If you have been thinking about anti-wrinkle injections but have not yet booked, you are in good company. Most of our first-time patients have spent months, sometimes years, reading about the treatment before they walk through the door. The most common thing they tell us afterwards is that the appointment was calmer and more thorough than they expected.
This guide walks you through what happens, from your first consultation to the results, so that you know exactly what to expect.
Start with a consultation, not a treatment
At Healthium Clinics, every new patient begins with a consultation. This is a medical appointment, not a sales conversation. Your practitioner will ask about your general health, any medications you take, previous treatments, and what you are hoping to achieve.
They will then look at how your face moves. Anti-wrinkle injections work by relaxing specific muscles, so the assessment is about which muscles are creating the lines that bother you, and how much of a change would look natural for you. Two people with similar forehead lines may need quite different approaches depending on their brow position, muscle strength and expression habits.
Not everyone is suitable. Pregnancy, breastfeeding, certain neuromuscular conditions and some medications mean we would advise against treatment. If that applies to you, we will say so.
Which areas can be treated?
The classic areas are the three upper-face zones:
- Frown lines between the eyebrows
- Horizontal forehead lines
- Crow’s feet at the outer corners of the eyes
Beyond these, we also treat bunny lines on the nose, a gummy smile, a dimpled chin, jawline tension associated with teeth grinding, and neck bands. Excessive underarm sweating (hyperhidrosis) can also be treated using the same approach.
Your practitioner will talk through which areas are relevant for you. It is common to start with one or two and add others later once you know how you respond.
The treatment itself
The treatment takes around 15 to 20 minutes. A series of very small injections is placed into the targeted muscles using a fine needle. Most patients describe the sensation as a brief pinch. There is no need for anaesthetic, though a cold pack can be applied if you prefer.
You can return to work and normal activities straight away. We advise avoiding lying flat, vigorous exercise, alcohol and facial massage for the rest of the day, and not rubbing the treated areas.
When will you see results?
Nothing changes immediately, which surprises some people. The muscles begin to relax over the following days:
- Days 3 to 5: the first softening of movement
- Days 10 to 14: full effect
We book a review appointment at around two weeks. This is where any fine-tuning happens. If one side is moving slightly more than the other, or a line is still more visible than you would like, a small adjustment can be made.
Results typically last three to four months. With regular treatment, many patients find the interval lengthens as the muscles become less habitually active.
Natural results, not frozen faces
The concern we hear most often is about looking “done”. Our approach at Healthium is deliberately conservative. The aim is to soften lines while preserving your natural expressions, so that you look rested rather than different. It is always possible to add a little more at your review; it is not possible to take it away. Starting gently is the right way to go.
Who performs the treatment?
Anti-wrinkle injections at Healthium are carried out by medically qualified practitioners within a CQC-registered clinic. That matters. The product used is a prescription medicine, and treatment should only ever be prescribed and administered by someone with the clinical training to assess you properly and manage any complications, however rare.
Common questions
Does it hurt? Most people rate the discomfort as very mild. The needles are extremely fine and each injection takes a second or two.
Can I have treatment before a holiday or event? Yes, but allow at least two weeks so that the full effect has developed and any review adjustment has been made. Booking a month ahead is ideal.
What if I do not like the result? The effect is temporary and wears off gradually over a few months. Because we start conservatively, a result that is too strong is rare, and any asymmetry can usually be corrected at the review.
Pricing and booking
Prices at Healthium Clinics start from £199 for a single area, with two-area and three-area options available, as well as specialist treatments for the jawline, neck and hyperhidrosis. Full pricing is listed on our anti-wrinkle injections page.
To book a consultation at our Henley-on-Thames clinic, call 01628 876439 or use our online booking system. Consultations are available for patients from across Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire.
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