What are the different wrinkle treatments?

If you are worried about the wrinkles you have, some immediate anti-wrinkle treatment strategies are to check your skin care products to make sure you are using only neutral pH-balanced soaps, body washes, moisturisers etc. Also make sure you avoid harsh irritants such as perfumed soaps, chlorinated swimming pools and hot showers, and moisturise regularly.

In addition to creams and other topical products, more and more people, men included, are turning to Australian Cosmetic Clinics for facial rejuvenation procedures help their face reflect the way they feel inside. These procedures include the administration of injectable muscle relaxants, injectable dermal fillers and chemical peels.

Injectables

There are two major types of cosmetic injection used for wrinkle treatment to improve cosmetic appearance - injectable muscle relaxants and injectable dermal fillers. These can be used together or in isolation in the treatment of facial wrinkles. The best treatment for you will depend on the area being treated and the severity of the wrinkle, both of which vary from individual to individual.

Injectable muscle relaxants

Injectable muscle relaxants are used to treat dynamic wrinkles and work by relaxing the wrinkle-causing muscles that cause people to frown or squint, creating an improved appearance. Once the muscle is relaxed, you cannot contract it and continue to make the undesirable facial expression. Thus, the cosmetic injections gradually smooth wrinkles and prevent wrinkles from forming again. After facial injection it takes 2 to 3 days for the treatment to begin taking effect and around 7 days to see the full effect. Treatment effects can last up to 4 months.

Injectable dermal fillers

Injectable dermal fillers are used to treat static wrinkles. Injectable dermal fillers are placed beneath the wrinkle and/or fold to ‘fill in' or ‘plump up' the depression. The areas most commonly treated with dermal fillers include Nasolabial Folds, Marionette Lines and Vertical Lip Lines. In addition to the treatment of wrinkles injectable dermal fillers can also be used to create volume and definition of the lips. Dermal fillers are administered through a few injections by a trained medical professional. Your medical professional may decide to administer a topical (cream) or local anaesthetic to help numb the area being treated. Treatments usually last for at least 6 months and normal activities can generally be resumed immediately following facial injections.

Usually the side effects of these wrinkle treatments are temporary and localised to the area of injection. The different types of cosmetic injection have different side effects, however in general possible side effects include swelling, pain, burning, bruising or redness at the injection site. For more information consult your doctor.
Both types of cosmetic injection are available only from a medical practitioner. It is best to consult a doctor (cosmetic physician, cosmetic surgeon, dermatologist or plastic surgeon) to discuss your individual case and the anti-ageing skin care appropriate for you. Your doctor will help you to make decisions based on your age, skin condition, expectation and overall health.

Chemical peels

Although our skin is able to replace old cells with new ones, over time this natural exfoliating process begins to slow down. With chemical peels, another form of wrinkle treatment, a solution of one or more exfoliating agents is applied to the face to remove the rough upper layer of skin and to stimulate rejuvenation of new skin cells. The result is tighter, smoother skin that is relatively free of fine lines and blemishes. Chemical peeling is recommended to reduce wrinkles, particularly fine wrinkles, and age spots, sun damage and uneven pigmentation. There are several types of chemical peel techniques: Light and medium facial peels are used to remove superficial wrinkles and discolouration, and deep chemical peels are used for more severe conditions such as severe acne. Generally, the deeper the chemical peel, the longer the recovery time required. After light chemical peels, patients may return to their normal activities immediately and wear cosmetics to conceal the redness. Medium and deep chemical peels however, may result in swelling and blisters, which could take up to 2 weeks to heal. These medium to deep chemical peels may require dressings on some or all of the treated skin and are therefore best administered by a doctor. Bacterial, viral or fungal infections or prolonged redness may also occur after peeling, which can be treated with appropriate medications. Following any chemical peel, your new skin will be sensitive, so you must use maximum sun protection. Chemical peels can be repeated as necessary to achieve and maintain desired results.

Choosing a cosmetic clinic

If you are interested in treatments to reduce your wrinkles, you may want to find a medical professional with experience in wrinkle treatments, including injectables and chemical peels, and someone familiar with Cosmetic Rejuvenation Techniques. To make the selection process easier, consider using our Clinic Finder. Clinics listed here have medical professionals who focus on wrinkle treatment and facial aesthetics, with a detailed knowledge of facial anatomy and the ageing process that causes wrinkles. They are currently practising Cosmetic Rejuvenation Techniques and may be able to answer any queries.