What are muscle relaxants?
Muscle relaxants are a huge part of aesthetics. Botulinum toxin, often referred to by one of its brand names Botox, is a form of muscle relaxant.
Muscle relaxants are used to treat fine lines, wrinkles and crows feet. As a muscle relaxant, botulinum toxin can also be used to treat medical conditions such as facial spasms, headaches, teeth grinding, excess sweating and excessive tearing.
How does the treatment work?
Small amounts of the toxin are injected into specific muscles using either a cannula or a needle. The sensation has been described by one of our patients as similar to ‘having your eyebrows threaded’, it is a small scratching sensation as the needle or cannula is inserted.
Wrinkle Relaxing Injections
What aftercare is advised?
Please do not massage or press on the area that has been treated. Apply only minimal cosmetics on the day of treatment, avoiding the injected area as much as possible and also please avoid applying skincare products to the site for at least 12 hours after the injections. These guidelines are to help you avoid potential risks of infection.
Please be aware that certain medications including aspirin can increase your risk of bruising, however, we do not recommend that you stop taking medication that you have been prescribed.
Please avoid alcohol for 24 hours before and after your treatment as this can act as a blood thinner and increase the risks of the treatment.
How long do the effects last?
The effects from muscle relaxants begin to appear within a few days, with the maximum effect being seen around day 30 of treatment.
Toxin injection results typically last 3-4 months however, after having had injections repeatedly, your body can develop resistance to the toxin so results can be less effective and the frequency of injections may need to be increased.
Can anyone have the treatment?
People who are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning to become pregnant in the next three months cannot be administered toxin. This is because of the unknown side effects and minimal studies into pregnancy and toxin due to ethical reasons.
We also do not treat anyone under the age of 18 with toxin injections.
We would also not administer toxin within two weeks of any surgery requiring general anaesthesia, due to contraindications.
Author: Julie Scott
“It’s my hope that the many years of training and experience I’ve had will help you elicit precisely the results you are looking for. I genuinely appreciate and value the trust and confidence my patients have in knowing that I will help them look the best they possibly can.”
Julie Scott is an NMC registered Independent Nurse Prescriber, Level 7 qualified aesthetic injector and trainer, with over 30 years in plastics and skin rejuvenation she established her practice in Essex in 2003. Julie is an aesthetic mentor and international speaker and she’s won “Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner of the Year” at the Aesthetic Medicine Awards in 2024, and at the Aesthetic Awards in 2024 and 2022. Her clinic also took home “Best Clinic South of England” at the 2023 Aesthetics Awards. Julie is on the Clinical Advisory Board for the Aesthetics Journal and is a Key Opinion Leader for several leading aesthetic brands. She’s an Aesthetic Awards Judge, Advisory Board Expert Advisor, and leads research for new aesthetic products. Her dedication to patient care earned her the WhatClinic Patient Satisfaction Award for five years running. She runs a Clinical and Business Mentoring Program and offers consultancy support and research. Julie has written over 25 articles and presented at 20 conferences in the past 18 months alone.
Julie has a passion for promoting skin health for her patients. She believes in prevention and maintenance to achieve maximum skin health.
- Registered General Nurse (RGN)
- Independent Nurse Prescriber (NIP)
- Level 7 Diploma in Advanced Aesthetic Injectables
- Member of the ZO Skin Health Faculty
- Advanced botulinum toxin and dermal filler injector
- Clinical and business mentor for Facial Aesthetics Mentoring
- Lead Injectables Trainer for Interface Aesthetics
- Profhilo Trainer & KOL for HA-Derma
- Awarded “Best Nurse Practitioner of the Year” at both the 2022 & 2024 Aesthetics Awards
- Awarded “Nurse Practitioner of the Year” at the Aesthetic Medicine Awards 2024
- Awarded “Best Clinic” at the 2023 Aesthetic Awards
To view more blogs by Julie Scott please click here.