Frequently Asked Questions
Antiwrinkle Treatments
To comply with TGA regulations, we are restricted from mentioning any brand names of injectable muscle relaxants.
What happens at the appointment?
Dr ILANA will assess your face and needs and will only proceed if you are a suitable candidate. Generally no analgesia is required, although ice can be used to numb the area. The Muscle Relaxant is then injected using a very fine needle. Generally, the treatment process itself takes only 15 minutes.
When will I see results?
Changes begin to take effect from day 3-7, with maximal results seen at around 10 days. Benefits last for up to 6 months depending on the area, the dose used and the individual’s metabolism.
Is the treatment safe?
There are 20 years of safety data supporting use of Injectable Muscle Relaxants. Much larger doses are frequently injected in children with cerebral palsy to relax tight muscles. Other medical uses include treatment of squints, eyelid spasm, facial nerve disorders, overactive neck muscles, incontinence and vaginal spasm. Injectable muscle relaxants are not tested for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding.
How will I look after the treatment?
Immediately following treatment, tiny red swellings at the injection sites may be visible but tend to settle after 5-30 minutes.
Will treatment make me look younger?
Face age is determined by several factors, including your genetics, environmental damage, face shape, skin quality and wrinkles and lines. Regular treatments will almost stop the clock for young people. In mature aged skin, treatments will soften signs of ageing and present a more refreshed look.
If I stop having treatment will I look worse?
No. Stopping treatment will eventually see the return of the wrinkles and lines and your face will continue to age, but with the benefit of previous treatment.
Timing your treatment
It’s important to time your treatments away from important social events. This is because bruising can result any time a needle is inserted into the skin as there are many blood vessels that are not visible from the skin’s surface.
To reduce bruising, it is helpful to cease any medications or nutritional supplements 10 days prior to an injectable treatment.
These include
- fish and krill oil
- aspirin, warfare and other oral or injectable anticoagulants
- anti-inflammatory medications
- Vitamin E
It is also important to understand that, although extremely uncommon, things can very occasionally go wrong with anti wrinkle treatments and it is worth ensuring that you have no really important work or social commitments in the 2-4 weeks after a treatment.
Filler Treatments
What happens at the appointment?
It certainly isn’t about walking in and being injected straight away!
Instead, Dr ILANA will listen to what your concerns are will then assess your face. She will then discuss with you the best course of treatment and the approach and order to proceed. Should you not be suitable for a particular treatment, this will be discussed as well as other options that may be more suitable. There is no need for additional pain relief as Dr ILANA uses very fine needles to administer the treatment. Ice is sometimes used prior to the performing the treatment to numb the skin and reduce bruising. Generally, the treatment process itself takes only 15-30 minutes, although the consultation may take up to 30 mins, particularly the first appointment.
When will I see results?
Changes are evident immediately with final effects seen between 1 – 2 weeks once any swelling and bruising have subsided- this depends on the product used and your own individual make-up and metabolism. Benefits last for usually 6 – 12 months depending on the area, the dose used and the individual’s metabolism.
Is the treatment safe?
Hyaluronic Acid fillers have been around in excess of 20 years now. The ones Dr ILANA uses are made by highly reputable companies with long safety records. Bruising, redness and some swelling are common after-effects from filler treatments. Because of this its best to time your treatment carefully so as not to interfere with work or social engagements.
It is very uncommon for more serious side effects to occur such as lumps, infections and filler inadvertently getting into a blood vessel. You can rest assured that you are in safe hands with Dr ILANA as she has had extensive experiencing in assisting other Dr’s, nurses and patients when they have experienced any difficulties.
Hyaluronic Acid fillers are not tested for safety in pregnancy or breastfeeding. For this reason, Dr ILANA will not treat anyone who is planning to fall pregnant in the following 4 months, or is pregnant or breastfeeding. Creating a new human life is something very special and Dr ILANA believes that avoiding untested treatments is really important.
How will I look after the treatment?
Immediately following treatment, tiny red swellings at the injection sites may be visible but these tend to settle within 30 minutes. Sometimes bruising may be evident but may also take 24-48 hours to come out and then resolve over the course of a week to 10 days. The area may also be a little swollen.
Will treatment make me look younger?
Face age is determined by several factors, including your genetics, sun damage, face shape, skin quality and wrinkles and lines. In young people, regular treatments act as prevention against developing fine lines in the areas treated. In mature aged skin, where lines-at-rest are visible, treatments will soften the lines and help to achieve a more refreshed look. We now know that starting treatments at a younger age ie almost before you need them, definitely results in a better long-term effect. However, not everyone needs to start having treatments at the same age. This depends on your individual skin, bone structure and other factors. Dr ILANA is skilled at ensuring that you will never look ridiculous and over-inflated as she has an astute eye for aesthetics and detail.
If I stop having treatment, will I look worse?
Definitely not! Over time, the benefits of treatment wear off and the area returns to its usual pattern of movement. However, for the time that treatment was undertaken, the clock effectively stops and the effects of ageing then resume.
Timing your treatment
Although Dr ILANA has 20 years of experience in administering anti wrinkle treatments, all procedures carry a very small risk of unwanted results. For this reason, it is important to consider whether you have any really important work or social commitments and to avoid having treatments within the 4 weeks of those events.
It is also important to bear in mind any medication or supplements that may increase the risk of bruising. Dr ILANA recommends that you cease anti-inflammatory medications, fish oil and krill oil as well as Gingo Biloba 1 week prior to treatments. If you are on anticoagulants to thin the blood, it is best to discuss this with your treating Dr as ceasing these medications may not be a good idea.
