Anti-Wrinkle Injections
Anti-wrinkle injections use small amounts of botulinum toxin to reduce the activity of specific facial muscles. The result, when applied appropriately, is a softening of lines and a more rested appearance, without altering the fundamental character of the face.
How this fits into facial rejuvenation
Muscle activity is one of three interconnected systems that shape how the face ages, alongside skin quality and structural volume. Lines caused by repeated movement (frown lines, forehead creases, crow's feet) will not respond to skincare or volume treatments alone. Where muscle activity is the primary driver, reducing it precisely is the appropriate clinical response.
Anti-wrinkle injections are often one component within a broader treatment plan. In isolation, they address movement-related lines. In combination with other treatments, they protect structural work, prevent deepening of lines over time, and support overall facial balance. The sequence and scope of any such plan is determined during assessment, not in advance.
What the assessment evaluates
Before any recommendation is made, Dr. Berns assesses the movement patterns specific to your face: which muscles are dominant, how lines form dynamically, where tension accumulates and, equally, which areas should not be treated. The face has a natural hierarchy of expression. Intervening in the wrong place, or with the wrong dose, alters this in ways that can be difficult to reverse.
The goal is never to eliminate movement. It is to reduce specific, targeted activity in a way that softens the face without flattening its expressiveness.
Who may be suitable
Anti-wrinkle injections may be considered for patients whose primary concern is movement-related lines: lines that are present during expression and are beginning to remain at rest. They are most commonly used across the upper face: the forehead, the glabella (between the brows), and the periorbital area.
They are not appropriate for every patient, and they are not always the priority treatment. Where skin quality or volume loss is the more significant factor, addressing those first will often produce better outcomes.
Important considerations
Botulinum toxin is a prescription-only medicine in Ireland. It can only be prescribed and administered by a registered medical practitioner following a face-to-face consultation. Results are temporary, typically lasting three to four months, varying between individuals. Onset takes several days; full effect is visible after approximately two weeks.
Side effects are uncommon but include temporary localised bruising, headache, and, rarely, unintended spread to adjacent muscles. These risks are discussed in full during the consultation. No treatment is recommended unless the assessment supports it.