Since years, injections for wrinkle reduction are considered as one of the most successful treatments to diminish of wrinkles and facial creases. Nowadays, a number of brand names have been developed and available in the market, where as each product is a little different.

Noted primarily for their ability to reduce the appearance of some facial wrinkles, the injections for wrinkle reduction have the additional advantage of treating other health problems like repetitive neck spasms (cervical dystonia), excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), overactive bladder and some causes of crossed eyes. In some cases, it may also help prevent chronic migraines.

Injections for wrinkle reduction contain a medicine that works by blocking certain chemical signals coming from the nerves. Mostly, these are signals prompting muscle contractions and cause temporarily relaxing of the facial muscles which are the main cause for the appearance of wrinkles, such as:

• Frown lines between the eyebrows
• Crow’s-feet, the lines that fan out from the corners of the eyes
• Forehead furrows, the horizontal lines that form when you raise your eyebrows
• Lower face and neck (Nefertiti): but the results usually last till 6 weeks only.

In addition to these cosmetic procedures, which simply improve your appearance, the injections for wrinkle reduction are being used to treat conditions that affect the way your body functions, such as Hyperhidrosis and Chronic Migraine.

In this condition, excessive sweating occurs even when the temperature is not hot and you are not exercising. In some cases, the sweat literally drips off from the hands of the patient.

If you experience migraines more than 15 days a month, botulinum toxin injections may help reduce the headaches frequency.

They block signals from the nerves to the muscles and prevent their contractions and thus helping the wrinkles to relax and soften causing the so called “ironing” effect.

They are most commonly used on the forehead lines, crow’s feet (lines around the eye), and frown lines but wrinkles that are caused by sun damage and gravity will not respond to such a treatment.

Getting these procedures takes only a few minutes and does not require anesthesia. A fine needle is injected into the specific muscles accompanied by minor discomfort.

It generally takes three to seven days for the treatment to take a full effect and it is best to avoid alcohol starting at least one week before the procedure. You should also stop taking aspirin and anti-inflammatory medications two weeks before treatment to reduce bruising.

The effects will last for four to six months. As muscle action gradually returns, the lines and wrinkles begin to reappear and need to be treated again. The lines and wrinkles often appear less severe with time because the muscles are being trained to relax.

Temporary bruising is the most common side effect. Headaches, which ends within 24 to 48 hours, can happen, but this is rare. A small percentage of patients may develop eyelid drooping. This usually ends within three weeks. Drooping usually happens when the toxin moves around, so don’t rub the treated area for 12 hours after injection or lie down for three to four hours.

Pregnancy, breastfeeding, or the presence of any neurological disease are contra indicatory to the usage of injectable toxin for wrinkle reduction. And since these injections do not affect all types of wrinkles, we highly recommend you to consult with a Specialist Dermatologist first.