What it is
Small quantities of a prescription-only muscle-relaxing treatment are injected into specific facial muscles with a very fine needle. It works by temporarily reducing how strongly a muscle contracts, so the lines that movement creates soften over the following days. It is not a filler and adds no volume.
Done well, nobody can tell you have had anything done. They just think you look less tired, because your face still moves: only the movement that causes the lines is softened.
Lines we treat
Most people come in for one of three areas.
Forehead lines
Forehead lines are the horizontal lines that appear across your forehead when you raise your eyebrows. They are usually the first dynamic lines people notice, often after years of an expressive forehead. The muscle here is broad and responds evenly to treatment, which is why this is one of the most requested single areas.
Frown lines
Frown lines are the vertical lines between your eyebrows, sometimes called the "11s" because of how they sit. They form from frowning and concentrating, and they are often the line people feel most self-conscious about, because they can read as anger or worry even when you are not feeling either. This is usually the first area new clients ask about.
Crow’s feet and lines around the eyes
Crow’s feet are the lines that fan out from the outer corners of your eyes when you smile or squint, and they need a lighter touch than the forehead or frown area because the muscle here is smaller and sits close to the eye. Most clients add this area once they are already comfortable with anti-wrinkle injections.
One area means a single one of these; two areas is any combination of two, and three areas covers all of them. Your practitioner will tell you what is realistic for your face and budget at the consultation, not upsell you to three by default.
What it does and does not do
It works on dynamic lines: the ones created by movement, like frown lines, forehead lines and lines around the eyes, and works best while those lines are still forming, before they set in.
It cannot erase a deep, fixed line that stays visible when your face is at rest. It will soften the appearance of one and slow it from deepening further, but if a line is already static, dermal filler for static lines or resurfacing and tightening alternatives may be a better fit. Your practitioner will tell you honestly which applies to you at your consultation.
What it costs in Bristol
Anti-wrinkle injections in Bristol are priced per area: £140 for one, £160 for two, £210 for three. There are no hidden extras and no upsell at the till, because your consultation happens before any price is confirmed.
If you see anti-wrinkle treatment advertised well below this, ask why before booking. Unusually cheap deals can mean an unqualified injector, a product of uncertain origin, or both. The Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners publishes public guidance on choosing a practitioner, worth ten minutes before any first injectable appointment. A consultation that takes the time to assess your face properly costs something to deliver, and a price that does not reflect that is a red flag, not a bargain.
Consultation comes first
Every treatment begins with a face-to-face medical assessment and consultation. This is a legal and clinical requirement, not a formality: it is where we establish whether treatment is appropriate for you and what result is realistic for your face, and where any risks or contraindications are discussed properly.
We cannot discuss specific products or brands in advance, because UK advertising rules do not permit prescription-only medicines to be promoted to the public. Any clinic that does is breaking the rules that exist to protect you as the patient. Everything relevant is covered face-to-face, at your consultation.
Who does your treatment
Your anti-wrinkle injections in Bristol are delivered by Bristol Skin Company, our in-house aesthetics team, at all three salons: Clifton Down, Westbury on Trym and Westbury Park. Everything else they offer is on our aesthetics and injectables page.
Every prescription is written following your consultation, not before it, and the same person who assesses you is the person who treats you.
Men
Anti-wrinkle treatment for men is routine, not an add-on. Many of our clients are men addressing frown lines or forehead lines that have deepened. Dosing typically differs from a female client’s because male facial muscles tend to be stronger, but the consultation, the areas and the process stay the same.
Afterwards
This is a quick appointment with little or no recovery time, and most people go straight back to normal activity afterwards. There is no downtime to plan around and no reason to clear your diary.
Results build over the following days rather than appearing immediately, and typically last three to six months. Some people metabolise the treatment faster than others, so how long yours lasts is a poor guide to how long someone else’s will.