Are Antiwrinkle Injections the Same as Botox?

What’s the difference between anti-wrinkle injections and Botox?

The world of aesthetics can get a little confusing when it comes to the names and types of all the different treatments on offer. Those new to an aesthetic clinic or still deciding what might work for them have likely heard of anti-wrinkle injections and Botox, but might be unsure of the difference or exactly what we’re referring to.

The short answer is, they’re the same: there’s no difference between saying ‘anti-wrinkle injections’ and Botox.

Botox is simply a brand name for a type of anti-wrinkle, which have competing brands on the market like most other products. Just like how we say Band-Aids, Q-tips and Hoover and everyone knows what you mean, Botox is just another brand that has become a ubiquitous descriptor for a whole product category.

Other brand names for anti-wrinkle injections you may see around include Dysport and Xeomin. Now, for the science: all use the Botulinum toxin which make up all effective anti-wrinkle treatments. Botox uses the specific type A toxin called onabotulinumtoxinA (ONA), Dysport contains another type A botulinum toxin, called abobotulinumtoxinA (ABO) while Xeomin uses one called incobotulinumtoxinA. Personally, I use them all with my patients at Lumea Aesthetics, depending on their needs.

What are anti-wrinkle injections?

Now we’ve cleared up any confusion over what Botox actually is, anti-wrinkle treatments themselves are a very popular and minimally invasive treatment to provide a youthful and fresh look. When you start to see visible facial lines, these are usually dynamic wrinkles that disappear when the face muscles relax. Over time, however, repeated use of these muscles causes more permanent (static) lines, which can remain even when the muscle is relaxed.

Anti-wrinkle injections help to relax those muscles causing both these dynamic and static wrinkles on the face. By inhibiting nerve signals to the specific facial muscle, these injections stop its ability to contract, so that over a relatively short period creases and wrinkles fade, producing a refreshed look.

Not only can anti-wrinkle injections help improve the appearance of frown lines, crows feet, forehead lines, drooping corners of the mouth and neck bands, this treatment can also help with facial slimming and a gummy smile, as well as providing relief for medical conditions like teeth grinding (bruxism), migraines, and excessive sweating (scalp, forehead, underarms, hands and feet). There’s little wonder anti-wrinkles are one of our most popular treatments, with their magic going far beyond simply reducing the appearance of wrinkles!

What is the best age to start having anti-wrinkle injections?

My focus at Lumea Aesthetics is to tailor a treatment plan for each patient that helps you reach your own aesthetic goals, accentuating your unique features and most importantly, keeping you looking like ‘you’.

I’m often asked when is the best time to start coming in for anti-wrinkle injections, and the best answer is simply when you start seeing visible lines you want to address; maybe they’ve got a little deeper recently or you’ve found them distracting when looking in the mirror! This can happen at a variety of different ages for different people, depending on genetics, lifestyle, like unprotected sun exposure, as well as habits – for example, someone who naturally frowns when concentrating can lead to early frown lines, or squinting frequently can bring about early crows feet around the eyes. Overall, it’s better to come in when you see the early signs as starting treatment then can yield better results, as opposed to waiting until the lines deepen then trying to reverse them.

However, I don’t believe in administering anti-wrinkles for the sake of it if there’s nothing to treat – it’s not a preventative treatment in that way either. I also don’t want to take away the character of your features that are unique to you. If you smile with your eyes and so the muscles around your eyes that cause crows feet have been active from quite an early age, I can help soften them and stop them from getting too deep – but I wouldn’t want to remove them completely as they form a part of your beautiful smile! I call this feature ‘sunshine lines’ – and it really illustrates my philosophy towards working with you for the best outcome.

And of course, using anti-wrinkles as a treatment for medical conditions like teeth grinding and hyperhidrosis can help anyone at almost any age and to protect your long-term dental health – it’s best to come in as soon as you feel they interfere with your daily life.

What are the benefits of having anti-wrinkle injections?

There’s a reason people often come in for anti-wrinkle injections at our Collingwood clinic as their main way to delay the signs of ageing as opposed to other, more invasive treatment options. Especially when used in conjunction with other treatments like skin boosters and fillers, we can achieve an overall more refreshed, more awake, radiant and less-tired look. It’s also a relatively quick procedure – 20 minutes or less – that simply involves a couple of small, expertly-applied needles requiring no invasive procedures, no surgery and no downtime.

As the injections are essentially a muscle relaxant, they provide relief from the symptoms and pains of teeth grinding and for those who worry of sweaty armpits when they raise their arms.

Anti-wrinkles also achieve fantastic results in men, which some call ‘Brotox’. You won’t hear me using that term, but I have many male patients looking to reduce lines and wrinkles on their face, all while retaining their unique characteristics.

Aesthetic treatments like anti-wrinkles don’t have to just be for yourself either, with our brand new gift cards allowing you to purchase the gift of confidence for someone you love – try our Anti-Ageing Refresher or Visage Revitalisation or Men’s Refresher gifts for ready-made packages I’ve developed in answer to the most common concerns.

My best wishes and I hope to see you soon.

Dr Toro & The Lumea Aesthetics Anti-Wrinkles Injectables Melbourne Team