How it works

Anti-wrinkle treatment works by temporarily relaxing the small muscles beneath the skin that create expression lines, the lines that form from repeated movement, such as frowning, raising the brows, or squinting. By softening how much those muscles contract, the treatment reduces the appearance of the lines they create, without affecting the rest of the face's movement or expression.

It's most commonly used on the forehead, between the brows, and around the eyes, areas where expression lines tend to form first and most visibly. It doesn't add volume or change the shape of the face, that's a different category of treatment, covered in dermal fillers explained.

What the timeline looks like

Results aren't immediate. It typically takes several days for the effect to begin, with the full result visible after around one to two weeks. This is worth knowing before treatment, since the first few days can feel like nothing has happened, even though the process is underway.

The effect is also temporary by design. Results generally last a few months before the muscles gradually return to their usual activity and the lines begin to reform, at which point further treatment can be considered. This is part of why anti-wrinkle treatment tends to work best as an ongoing part of a skin and aesthetics plan rather than a single, one-off appointment.

What it won't do

It's worth being clear about the limits, too. Anti-wrinkle treatment softens expression lines caused by muscle movement, but it doesn't address static lines that are visible even when the face is at rest, doesn't add lost volume, and doesn't change skin texture or quality. Those concerns are better addressed through dermal fillers or through skin health treatments like the ones covered in our Skin Health guides. A consultation is the right place to work out which category, or combination, actually fits what you're looking to change.