Even though most people know this product very well by name, current Australian Government regulations prevent us from naming the product in any form of advertising - even though the product is TGA-approved, was widely advertised in earlier years and is already very well-known by name to the general public.
We are permitted, however, to forward you printed information on this subject if you contact us and personally request it.
Muscle-relaxant injections have the ability to either improve or eliminate those facial lines that have come about from repeated contraction of the underlying expression muscles.
The product's safety and effectiveness in neurological and eye disorders featuring muscle spasm has been clearly established since it was first used in humans in 1977, and in 1989 the FDA in America formally approved it for the treatment of these disorders.
Its cosmetic value, however, was only discovered "accidentally" in 1989 by Professor Jean Carruthers in Vancouver, Canada. Since then it has become one of the most popular facial rejuvenation treatments in the world.
Dr Mayson was the first doctor to introduce and promote the cosmetic use of this product in Australia in 1994 after being invited by Professor Carruthers to travel to Canada and observe her technique. Accordingly, Dr Mayson has the longest experience of any doctor in Australia with this product's cosmetic applications.
The product has proven itself an extremely safe and effective treatment for the correction of those facial wrinkles and furrows caused by the repetitive contraction of the facial expression muscles.
It is of no use in wrinkles caused by biological ageing or sun damage.
WHICH LINES ARE SUITABLE FOR MUSCLE RELAXANT INJECTIONS?
Muscle-relaxant injections will either improve or remove those facial wrinkles due to repetitive muscle action. The main ones are:
- vertical 'frown lines' between the eyebrows
- horizontal forehead ('surprise') lines
- the 'crows feet' at the sides of the eyes
- lines under the eyes
- 'bunny crunches' on the upper nose
- vertical neck bands
By relaxing the underlying muscles responsible for these lines, the lines will either improve or completely disappear depending on how deep they are to start with. Also, if you keep the responsible muscles inactive by way of regular treatments the lines will not deepen with time.
Please note that the injection only relaxes the muscles into which it is injected. It has no effect on the sensory nerves and therefore produces no numbness or other disturbance of sensation.
Initially most people require a repeat injection about every 3 months to maintain the improvement. However, approximately 80% of people who have regular treatments eventually acquire longer corrections and require a repeat injection only every 6-12 months.
IS IT SAFE?
It is
EXTREMELY SAFE. Allergic reactions are not a concern and there is no numbness of the overlying skin. It will not produce any internal side effects nor will it accumulate in your body with each injection.
HOW IS IT DONE?
The treatment is a very simple, walk in, walk out one and most people can return to their normal work or social activities immediately without any detectable swelling or suggestion that they have had "something done".
WHAT CONSUMERS DON'T USUALLY KNOW!
Don't decide on where to have your treatment until you've carefully considered the following!
Muscle Relaxant Injections are becoming increasingly popular and as such, more and more doctors and some nurses, are entering the field. To acquire a market share, some clinics are offering the treatment in ways that, although tempting on price, may not produce for you the best possible results in the safest possible manner.
The three ESSENTIAL criteria for the best possible and longest-lasting correction are:
- the 'freshness' of the product (see below)
- adequate dosage (see minimum dosage requirements below)
- accurate placement (intimate knowledge of facial anatomy is crucial)
The more the treatment standards depart from these three criteria the poorer will be your result.
Your principal consideration should be the 'FRESHNESS' of the product: The manufacturer clearly states on the label that the product should be used within 24 hours of opening. The reasons for this are twofold: Firstly, it contains no preservative and if it is not all used within those twenty four hours but instead stored it could become bacterially contaminated and produce a serious skin infection when next injected. Secondly, a UK study has shown that the product becomes progressively less effective beyond twenty four hours - so, if you're given 'old' product (i.e. older than 24 hours) you will almost certainly get an inferior result. If you can walk into any clinic and have the treatment on demand, how would you know when the vial was first opened? It could have been one hour ago, one week ago or one month ago! So unless the clinic is prepared to open a fresh vial in front of you, you may be getting product much older than 24 hours. Why do some practices do this? Simply because it is an expensive product to purchase and unless a clinic has enough patients to use up the entire vial within twenty four hours,
it may store the leftover amount in the refrigerator rather than discard it - and then it becomes progressively less effective with each passing hour.
So always get an assurance that the product is less than 24 hours old and don't allow yourself to be convinced that it doesn't matter. It DOES and you deserve to get 'fresh' and not 'old' product for your money.
COST: Don't be misled by a cost quoted for any particular area unless you know how many units of product you're getting for that area - otherwise you may be paying more than you should 'per unit of product'. Always think of the product not in terms of '
$.. per area' but in terms of '
$.. per unit of product' - the same way as you think of petrol for your car. Surely you wouldn't give someone $50 to put petrol in your car without knowing how many litres they intended putting in, would you? Think of this product in the same way. On average, the cost of Muscle Relaxant Injections in Sydney is around $19 per unit. As any of the major facial areas requires a minimum of 20 units this would then cost $380. As a theoretical example, suppose you're being quoted $250 for your frown lines by Clinic A and $380 by Clinic B. You may well be tempted to choose Clinic A ($250) over Clinic B ($380). However, if you are
unknowingly being given only 10 units for $250 by Clinic A instead of the
customary 20 units for $380 by Clinic B, Clinic A is overcharging you at $25 per unit even though Clinic A initially sounded better value! Moreover, your results at Clinic A will almost certainly not be as good or as long-lasting as with Clinic B because you are not getting the minimum 20 units required to produce the best and longest lasting correction possible. So, when comparing prices, don't think of total cost, think of '
cost per unit'. And if any clinic won't tell you how much you're paying per unit, find one that will!
Ensure each area is to receive at least the minimum dose to produce the required degree and duration of correction. Smaller doses produce less correction, less duration of correction, or both. Also spreading a given dose over many areas - the so-called "a little bit here and a little bit there" technique only serves to produce a weaker correction in each area! Each of the major facial areas needs a
minimum of 20 units for the best and longest lasting correction possible.
Some Nurses are injecting Muscle Relaxants: We believe that this is not in the patient's best interests. Nurses are admirable and skilled individuals within their own profession but they are not trained to perform cosmetic procedures and do not have the intimate knowledge of facial anatomy as does a Cosmetic or Plastic Surgeon. It is also
illegal for a nurse to inject a muscle relaxant unless the patient has first had a consultation on this treatment with the doctor of that practice.
Be wary of 'Injection Parties': We consider these unprofessional and not in the best interests of patients. Treatments should be administered in a proper clinical setting and not in a frivolous party atmosphere.
Ensure you are getting the product you expect: Some clinics use a lesser known brand of Muscle Relaxant. Although they work similarly, there are some differences and if you are expecting the original product ensure you receive it.
Be wary of any Clinic offering to put a Medicare Item number on the receipt for your consultation or treatment so that you can claim a rebate from Medicare. Consultations and treatments in regard to the cosmetic use of Muscle Relaxants are NOT eligible for a Medicare rebate and it is both illegal and fraudulent for a doctor to willfully enable you to claim when you are not entitled to.
Remember, YOU are the consumer, YOU are spending your hard-earned dollars and accordingly you deserve the highest professional standards and the best possible results for your money.
Don't accept anything less. At the Sydney Cosmetic Clinic we can assure you of the highest
professional and ethical standards and the best possible results strictly in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and the above criteria.
