Injectables (cosmetic)

Injectables such as muscle relaxants (botulinum toxin), fillers and skin boosters are commonly used cosmetic treatments to reduce wrinkles and fine lines in the face.

What are injectables?

Botulinum toxin is a muscle relaxant used to temporarily relax the facial muscles. Fillers are made of hyaluronic acid (or other materials) and are injected into the skin to restore volume and improve skin firmness.

The differences

Muscle relaxants are mostly used to reduce dynamic wrinkles, such as frown lines, crow's feet and forehead wrinkles. These are caused by repeated muscle movements in the face. Muscle relaxants reduce muscle activity, preventing the muscles from contracting and forming wrinkles.

Fillers are used to treat static wrinkles such as the folds running from the nose to the corners of the mouth, the lines from the corners of the mouth to the chin and lip lines. Fillers are also used to enhance facial contours, such as enlarging the lips or defining the cheekbones.

How does it work?

Injectables are administered into the skin with a fine needle. Muscle relaxants work by preventing the muscles from contracting and forming wrinkles. Fillers work by adding volume to the skin and underlying tissues, making the skin smoother and reducing the visibility of wrinkles.

Result

The effect of muscle relaxants usually becomes visible after three to five days, with the maximum effect after about two weeks. The results last for about three months. 

Fillers generally provide immediate results, lasting up to twelve months or longer, depending on the type used. 

After treatment with injectables, temporary bruising may occur. This usually resolves spontaneously in the days following treatment. A possible risk of using muscle relaxants is that asymmetry or muscle weakness may develop in the treated area. The effects of muscle relaxants wear off after about three months. If a filler is accidentally injected into a blood vessel, it may cause part of the skin to die.

Resultaat

Het resultaat van spierontspanners is meestal na drie à vijf dagen zichtbaar, na twee weken zie je het maximale effect. Dit effect duurt ongeveer drie maanden. Fillers geven meestal direct resultaat en blijven zichtbaar tot twaalf maanden of langer, afhankelijk van het type dat gebruikt wordt.