What it is
Small quantities of a prescription muscle-relaxing treatment are injected into specific facial muscles using a very fine needle. By reducing how strongly those muscles contract, the lines they create soften.
The aim is a face that still moves. Done well, nobody can tell you have had anything done, they just think you look less tired.
What it does and does not do
It works on dynamic lines, meaning the ones created by movement: frown lines, forehead lines and lines around the eyes. It works best when those lines are still forming.
It cannot erase a deep, fixed line that is etched into the skin at rest. It will soften the appearance of one and stop it deepening further, but if a line is already static, dermal filler or a resurfacing treatment may be a better fit. Your practitioner will tell you which applies to you rather than taking the booking regardless.
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, and it is where we establish whether treatment is appropriate and what result is realistic for your face.
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. Everything relevant is covered at your consultation.
Afterwards
This is a quick appointment with little or no recovery time, and most people return to normal activity straight away.
Results appear over the following days rather than immediately, and typically last three to six months. Individual factors matter here: some people metabolise it faster and some slower, and how long yours lasts is a poor predictor of how long anyone else’s does.