Anti-Wrinkle Injections

Yes, all clients must have a consultation prior to treatment, even if you've been many times before. Our clinician will fully review your concerns and advise on the most appropriate treatment.

We also offer dermal fillers, peels and a host of other skin treatments. Our clinicians will give honest advice on the best approach for you.

We only use top brand botulinum toxin products which are sourced from reputable UK pharmacies. Most patients are treated with either BOTOX® by Allergan or Nuceiva® by Evolus.

Botulinum toxin is a 'neuromodulator'. When injected into a muscle, it activates a process called selective muscle denervation.

This is when the neuromuscular junction – where the nerve and muscle meet – has its receptors blocked from acetylcholine: the chemical which forces the muscle to contract.

Therefore, even though the nerve continues to send a signal which requests movement, the tissue does not receive the instruction and the muscle remains still.

Botulinum toxin injections can be used in anti-wrinkle treatment to relax the muscle that causes skin to crease, making wrinkles fade or disappear altogether.

Over 3-5 months, the muscle gradually grows new receptors and is able to contract again.

This treatment is most effective in the correction of lines which are formed from muscle contractions alone. Because the underlying muscle doesn’t move, the skin above it no longer creases.

Thus, the effects of botulinum toxin are most noticeable in frown and laughter lines. The treatment does not remove wrinkles which are permanently engraved in the skin, regardless of muscle movement, although it may soften them.

The science bit is that although the botulinum toxin leaves your body naturally after around 48 hours, the effect of the treatment is to trim the receptors of the muscles that have been injected.

These receptors, which receive messages from the brain telling the muscle to move gradually grow back over a period of several months. 'Trimmed' receptors mean the resulting effect is wrinkles and lines have been temporarily reduced as a result of less movement from the corresponding muscle.

Mostly, the top half of face where wrinkles are deepened by smiling and frowning.

However, botulinum toxin also corrects crow’s feet, forehead lines, vertical neck bands, grooves above the upper lip and gummy smiles.

Your initial results will appear within 2-5 days and continue to improve for up to 14 days, when the results will peak.

With SkinViva, we contact you 14 days after your treatment to determine if you require a free top-up injection. If necessary, we'll book you in whenever you're free for a follow up.

Usually 3-4 months. In some cases, 6 months.

No. SkinViva uses the smallest needles on the market, so few customers experience even mild discomfort. Likewise, unlike some other operators, our clinicians are trained to use a high turnover of needles per client, so bruising is minimised.

If you prefer, ice or local anaesthetic cream can be applied to minimise sensation.

BOTOX® or Nuceiva® are botulinum toxin treatments, which are used to relax wrinkles in the upper half of the face.

Dermal fillers plump areas of lost volume, such as nose-to-mouth lines, or to enhance lips.

If you're having BOTOX® or Nuceiva®, this generally involves 4-6 carefully placed injections per area of treatment.

Usually, 10 minutes – but new customers generally require a 45-minute appointment.

Botulinum toxin treatment is charged per muscle group – i.e. each individual area requiring treatment. If you need an immediate top-up for the same injection, it is free of charge.

There is no difference in price between BOTOX® and Nuceiva®.

No. SkinViva aesthetic medical professionals are all trained to preserve and maintain eyebrow movement, which is the key to creating natural expressions.

Yes, when a qualified Clinician administers it. Cosmetic doses of botulinum toxin are minuscule and over 450,000 UK procedures are performed each year. Allergic reactions are extremely rare.

As anti-wrinkle treatment has no recovery time, there is little aftercare required. Immediately following treatment, you can enhance its effects by gently moving the treated area with mild facial exercises.

For the first 2 hours after treatment, it’s important not to rub the affected areas. For the succeeding 24 hours, don’t engage in any vigorous exercise, drink alcohol or experience prolonged sun exposure – whether natural or artificial.

Botulinum toxin is broken down by the body during the first 48 hours of treatment, so does not accumulate in your system. Improved effects are visible with multiple treatments because the muscle is already relaxed from the previous session so your skin is creasing less and the wrinkles are not being reinforced.

No. Your face simply returns to how it was prior to treatment.

Some, but most are related to the actual act of injecting the skin, not the product itself. These include: minor redness or swelling around the injection site (which vanishes within 1-2hrs), minor bruising on occasions, headaches and a very small risk of infection around the entry point. In very rare cases, clients can experience a temporary droop of the eyelid.

Women who are pregnant and/or breast-feeding, people with neurological diseases such as Myasthenia Gravis and Parkinson’s Disease, consumers of certain anti-biotics (namely Erythromycin) and those using blood-thinning medications including Warfarin or Heparin.

Your clinician will discuss these with you at your consultation.

We have a large male patient group which is ever growing. Anatomically botulinum toxin is just as suitable as an anti-wrinkle treatment for guys as it is for ladies and just as a effective.

Typically, men sometimes can have stronger muscles in the face than women, but our experienced clinicians are able to adjust the dose to give the look you want.

Most often those that know you notice you look fresher, but don't specifically know why.

Perhaps those who have had a wrinkle-relaxing treatment themselves and are particularly observant may have an inkling.

Yes, there is no problem with flying after having this treatment.

You should avoid heat for 24 hours. This includes the sun, sunbeds and hot baths and showers.

There should be at least a two week gap between a botulinum toxin treatment and having semi permanent make up treatment on your eyebrows. This is because the effects of treatment can temporarily move the position of your eyebrows.

You must not drink alcohol for the following 24 hours after your treatment. After 24 hours, it is fine.

Yes you can. If you are having anti-wrinkle treatment THEN another treatment, you must leave it 48 hours. If you had another treatment and then you wanted wrinkle relaxing afterwards, you would have to wait 2 weeks before having your botulinum toxin treatment.

No, you must wait until 24 hours before you can go running or do any other form of strenuous exercise.

You need to wait a minimum of 12 weeks between full treatment doses.

The effects of treatment are not seen immediately. You should start to notice a difference about 3-7 days after your appointment and the treatment will be at its maximum at day 14. If you would like an adjustment to your treatment, you’re welcome to book back in to be seen within the first month after your initial treatment.

Not necessarily. Many people do not need to come back in for an adjustment. It is a personal choice, not a clinical necessity. We will send you a text message after 14 days to check how your treatment is looking. If you would like an adjustment to your treatment, you’re welcome to book back in to be seen within the first month after your initial treatment.