Aesthetics
Anti-wrinkle treatment
Softens the lines that come from frowning, squinting and raising your brows, while keeping natural movement. Planned after a face-to-face assessment of how your face moves.
At a glance
Treatment time
20 to 30 minutes
Downtime
Minimal for most people
Results begin
Within 3 to 7 days
Full effect
Around 2 weeks
Lasts
Usually 3 to 4 months
Review
2-week check, top-ups included
How it works
Many lines form because the muscles under the skin contract every time you smile, frown or concentrate. A prescription medicine is used to relax carefully chosen muscles, so the skin above folds less and the lines soften.
The aim is not to stop all movement. Muscles that lift and muscles that pull down work as a pair, so we assess your face at rest and in motion before deciding where, or whether, to treat.
What it can help with
Areas we can treat
Anti-wrinkle treatment can do far more than smooth the forehead. Depending on your anatomy and goals, we may treat:
Frown lines
Vertical lines between the brows, softened to reduce a tense or tired look.
Forehead lines
Horizontal lines, treated carefully so the brows stay light and natural.
Crow's feet
Smile and squint lines around the eyes, softened while keeping your expression.
Brow lift
Selected muscles relaxed to give a subtle lift to the brow in suitable patients.
Bunny lines
Small lines on the sides of the nose that appear when you smile or scrunch.
Gummy smile
Small doses that reduce how far the upper lip lifts when you smile.
Downturned mouth
Relaxing the muscles that pull the corners of the mouth downwards.
Chin dimpling
Calming an overactive chin muscle that creates a dimpled, orange-peel look.
Masseter and jawline
Reducing muscle bulk for a gradually slimmer lower face.
Neck bands
Softening visible platysmal bands in the neck and lower face.
In depth
Everything you need to know
Dynamic vs static lines
Dynamic lines appear when your face moves, such as forehead lines when you raise your brows or crow’s feet when you smile. These respond most directly to anti-wrinkle injections.
Static lines stay visible even when your face is at rest. Years of movement, collagen loss, sun exposure and changes in skin quality can turn dynamic lines into deeper, set-in ones. Anti-wrinkle treatment can soften them, but they often improve most when we also treat skin quality and stimulate collagen. Relaxing the muscle is not always the whole answer.
Why we assess the whole face
Your facial muscles work as a team. Some lift and others pull down, so relaxing one changes the balance with its neighbours. Injecting every visible line can therefore look unnatural.
For example, the forehead muscle helps hold up the brows. Over-relaxing it can leave the brow heavy, especially if you naturally rely on that muscle. The lower face is similar: several small muscles control the smile, mouth and jawline together.
That is why every treatment starts with an assessment of your face at rest and in movement. We want to understand what your muscles are doing before deciding where, or whether, to treat.
When should you start?
There is no set age. Most people do not need anti-wrinkle treatment until their late 20s or early 30s, and some start in their 40s.
Treatment is worth considering when expression lines begin to stay visible after your face relaxes. Reducing strong, repeated muscle movement may slow those lines from becoming set in. Preventative treatment does not mean freezing a young face, though. Your genetics, anatomy, expressions, sun exposure and skincare all matter. We treat the person, not the age.
Part of healthy ageing
Wrinkles are only one part of facial ageing. Skin, collagen, fat, muscle and bone all change over time, so a perfectly smooth forehead on its own does not always look younger or more balanced.
Your longer-term plan may include skin boosters, polynucleotides, microneedling, PRP, chemical peels, dermal fillers or HydraFacial, depending on what we find. That does not mean you need them all. Sometimes anti-wrinkle treatment alone is right. We treat what needs treating, not everything we can.
Compliance note (UK): botulinum toxin is a prescription-only medicine. Any decision to prescribe is made only after a face-to-face medical consultation.
Good to know
- Botulinum toxin is a prescription-only medicine, prescribed only after a face-to-face consultation
- Most people start in their late 20s or early 30s, but we treat the person, not the age
- Pairs well with skin boosters, which improve the skin while the muscle relaxes
Questions we're often asked
Will I look frozen?
No. Our dosing aims for soft, natural movement and we avoid over-treating.
How soon will I see results?
Changes appear from day 3 to 7, with the full effect at 2 weeks.
How long does it last?
Typically 3 to 4 months. It varies with dose, the muscles treated and the individual.
Do you offer top-ups?
Yes. We review you at 2 weeks and small adjustments are included when needed.
Start with a consultation
Every treatment begins with a face-to-face assessment, so your plan is built around your skin, your health and your goals.