Wrinkle injections: specialists & treatment information

Wrinkle injections are a gentle alternative to a facelift. It is a cosmetic treatment to reduce wrinkles on the face and upper part of the body. In this way, the signs of natural skin ageing can be concealed. Wrinkle injections are not permanent wrinkle removal and require regular top-up treatments. The treatment is performed on an outpatient basis.

Further information and selected specialists for wrinkle injections can be found below.

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Injection wrinkle treatment - Further information

What is a wrinkle injection?

The skin loses its natural elasticity with increasing age. This leads to the formation of wrinkles. Also

  • the age-related loss of skin moisture,
  • natural facial expressions and
  • not least gravity

also promote the formation of wrinkles.

During a wrinkle injection, the doctor injects a filling substance under the skin using a thin needle. This is intended to lift the wrinkles and thus smooth them out and is mainly used for wrinkles

  • around the mouth
  • on the forehead,
  • on the nose and
  • the eyes

are used.

A wrinkle injection, also known as a liquid lift, costs between 250 and 750 euros, depending on the material and the region being treated.

Wrinkle injections are an alternative for people who do not want to undergo a surgical procedure such as a facelift. Minimally invasive wrinkle reduction by injection is much gentler and more tolerable for the patient.

The treatment is usually performed on an outpatient basis. If necessary, wrinkle injections can also be carried out under local anesthesia using an anesthetic cream or spray.

Specialist practices usually carry out these anti-ageing treatments.

Wrinkle injections may also require several sessions to ensure the best possible treatment result. This depends on the depth of the wrinkles to be treated and the condition of the skin.

What substances are used for wrinkle injections?

Dissolvable and non-dissolvable substances are available for non-surgical wrinkle treatment. In medical terminology, these are referred to as dermal fillers or simply fillers for short.

Dissolvable fillers bear this name because the body breaks them down on its own. A distinction is made between them:

Permanently injected fillers are Aptos threads and silicone and are considered permanent implants.

The thin threads are made of the plastic polyurethane (PU) and are covered with tiny barbs. The cosmetic surgeon uses a needle to insert them into the area of skin to be tightened. They then hook into the tissue and fuse with the connective tissue. It completely envelops them and thus ensures the desired plumping of the affected skin area.

The threads are primarily used to lift drooping corners of the mouth and reduce sagging cheeks.

Possible risks of wrinkle injections

Wrinkle injections do not remove wrinkles. The wrinkles are merely less visible. After treatment, the wrinkles are shallower and do not cast dark shadows. After a few months, the wrinkles become more prominent again and the treatment should be repeated.

Injecting the skin with substances that can be broken down by the body is harmless to the body.

In isolated cases, however, allergies may occur. Fillers that are permanently injected into the skin can cause nodules on the surface of the skin or even slip out of place. This may require facial surgery to repair the damage that has occurred.

If you are considering cosmetic wrinkle injections, you should only have them performed by a specialist. Incorrect dosing of the filler and incorrectly placed injections can lead to bruising. With Botox, a so-called "mask face" is also possible. The facial muscles are then so severely paralyzed that the face looks unnaturally like a mask.

The cosmetic surgeon's sessions last a maximum of 30 minutes and usually do not even require a local anaesthetic. Patients who are particularly sensitive to pain can of course insist on the administration of a local anesthetic. In most cases, an anesthetic ointment is applied to the treatment area.

Preparation for wrinkle injections

Wrinkle injections are a minimally invasive procedure that involves far fewer risks than surgery. Nevertheless, you should follow your doctor's instructions for preparation.

In the 14 days before the treatment, you should avoid painkillers such as aspirin, as these delay blood clotting. You should also largely avoid alcohol and sleeping pills.

Wrinkle injections should not be carried out if the area to be treated is inflamed or has an acute skin disease. Wait until the affected area has completely healed.

Wrinkle injection procedures

The most popular methods of non-surgical wrinkle treatment include injections with

  • Hyaluronic acid,
  • collagen and
  • Botox.

Hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid is found in the connective tissue of the human body and gives it the necessary elasticity. The chemical substance is able to store a great deal of moisture.

The hyaluronic acid used for anti-ageing treatment is produced synthetically in the laboratory. However, it can bind a similar amount of water as natural hyaluronic acid.

How much water the filler binds depends on its consistency. Hyaluronic acid with a higher density has a gel-like consistency. It is required

  • for injecting deep wrinkles,
  • to lift the corners of the mouth and
  • to plump up lips that are too thin.

To build up volume, for example for fuller cheeks or for modeling the chin.

  • chin,
  • arms,
  • neck and
  • décolleté,

a filler with an even firmer consistency is required.

Fine wrinkles around the eyes and lips, on the other hand, are smoothed with thin (slightly cross-linked) hyaluronic acid. Preparations from different suppliers are usually used. They differ in terms of their consistency and the duration of their effect.

