Muscle Relaxing Injections

What are muscle relaxing injections for?
Dynamic wrinkles are caused by contractions of the delicate underlying facial muscles every time you smile, laugh or frown. The more emotion you show, the deeper these wrinkles and lines are likely to be. While you may have earned every one of your worry lines, you don't have to show them anymore.

Now, thanks to a new use for an approved drug, dynamic lines can be dramatically softened. The procedure known as cosmetic denervation uses muscle relaxing injections to improve the apperance of worry lines, frown lines, laugh lines, crow's feet and other dynamic wrinkles.

How do muscle relaxing injections work?
Muscle relaxing injections block impulses from the nerve to the tiny facial muscles that are related to expression lines and relaxes the muscles so they do not contract. After treatment, the overlying skin remains smooth and unwrinkled while the untreated facial muscles contract in a normal fashion, allowing normal facial expression to be unaffected.

Are muscle relaxing injections safe?
Muscle relaxing injections have been used safely and effectively for over ten years to treat many opthalmological and neurological disorders. Each year thousands of patients receive treatments for a variety of conditions and it is quickly becoming a popular treatment for reversing the visible signs of aging.

What is the treatment like?
Cosmetic denervation is a simple and safe procedure. Using a tiny microneedle, a very small injection is made, very precisely, into several locations on the face. Because the needle is so fine and only a small amount of liquid is used, the pain associated with the injections is minimal. Most patients compare the sensation to a bug bite. No sedation or local anesthetic is required, and you can resume normal activities immediately. You can even drive yourself home or back to the office. Some patients experience a slight temporary bruising at the injection site. This can be covered with make-up.

Are there any side effects?
Temporary bruising is the most common side effect. In some cases, the toxin can migrate and cause a temporary weakness of nearby muscles. In rare cases, there can be a drooping of an eyelid or asymmetry of facial expression. The risk of any side effect depends on the muscles injected. Your doctor will discuss this with you in length before your treatment.

What results can I expect?
If dynamic wrinkles make you look older than you are, cosmetic denervation can smooth these out and give you a more youthful and pleasant appearance. However, this procedure cannot improve wrinkles due to aging and sun-damaged skin since they are unrelated to facial muscle contractions. Muscle relaxing injections will not improve sagging skin or replace the need for a facelift or brow lift.

What are the limitations of muscle relaxing injections?
Unfortunately, muscle relaxing injections are only a temporary solution for the treatment of dynamic wrinkles. The effects of the injections last from three to four months. You will need to have injections about every four months. The early clinical studies indicate that the duration of treatment benefits is increased over time so that you should require injections less frequently in the future. Also, the duration of effect varies from patient to patient and may be less effective for those over 65 years of age.

How can I find out if I am a candidate for muscle relaxing injections?
If you would like to learn more about your cosmetic options, or find out if muscle relaxing injections might work well for you, please call our clinic and schedule your consultation with our doctor.