‘Botox’ Anti-Wrinkle Injections in London

Understanding the difference between dynamic and static lines is key to choosing the right treatment and predicting whether ‘botox’ will work for your particular lines, or whether other types of anti-wrinkle injections are required. So-called dynamic lines (mimic lines) are caused by contraction of facial muscles. They include ‘frown lines’ between the brows, horizontal ‘worry lines’ across the forehead, ‘bunny lines’ on the side of the nose and ‘crow’s feet’ or ‘smile lines’ at the outer eye corners. These dynamic lines are all good indications for ‘botox’ (some are licensed indications, while others are treated ‘off license’) and ‘botox’ treatment will likely make a significant difference.

We can also treat so-called ‘turkey neck’ strands on the neck, perform a gentle brow lift, soften lipstick bleed lines and the downward pull of the mouth corners. These are all advanced treatment indications that should only be performed by an experienced practitioner. Specialist injectors will also be able to treat a square jawline that’s caused by an overactive masseter muscle (the chewing muscle at the angle of the jaw), and thus slim the lower face for certain people. In all these cases the BTX reduces the activity of the mimic muscles that causes that particular line, so the treatment really addresses the root cause of the line, rather than just hiding it.

The types of wrinkles that do not respond to ‘botox’ treatment are so-called static lines. These are lines that are not primarily caused by facial movement, including nose-to-mouth lines, mid-cheek lines, and the fine lines next to the corners of the mouth. These typically respond better to dermal fillers or skin boosters.

However, there is one caveat. If you leave dynamic lines untreated for too long, they can turn into secondary static lines and then become much less responsive to ‘botox’ treatment. You can test this yourself: gently stretch the mimic wrinkle between two fingers in front of a mirror. If it disappears completely, it is still fully dynamic and will likely respond well to ‘botox’. If, however, stretching only softens the line but it remains visibly etched into the skin, the line has started to become static and additional treatment such as fillers or skin boosters may be needed alongside ‘botox’.

It takes on average five days for the BTX effect to start kicking in, in some patients 14 days. The effect on the muscle is fully reversible and lasts about three to six months. Patients usually come for top-ups two to four times per year. However, many patients report that in time the intervals between visits get longer, as the muscles seem to ‘learn’ not to do the wrinkle-causing over-movement so much.

BTX can also play a useful role in wrinkle prevention. It works best when lines are still dynamic — visible only during movement. Starting treatment at this stage helps prevent dynamic lines from becoming permanent static lines. The age at which this happens is very individual — some people will benefit from ‘botox’ in their mid-forties, while others with very strong facial movement patterns may need it already in their late twenties. The best way to find out is to see an experienced practitioner for a full assessment.

In most patients, a combination of ‘botox’ with fillers and/or skin boosters, plus good skincare and regular Dermatology Grade Facials, delivers the most balanced result, as we treat the face as a whole rather than chasing isolated lines.