Wrinkle relaxing injections are the most popular aesthetic treatment administered these days.  The stigma of having treatment to reverse the signs of ageing is rapidly decreasing.  The stereotypical “frozen face” is no longer the desired outcome, but rather to achieve a natural, healthy, younger looking result.  It is equally popular with men and women alike.

Wrinkle relaxing injections are most commonly used to treat 3 distinct areas:

The Glabella - the “11 lines” that develop on the forehead in-between the eyes, also called “frown lines”

The Frontalis - horizontal lines that develop on the forehead, such as when one lifts up one’s eye brows.

Orbicularis - lines that develop around the eyes, also called “crow’s feet” or “laughter lines”

It can also be used to treat other areas on the face, such as for “smoker’s lines” around the lips, “marionette lines” with down turned mouth corners, the chin area and neck “bands”.  The various different treatments options will be discussed in detail during your consultation.

The active ingredient in wrinkle relaxing injections is Botulinum Toxin type A which paralysis the muscle which it is injected into.  By limiting the movement of the particular muscle, it prevents the skin over the muscle from folding and hence treat and prevent wrinkle formation, in that area.

Of late there has been exciting new formulations launched. At Carte Blanche we will explain the subtle differences between the products and help you to choose the one most suited to you.

It can take up to 2 weeks for the injection to take effect and the result can last around 3 months.   Over time there is a weakening of the muscles treated and you may find that you require treatment less often. Some of the newer formulations can last up to 6 months!

Botulinium Toxin is a prescription only medication and individual suitability for the treatment would be assessed by the prescribing doctor.

The brands used at Carte Blanche are:

BOTOX - Allergan

BOCOUTURE - Merz

AZZALURE - Galderma

ALLUZIENCE - Galderma

LETYBO - Chroma 

Fillers are used to add volume to specific areas of the face where it has been depleted due to the natural ageing process.  The most common areas treated are the naso-labial lines (line between the nose and mouth corners), cheeks and lips.  It is very important not to “over treat”, as it will result in an unnatural look - such as on so many pictures ridiculing people who’s gone over-board with too much filler administered!  The quality of the product is pivotal in achieving natural results. Low quality cheap fillers often leave the area stiff and without natural movement. We guarantee a natural and elegant result by only using premium range products administered by a qualified aesthetic doctor.

Most fillers used at Carte Blanche are “Hyaloronic Acid” fillers and not the permanent type fillers.  For some the use of “bio-stimulator” type fillers are ideal as it offers a “whole face liquid face lift” utilising collagen stimulating products such as LANLUMA. To achieve sharper scultping such as for the jaw line, or to fill the “marionette areas” without adding excessive volume, a CaHA product such as RADIESSE is ideal.

The different products for your specific needs will be discussed in detail during your consultation with the doctor.

Prior to administering the dermal fillers, “numbing cream” will be applied to the area in order to ensure that your treatment is a virtually pain free and a pleasurable experience. The dermal filler range used at Carte Blanche also has a small amount of Lignocaine added to it, which further acts as a numbing agent to prevent pain.

New Croma PhilArt works by stimulating the body’s own cell regeneration, and improves patients’ skin quality by rejuvenating the skin and making it more radiant.

Thread face lifts are performed by inserting PDO (Polydioxanone) threads under the skin at various positions to attain a result which is revolutionary for the aesthetic industry. There are different types of threads, some have small hooks, some are plain and some are spiral in shape.  Inserting the different types of threads at the appropriate locations maximise the result of the "face lift".

The initial PDO threads were not as complex in design as the newer versions, such as bi-directional threads These "newer" types of threads can achieve a remarkable "lift", which was not achievable previously.  The "older" generation of threads are still used for the rejuvenation, lipolysis and tightening effects - in addition to the newer bi-directional threads to achieve amazing results.

The treatment is performed in the clinic following the application of numbing cream to minimise discomfort and although the results are visible straight away, the optimum result will be over a period of 3 months.  There is no need for hospital admission, surgery or general anaesthesia - as with a conventional face lift surgery.  

PDO thread treatments are now only permitted in CQC approved premises. We have a partnership with Spires Dental Clinic in Lichfield where the treatments are performed.

ZO skin products are the successor to the previous range created by Dr Zein Obagi, which was called OBAGI skin care.  The ZO range emphasises the importance of achieving and maintaining healthy skin.  There are numerous different protocols to address common skin problems such as acne, melasma, rosacea, sun damage, ageing skin and many more. Depending on your requirements OBAGI Nu-derm and other OBAGI products are also prescribed.

Dermaroller treatment is effective for skin tightening and creates smoother, firmer and younger looking skin.  The procedure involves medical micro-needling which stimulates the skin's natural processes and is effective for the treatment of acne scarring, stretch-marks and fine lines and wrinkles.  The dermaroller device used in the clinic is different than those that you can buy in shops or online.  It is a medical treatment, which involves the administration of a local aneasthetic cream prior to the procedure.  The device has slightly longer needles to penetrate the skin to a deeper level for a more affective result.

Mesotherapy refers to a specific injection technique used to administer anti-ageing ingredients to superficial and deeper layers of the skin.  The technique was pioneered by Dr Michel Pistor from France and is recognised as a speciality of medicine by the French Academie Nationale de Medicine.

One of the Mesotherapy products used at Carte Blanche is NCTF135 HA, manufactured by Filorga. The product contains 53 different ingredients, plus hyaluronic acid and treatment consists of 5 sessions, 2 weeks apart and then 3 monthly top-up sessions if required.

You may also wish to visit the Filorga website to obtain more information at www.filorga.com

A clinical research study conducted by 17 practitioners on 40 patients revealed a very impressive result:

72% reduction in wrinkles and fine wrinkles

103% improved tonus (tightness)

132% improved hydration

144% improved brightness

Although mesotherapy has many different indications for use, such as for pain, non-adrenogenic alopecia (hair loss) and targeting specific areas of stubborn fat, not all the uses are licensed in the UK.