This is done to improve/abolish facial wrinkles through muscle relaxation on a temporary basis.
Very small doses of carefully targetted botulinum toxin are injected through a very fine needle into the area between the eyebrows (glabella) for central frown-lines, the forehead for forehead wrinkles and/or the outer lower eyelid area to treat ‘Crow’s Feet’ creasing.
The injections block fine receptor sites on muscles so that the chemical interaction with tiny nearby nerve endings cannot work when the nerve tries to make the muscle contract. As a result, the muscle relaxes completely in that area and the wrinkles in the overlying skin are eased as well.
This is an outpatient procedure which causes slight redness at each injection site that usually settles overnight. The full effect is expected by 3 days later and then slowly eases off over the next 3 to 6 months as the nerve grows fresh end fibres onto the muscle receptor sites. At this point the treatment will need to be repeated to restore the desired effect.
The administration of botulinum toxin (commonly known as Botox) should only be carried out by a properly trained and experienced practitioner as there are complications that need to be avoided. This is a good example of an area of ‘Cosmetic treatment’ which is likely to be tightened up and more closely regulated in future government legislation.
Mr Matthews has many years’ experience in this field.