Wrinkle relaxers and dermal fillers
What it is
Wrinkle relaxers are a prescription medicine injected in tiny amounts into the muscles that pull the skin into lines when you frown, squint or raise your eyebrows. The muscle relaxes for a few months and the line it makes softens. The effect starts to show after three to fourteen days and wears off gradually.
Dermal fillers are a clear gel made mostly of hyaluronic acid, a sugar your skin already makes. A small amount is placed under the skin where volume has thinned with age, most often the cheeks, lips and the lines from nose to mouth. Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved if you or your injector are unhappy with it.
Who it suits
Adults who notice lines when they make an expression, or areas that look flatter than they used to. Many people start with a single area and a small dose.
We will suggest waiting if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have an infection or a cold sore near the area, or have certain nerve or muscle conditions. Dr. Valcourt goes through your health history in person before anything is booked.
What the visit is like
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First 15 minutes
Consultation
We talk about what bothers you, look at the area at rest and moving, and write down a plan with the dose and the price. You can stop there and book later.
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Next 5 minutes
Preparation
The skin is cleaned. For filler we use a numbing cream, and most fillers also contain a local anesthetic.
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10 to 20 minutes
Treatment
A very fine needle, a few small injections per area. Most people describe it as a pinch.
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Same day
After you leave
Stay upright for four hours after wrinkle relaxers and skip hard exercise until tomorrow. We book a two-week check for every first treatment, at no charge.
Downtime and price
Small raised bumps at the injection points settle within an hour. Bruising is possible, more often with filler and around the lips, and can take up to a week to fade. Most people go back to work the same day.
In this demo, wrinkle relaxers are $14 a unit and a typical frown-line treatment uses 15 to 25 units. Filler starts at $725 a syringe. You get the exact number in writing at the consultation, before anything is drawn up.
Prices on this demo are sample figures. Sample prices
Injectables: common questions
How long does it last?
For most people wrinkle relaxers wear off over three to four months, and filler over six to eighteen months depending on the area and the product. Everyone is different, so we will not promise a number.
Will I look frozen?
The dose decides that, and we start low. At the two-week check we can add a few units if you want more movement softened.
Can I have it done the same day as my consultation?
Often yes, if the plan is simple and your health history raises no questions. Some people prefer to go home and think about it, which is fine.
Do you show before-and-after photos?
Not on this website. We take photos of your own treatment for your chart and go through them with you at follow-up visits.
Talk it through with Dr. Valcourt first
A 30-minute consultation covers your health history, whether this treatment suits you and the exact price.
Or call (630) 555-0187