At their best, injectable treatments provide both smooth contour in facial repose, and natural dynamic movement of the face. The junction between the “aesthetic units” of the youthful face is maintained in balance, and the uniqueness of individual facial expression is preserved. Ultimately, antiwrinkle treatments should be the discrete reserve of the clinic room, and not evident in the dining salon or on Harley Street! Effective, safe, natural and balanced – quick, easy, comfortable, and affordable. These are the principles of wrinkle modulator treatments at the Jonathan Britto clinic.
Neuromodulators have become the most popular non-surgical treatment for both men and women in the UK. In the hands of a skilled medical professional, this treatment smooths lines and wrinkles to temporarily reduce the signs of ageing, whilst maintaining a youthful natural expression.
The perfect result is reliant on the skills of the team in assessment following a detailed consultation. Precision placement, dose and dilution to target dynamic muscles of the face and neck to create a natural rejuvenation.
Commonly used to treat lines and wrinkles in the upper face including the crow’s feet around the eyes, frown and forehead lines, advanced techniques can be used to treat a range of other areas of the face: drooping corners of the mouth, lax neck, and facial asymmetry.
Natural restoration is our aesthetic goal. This is achieved by technical skill, anatomical precision, and knowledge of our patients aims. Consistently good results require accuracy with the medication, accuracy with the dynamic anatomy, and empathy to the emotional aims.
Used for over 20 years to treat lines and wrinkles and to slow down the ageing process. In the hands of an experienced plastic surgeon and team they can be used not just to treat the cosmetic appearance of lines and wrinkles but can skilfully be used to treat a range of facial asymmetries, facial palsy, as well as ageing concerns.
Wrinkle modulators use a drug made from a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, the toxin that causes a food poisoning called botulism. Medical grade botulinum toxin blocks nerve activity in the muscles, at the junction of the nerve fibre and the muscle fibre. When injected directly into a facial muscle it will temporarily (3 to 4 months) disable the muscle and stop it from contracting.
The clinical effect is limited to the muscle.
Wrinkle modulators have no negative systemic side effects beyond the injection site.
Facial muscles interact to provide unique and personal facial expression by contracting and relaxing in an intricately coordinated ‘orchestra’ of movement. Our facial expression is a result of the coordinated ‘orchestral symphony’ – when the individual parts of the orchestra fail to play in a coordinated manner, a loss of harmony in facial expression results. Each day, throughout life, these movements allow for facial expression, communication, and eating, protected breathing and sleeping.
Facial muscles are intimately connected with the overlying skin. Repeated expressions create facial character lines which lead to the development of permanent lines. For example, repeated frowning, will, over time, leave a deep groove or grooves between the eyebrows.
This can communicate incorrect messages of ‘bad mood’ and a permanent ‘stamp’ of ageing! Careful targeting can weaken the muscle allowing the lines to relax and reducing their permanency.
The effects can last between 3-4 months, depending on the dosing, the thickness and strength of the muscles, and the “amount of freeze” to expression that the patient requests.
After this period of time the muscles will regain their ability to move. Many factors are at play; such as age, habitual habits, lifestyle and skin quality. The effects can last three to four months before treatment can be repeated.
The small doses that are used for aesthetic treatments are considered extremely safe with few side effects. With thousands of aesthetics treatments being carried out worldwide wrinkle modulators have an excellent safety profile particularly in the treatment hands of an experienced surgeon.
Side effects are limited to the risk of unbalanced or altered facial expression which would be temporary and self-limiting.
As with all discretionary medical treatments and procedures, it is advisable for patients to seek experienced medical professionals.
This is a question that is frequently is posed by our patients. The answer depends of why the treatment is being given as well as the individuals ageing profile. Decisions to have aesthetic treatments are personal, cultural, and emotional and we advise everyone based on individual preference and motivations. We all know our faces, and the wrinkles and blemishes that we like and find unique, and those that we would rather not have!
For those patients considering treatment for facial ageing then the treatment can be both preventative i.e. start before lines develop, as well as reactive i.e. when lines start appearing.
‘When to start’ will not be solely dependent on age but include habitual habits, lifestyle and skin quality. At the Jonathan Britto Clinic we will consider all these factors before making a treatment plan that is ethical, affordable, clinically reasonable, and has both longevity and safety.
Whether it be a single treatment or in combination with other medical aesthetic treatments or surgical procedures, we take the time to achieve a result that brings out the best version of you.
