Known under the umbrella term of “injectables” anti wrinkle injections encompass dermal fillers and botulinum toxin. These minimally invasive anti wrinkle treatments have eclipsed surgical interventions for all ages, due to their minimal downtime and near-instant results. But how long do anti wrinkle injections take to work and how effective are they at keeping the forces of ageing at bay?
What Are Anti Wrinkle Injections?
When people speak about anti wrinkle injections, they are referring to dermal fillers or botulinum toxin injections, which are injected into the skin in order to address the signs of premature ageing such as fine lines, creases and wrinkles.
Dermal fillers
As well as smoothing out and tightening the appearance of the skin, dermal fillers contribute to a younger-looking complexion. Modern dermal fillers are made up of gel-like substances like collagen, hyaluronic acid and even fat that has been harvested from different parts of your body.
Fillers can be used to fill up deep depressions such as the folds that develop between the nose and cheeks, add more volume to sunken areas of the face such as below the eyes and cheeks, and to make the lips appear fuller.
How Long Do Dermal Fillers Take To Work?
The effects of dermal fillers can be seen almost-instantly when the procedure is performed by a suitably qualified and experienced professional. While the act of injecting into the skin can cause some post-treatment swelling, this should subside in the days following your treatment, to reveal a younger-looking complexion.
How Long Do Dermal Fillers Last?
The length of time that your fillers last will depend on factors such as the brand of filler used, the amount of filler that was injected, and the rate at which your body reabsorbs the filler. On average, you can expect dermal filler to last between six and 24 months before you might want to consider having another procedure.
Injections with botulinum toxin
While dermal fillers are used to add volume to areas of the skin where volume has been lost, anti wrinkle injections work slightly differently. When used as an anti wrinkle treatment, botulinum toxin injections actually paralyse the facial muscles in question so that it can’t be moved. This stops your skin from forming creases and lines, because the muscle isn’t actually being used.
This makes botulinum toxin most effective at addressing ageing concerns related to facial expressions. Its most popular applications are for the treatment of frown lines and vertical lines between the eyebrows, crow’s feet under the eyes and the wrinkles that form on the throat and neck.
How Long Do Anti Wrinkle Injections Take To Work?
Unlike dermal fillers, anti wrinkle injections do not show immediate results, and you can expect to wait one to two weeks for this anti wrinkle treatment to take effect. Patients are likely to notice the results three to five days after having anti wrinkle treatments but it may take up to 14 days to notice the full effect.
How long do the botulinum toxin results last?
Most patients find that the treatment lasts three to four months before they need to revisit their aesthetician. This is because, over this time interval, the muscle starts to work again, creating the wrinkles in areas that were previously smoothed out.
Patients do find that if their wrinkles do appear before they have another treatment, the wrinkles are softer and less defined than before. This is because your body has had an opportunity to regenerate collagen to stave off the effects of ageing.
Some of the factors that affect how long the effects of your anti wrinkle treatments will last include
- How quickly you metabolise the substance
- How it was diluted
- How fresh the botulinum toxin was
- Your age at the time of injection. Older patients tend to need anti wrinkle treatments more often
- The size of the muscle being injected. Larger muscles tend to last for shorter periods of time
Factors That Influence How Long It Takes Anti Wrinkle Treatments To Be Effective
Everyone is different, and some patients may find it takes a little longer to see the results of anti wrinkle injections. Some of the factors that can influence this include
- Patients who have large or strong facial muscles may find that anti wrinkle injections take longer to show their effects
- Patients who are having their first injection or who have very deep wrinkles may need more than one injection to notice effects. Treatments on fine lines and creases tend to show results much faster
So, How Long Do Anti Wrinkle Injections Take To Work?
If you want to have anti wrinkle treatments before an important event, it is advisable to consult with your aesthetician at least four weeks before the event. This gives you approximately two weeks for the treatment to take effect, and two weeks of preparation, during which time you can expect to stop taking certain medications that could make bruising and swelling more pronounced.
- After your procedure you can expect to
- Avoid vigorous exercise for the first 24 hours
- Stay out of very hot environments like the direct sun, steam rooms and saunas
- Avoid touching the injection sites
- Follow the post-treatment care instructions given to you by your surgeon.
To find out more about anti wrinkle injections and what to expect from anti wrinkle treatments, it’s best to speak to a professional. Please contact us for an appointment: (02) 9158 6375.
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