Everything you need to know about Injectable Wrinkle Reducers
Injectable wrinkle reducers are an effective, temporary treatment for visibly minimizing facial lines. There are multiple brands of injectable wrinkle reducers on the market, but they all share a common hero ingredient, botulinum toxin. Don’t be intimidated by the name! These treatments are FDA approved.
What concerns can they address?
- Crow’s Feet: Wrinkles that form at the outside corners of your eyes
- Forehead Lines: Creases and folds in the skin created by the lifting of eyebrows and expressive movement
- Frown Lines: Usually perpendicular lines between your eyebrows caused by the repeated action of underlying muscles. Often called “the elevens,” because they look like the number 11
How do they work?
There’s a reason wrinkles often appear in predictable spots. Commonly repeated expressions (think squinting, frowning and smiling) use specific muscle contractions. These contractions become “ironed in” over the years, and show up on the overlying facial skin as lines (or wrinkles!). Listen, no one is telling you to stop showing off your dazzling smile, we’re just going to let you in on how many people do it while improving the appearance of those lines.
Do they hurt?
The syringes used to inject wrinkle reducers have small, medical-grade needles. The injection feels like a quick pinch, and there is usually no pain after the needle is removed. Most doctors also offer a topical numbing cream for added comfort. The total treatment typically takes about 10 minutes, which can be shorter than the coffee line at 8:30am on a Monday.
How much do they cost?
The price of injectable wrinkle reducers varies, depending on your personal needs. The cost not only includes the price of the product, but also the skill and expertise of the injector who is administering your treatment. This is your face, people, don’t just let anyone work on it! It’s essential to find an experienced provider who will take the time to understand your aesthetic goals and develop a treatment plan that is right for you. On average treatments typically cost somewhere between $400 and $600.
What are the risks?
- While injectable wrinkle reducers are generally safe, the treatment has some potential side effects. Different wrinkle reducers have different risks, so talk to your doctor before treatment.
- Injectable wrinkle reducers may cause serious side effects such as problems swallowing, speaking or breathing, especially if you had any of these problems before treatment, and can occur any time after treatment. These problems may be severe and can result in loss of life due to complications. Swallowing problems can last for several months.
- In some cases, the spread of toxins may cause loss of strength and muscle weakness, blurred or double vision, drooping eyelids, change in voice (loss of or hoarseness), difficulty saying words clearly, loss of bladder control and trouble breathing and swallowing which can occur hours to weeks after injection.
- Do not use injectable wrinkle reducers if you are allergic to any of its ingredients and have had an allergic reaction in the past or have a skin infection at the planned injection site.
- Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medicines you take, as this may cause serious side effects with the use of injectable wrinkle reducers.
- The most common side effects include bruising, redness and pain at the injection site, allergic reactions, headache, eyelid and eyebrow drooping and eyelid swelling, and cold or flu-like symptoms.
- These are not all the side effects of injectable wrinkle reducers. Be sure to talk with your healthcare provider about the risks associated with injectable wrinkle reducer treatments, including those that are serious and may be life-threatening.
Are they right for me?
If facial lines are keeping you from looking like your most radiant self (and finally sharing that gorgeous #NoMakeupSelfie), then injectable wrinkle reducers may be a treatment option for you. Discussing the treatment with a provider is the best way to learn how injectable wrinkle reducers could address the lines that are bothering you. Chat with our team of trained aesthetic specialists to get more information right now, and then book a consultation with a provider near you!
What outcome can I expect after treatment?
You may begin to see results in 1-2 days, with increasing improvement in 7 days, and full results in a few weeks. Re-treatment is no more frequent than every 3 months.
The Process
Consultation
Injectable wrinkle reducers are always administered by a healthcare professional — often a dermatologist or plastic surgeon — so you know your face is in good hands.
Procedure
They are injected directly at the source of the muscle contractions causing crow’s feet, frown lines and forehead lines. Once that’s done, they temporarily block the contracted muscle, which causes the muscle to relax and the appearance of wrinkles to diminish.
Recovery
Arguably one of the best things about injectable wrinkle reducers is that there is virtually no downtime. You can go about most of your daily activities post-treatment, but there are limitations so be sure to check with your provider on their recommendations (don’t lie down right away or schedule a facial that day!). There is no formal “recovery” period, so you can even squeeze in a treatment during your lunch break.
Results
It usually takes about a week — anywhere from 2 to 7 days — to see some results, so definitely take the lag into consideration if you want your wrinkles to look smooth for a big event.
Next Steps
Injectable wrinkle reducers typically need to be refreshed every three months or so, depending on the area treated.