toxin as the procedure is viewed as aesthetic.