Anti-wrinkle treatments, such as Botox, generally have a lower risk of serious side effects compared to dermal fillers. However, one potential risk is that the treatment might affect an unintended muscle, leading to temporary and unwanted results, such as difficulty smiling or fully opening your eyes. These effects are not permanent and will subside as the Botox wears off.

Certain areas of the face may be at higher risk of such side effects, but these complications are rare, as most people have a similar anatomical structure.

Another rare but possible risk is an allergic reaction, although it is extremely uncommon. At Leyla's Beauty Bank, our highly trained professionals are skilled in recognising any signs and providing the necessary care.

Lastly, long-term overuse of Botox can, in very rare cases, lead to muscle atrophy (weakening of the muscle), which could result in permanent paralysis. It’s important to follow the recommended treatment schedule to minimise these risks.

It's crucial to provide your practitioner with thorough and honest answers during your medical history check to ensure your safety when undergoing anti-wrinkle treatments. Failure to disclose important information may put you at serious risk. Below are some of the more common and high-risk conditions or medications that may mean you are not suitable for this treatment:

Women Who Are Pregnant or Breastfeeding:

From a medical standpoint, it's essential to minimise the number of substances entering a mother's system during pregnancy or breastfeeding, as the baby may be affected. There is insufficient clinical evidence to confirm the safety of anti-wrinkle treatments during pregnancy, so they are generally avoided as a precaution.

Aesthetic standpoint: Pregnancy causes changes in the face, such as swelling, water retention, and weight gain. These changes may distort your natural appearance, meaning results during pregnancy may not reflect your post-pregnancy appearance once swelling subsides, leaving you with unexpected or unwanted results.

Neuromuscular Disorders:

Conditions like Myasthenia Gravis, Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis can cause muscles to become weakened and fatigued. Botox can worsen the symptoms of these conditions, leading to potentially life-threatening complications, so individuals with these disorders should avoid anti-wrinkle treatments.

Allergies:

Individuals allergic to botulinum toxin type A, human albumin, lactose, sucrose, salt, or severe medication allergies are not suitable candidates. Additionally, if you are allergic to lidocaine, adrenaline, or any other anaesthesia (used during the numbing process), please make sure to inform your practitioner before the procedure.

History of Keloid Scarring:

If you have a history of keloid scarring, the risk of improper wound healing and unwanted scarring is higher. As a result, Botox or anti-wrinkle treatments may not be suitable.

Active Infection or Antibiotic Use:

If you have an active infection at the time of treatment or are currently taking antibiotics, it's best to avoid injectable treatments in the affected area to prevent the infection from worsening or causing further complications.

Severe Liver or Kidney Disease:

Patients with liver or kidney impairment may have difficulty metabolising the components of botulinum toxin (which is a toxin). This could result in accumulation and toxicity, increasing the risk of adverse effects, so these individuals may not be suitable candidates.

Active Chemotherapy or Radiation Therapy:

Ongoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy suppresses the immune system, impairing the body’s ability to heal and fight infections. Since infections are always a risk with injectable treatments, those undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy should avoid anti-wrinkle treatments.

It's essential to ensure that all medical conditions, medications, or allergies are disclosed to your practitioner so that they can make the most informed decisions regarding your treatment, ultimately prioritising your safety and health.

Forehead: Anti-wrinkle injections in the forehead target horizontal wrinkles caused by repeated facial expressions, such as raising the eyebrows. This treatment not only smooths out existing lines but also helps lift the brows, creating a more refreshed, youthful appearance. It can also address asymmetry in the forehead, creating a more balanced look.

Frown Lines: Frown lines, also known as glabellar lines, form between the eyebrows due to repeated muscle movements such as squinting or furrowing the brow. Anti-wrinkle injections can relax these muscles, smoothing the lines and providing a calmer, more approachable expression. This treatment helps restore a softer and more youthful look.

Nose: Botox can be used to lift the tip of the nose slightly, creating a more refined profile. It also smooths out "bunny lines"—the fine lines that appear on the side of the nose when scrunching the face. Additionally, anti-wrinkle injections can slim the nose by relaxing muscles around the nostrils, offering a non-surgical approach to nasal refinement.

Masseter: Injections to the masseter muscles (located at the back of the jaw) can help reduce jaw clenching (bruxism), relieve jaw pain, and alleviate tension headaches caused by teeth grinding. Additionally, slimming the masseter muscles can create a more defined and feminine jawline by reducing the width of the lower face.

Brow Lift: A brow lift using anti-wrinkle injections targets the orbicularis oculi muscle around the eyes, specifically the brow tail. This helps lift the outer corners of the eyebrows, which can help alleviate hooded eyes, opening up the eye area and providing a more youthful, awake appearance.

Crow's Feet: Crow’s feet are the fine lines that form at the outer corners of the eyes due to squinting, smiling, or laughing. By relaxing the muscles responsible for these expressions, Botox smooths out crow's feet, leaving the skin looking smoother and more youthful without affecting natural facial expressions.

Lips: Botox can enhance the upper lip by reducing a gummy smile, softening marionette lines that run from the corners of the mouth, and relaxing the muscles around the lips to create a fuller, more defined lip shape. This can also provide a subtle lift to the corners of the mouth, making the smile appear more balanced.

Chin: Anti-wrinkle injections can smooth dimples or "chin clefts" caused by the mentalis muscle, which is responsible for puckering the chin. This treatment can result in a smoother, more even chin appearance and a less “dimpled” look, contributing to a more defined lower face.