Hyaluronic acid is generally only used to smooth static wrinkles. These can be clearly seen even when the facial muscles are relaxed. A good example of this is the nasolabial fold, which is located between the nose and mouth. If it is too prominent, it can make the face look tense.

The skin-smoothing effect of hyaluronic acid is immediately visible.

After wrinkle injections, the treated skin area is cooled with a cold mask or cool packs. This reduces swelling and redness in advance.

The body will have completely broken down the filler no later than nine months after the treatment. In order to achieve a long-term reduction in wrinkles, it is advisable to repeat the treatment.

Hyaluronic acid can also be used to fill and smooth scars. It is injected into the affected area once a year.

Collagen

Collagen is also found in human connective tissue. However, collagen obtained biotechnologically from processed bovine hides is used for wrinkle injections with these fillers.

The filler is mainly used to smooth out facial wrinkles and reduce deeper furrows. It can also be used to fill scars on the face.

The injected collagen immediately binds with the collagen present in the skin. It thus integrates directly into the supporting lattice structure of the skin tissue. It is usually administered together with a mild anesthetic so that the cosmetic treatment does not cause any pain.

The substance has the desired effect immediately. Further wrinkle injections with collagen are required after 6 months at the latest if the anti-ageing effect is to be permanent.

To prevent an allergy, the patient should be tested for collagen intolerance 2 to 3 weeks before the planned collagen treatment.

Collagen as a filler is broken down in the body within 3 to 9 months.

Faltenunterspritzung mit Kollagen
Collagen wrinkle injections can be used for severe facial wrinkles © Microgen | AdobeStock

Botox

Botox is short for botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin produced by a bacterium. The filler is mainly used to inject mimic, i.e. dynamic, wrinkles and fine lines. These include, for example

  • the eye area (crow's feet),
  • the frown lines and
  • frown lines and frown lines on the forehead.

The cosmetic surgeon injects the Botox into the muscle located near the wrinkles in question. The drug first blocks the nerves and then temporarily paralyzes the muscle. The muscle can no longer contract, causing the overlying skin to smooth out.

The injections are carried out with a precisely dosed active ingredient and at intervals of a few millimeters.

The treatment shows its full effect after three to four days. It must be repeated after three or six months at the latest.

After the wrinkle injection

After the injection, some general reactions associated with the injection may occur in the treatment area. These include, for example

  • slight redness,
  • swelling,
  • tenderness and
  • itching.

These side effects are generally not particularly severe. They usually subside on their own after one to two days.

Other reactions are very rare. However, a few patients may experience a local reaction known as a hypersensitivity reaction.

During the first six hours, you should not touch the treated areas of the face unnecessarily often. After that, light make-up and gentle washing with soap are no problem. Until the initial redness and swelling have subsided, you should not expose yourself to extreme heat (e.g. solarium and sunbathing) or extreme cold.

A refresher treatment is generally required after three to twelve months.

In order to achieve the best possible result, fine corrections may be necessary within two to four weeks after the first treatment.

Smaller amounts of product are normally required for a touch-up treatment. However, the filling substance selected is also important for a touch-up treatment. There are products that provide for a series of initial treatments in the treatment plan. With other products, optimal results may be visible immediately after the first treatment.

Conclusion: What results can be achieved with wrinkle injections?

The results depend on the depth and extent of the wrinkle being treated. In general, the deeper the wrinkle, the more material is required. In case of doubt, several treatments may be necessary for an optimal result.

In the case of deep, pronounced wrinkles that have been present for many years, it is sometimes no longer possible to lift the tissue completely. In any case, however, a "soft-focus effect" is still possible, which makes the entire face look more youthful and fresh.

Fine lines and moderate wrinkles can often be corrected up to 100% with the first treatment. The result can be seen immediately after the treatment. Wrinkles around the corners of the mouth in particular, which often give a negative facial expression, can be reduced or corrected by the treatment. A positive facial expression can be created immediately after the treatment.

Faltenunterspritzung: Vorher-Nachher-Bild der Mundwinkel
This before and after photo shows how wrinkle injections can create a more positive facial expression © ReaLiia | AdobeStock

First and foremost, the effect of a treatment depends on the product used. Filler substances are divided into permanent and non-permanent products. Permanent products are not broken down by the body and remain in the body forever. Non-permanent products are broken down by the body within a few weeks. The patient can then decide for themselves if and when they want a new treatment.

Hyaluronic acid, which is stabilized using a patented process, has special properties. It is characterized by a long-lasting effect of up to 12 months and very good tolerability.

How long a treatment lasts with degradable products is very individual and depends on many factors, such as

  • Age,
  • skin type,
  • lifestyle habits and
  • muscle activity.

The injection technique also plays a role.

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