Once the treatment areas have been determined, the overlying skin is cleansed of makeup and oil.  Depending on a patient’s comfort level with injections, topical medicine or a cold pack can be applied to temporarily numb the skin.  A series of injections then place the wrinkle relaxer into the desired facial muscle.

Wrinkle relaxers require little recovery time.  We recommend patients use a cold pack for the first twenty minutes after injections to minimize the chance of swelling or bruising.  We also ask that patients not massage their injection sites, or lay down for four hours after injections, in order to prevent the relaxer from traveling to an unwanted portion of the face.

We believe in being preemptive to avoid any side effects, but occasionally the following may occur:

Localized Reactions: Patient’s may have temporary swelling, redness, or soreness at the site of injections.  These reactions typically resolve within 24 hours.

Bruising:  Bruising develops within a day, and usually resolves within a week.  The bruising is normally light enough that it can be covered by makeup.

Headache:  Most commonly attributed to the facial muscles in the forehead being unable to contract, headaches can occur in the first 24 hours.

Eyelid Ptosis: If a relaxer is placed too closely to the upper eyelid, it may cause the lid to droop.  This may last for several weeks, but can be partially improved with an eyedrop medication.

Number of Treatments: With conservative administration, some patients may require multiple treatments in order to reach a desired result.

Duration of Results: Wrinkle relaxers can achieve impressive improvement, but only temporarily.  Results may last for 3-6 months, but if not re-treated, the facial appearance present before treatment will return.

Will I look overdone?

As each patient has their own idea for what they would like to achieve with a wrinkle relaxer, it is important to have an open discussion with Dr. Castillo about your goals.  Once knowing your goals, Dr. Castillo can guide therapy to ensure the outcome you desire, without looking overdone.

What is the best age to start with a wrinkle relaxer?

The decision on when to use a wrinkle relaxer is a personal one, as there is no minimum age requirement.  Though most women typically start in their 30’s to treat developing wrinkles, there is an increasing trend for women in their 20’s to pursue relaxers as a preventive measure.

How much wrinkle relaxer will I need?

In short, it depends.  The amount of wrinkle relaxer needed varies based on several factors: patient age, sex, severity of wrinkling, number of treatment locations, and desired goals, to name a few.

Are there alternative wrinkle relaxers to Botox?

Though Botox was the first wrinkle relaxer available, and is the most commonly used, some patients may have little response, or may develop a tolerance, to it.  Dysport and Xeomin are alternative wrinkle relaxers that can achieve similar results as Botox.