The fine line between Anti-Wrinkle Injections and Dermal Fillers can seem blurred for those of us who are not cosmetically clued in.
This month, we’ve asked Deborah Elwiss-McNally, a leading expert and Senior Nurse Prescribing Practitioner at The Clinic on Belfast’s Lisburn Road to explain the basics and give us advice on these two very popular treatments that can leave us with an added sparkle…just in time for Christmas!
How do Anti-Wrinkle Injections work and what are the results?
Anti-Wrinkle Injections work by stopping targeted muscles from moving, temporarily blocking messages your brain sends from the nerves to the muscles so it can no longer contract, causing wrinkles to relax and soften, leaving an overall smoother and improved appearance. Dermal Fillers can be used on areas such as the forehead to compliment this treatment and reduce the appearance of more stubborn lines from excessive frowning.
Are there any other uses for Anti-Wrinkle Injections?
The protein solution used in Anti-Wrinkle Injections has had a variety of uses in medicine for 40 years including the treatment of cerebral palsy, involuntary blinking and excessive sweating.
How are Dermal Fillers different and what qualities can they bring?
Dermal Fillers target the dermis layer of the skin where wrinkles, folds, depressions or any other abnormalities may have formed as a result of natural ageing. Our faces are essentially triangles, and when we are younger the point is at our chin, however, as we get older, our face gets very ‘bottom heavy’ and the triangle turns upside down. Dermal Fillers can work on deep lines or folds and that’s when we can start contouring to balance the face and give more width at the top. There are many different types of fillers and some are used to target specific areas such as the lips and cheeks, but generally the working principle is very similar for all which is to plump and firm the skin to look younger and refreshed.
Do these treatments provide instant results and how long do these results last?
Anti-Wrinkle Injections can take up to 14 days to work with average results lasting around 4 months depending on the type of person/ skin, as well as the quantity and strength of the product used. Dermal Fillers provide immediate results, with an overall improved look once they have settled down after a week. A good quality filler can last up to a year, if not longer.
When a patient comes in to The Clinic, how do you help to determine the most suitable treatment?
I like to work with the patient to find out what they perceive is their need/ desired look. I then give my professional advice on what I believe they need to achieve their desired look whether that is a younger, fresher or overall improved look. It is vitally important to work together and talk through the risks, benefits, costs and results with the patient before they make any decisions. We can then devise a plan of action on how to progress and at what speed. Generally people like to take things slowly, targeting one area at one time. Managing patient expectations is important and I will always work according to their desired pace and needs.
Deborah trained in San Francisco, California with some of the industry’s most well-known and respected plastic surgeons, before returning to the UK where she worked for 8 years as a national training manager for a leading dermal filler provider. She now has her own clinics in Belfast, Manchester, Liverpool and Chester and has been working alongside Jackie Donnelly at The Clinic for 15 years.