Neuromodulators
(Wrinkle Relaxers) 

What Are Neuromodulators?

There are several treatments available to address the appearance of movement based or dynamic wrinkles, all of which belong to a class of injectables called neuromodulators.  

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How Do Neuromodulators Work?

Each one of these injectables is made from a prescription purified protein taken from the botulinum toxin. These injectables work by disrupting the nerve’s signal to the muscle, telling it to move. When these treatments are injected into the muscle responsible for the movement causing a specific wrinkle, it blocks the signal to that muscle, so the muscle relaxes and it allows the skin to smooth.

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For as long as the muscle’s movement is reduced or prevented, the wrinkles etched in the skin will soften and their appearance will diminish. This often results in clients looking happier, friendlier and feeling that their new expressions match how they really feel. Over 4-6 months on average the effect wears off and movement (and thus wrinkles) return to this muscle. Treatment in the muscles of the lower face usually wear off more quickly due to the increased usage of these muscles.  Once the effects have worn off repeat treatment is required.

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What Product Do You Use?

The newer modulator used is a little different from the older brands because it doesn’t include the accessory proteins in its formula, making it a purer form of treatment. What does this mean for you? Well, it could mean you’ll be able to use it longer and more successfully. It may also mean the average cost is lower.

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This pure neuromodulator has been approved for various medical uses, like the treatment of upper limb spasms, blepharospasm, and cervical dystonia. But for cosmetic purposes, it has been approved to treat the frown lines between your eyebrows. Other common off-label uses are for crow’s feet and the horizontal lines on the forehead. Off-label means that it hasn’t been approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for a specific use but that the medical community has found it to be a safe treatment of something other than what it was approved for.

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The Neuromodulator Resistance

Because older neuromodulators are formulated with accessory proteins, it’s more likely someone will develop antibodies to those proteins. If that happens, the effects of treatment will be diminished, and clients may become resistant to further treatments. This could have potentially serious and ethical implications if a neuromodulator was required in the future for medical rather than cosmetic purposes.  This risk is minimised by using the newer modulator I offer in my practice.  There is no limit to the number of repeat treatments a client can have.