Anti-Wrinkle Injections
Doctor-led anti-wrinkle injections in Marylebone, London — cosmetic work on the forehead, frown lines, crow's feet, lip flip, and jawline, plus medical use for bruxism, hyperhidrosis, and chronic migraine, all dosed conservatively to keep your expression your own.
Book Consultation
The short answer
What this treatment is
Anti-wrinkle injections use a prescription-only medicine that temporarily blocks the nerve signal to specific muscles. In the upper face it relaxes the muscles that create dynamic wrinkles — the horizontal forehead lines, the vertical "11" lines between the brows, and the crow's feet — restoring a softer, more rested appearance without freezing expression. In the lower face it can slim the jawline, lift the brow, evert the upper lip, ease bunny lines around the nose, and reduce a gummy smile. Beyond the face, it is licensed and clinically used for chronic teeth grinding (bruxism), excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis), and chronic migraine. Used well — meaning conservative dosing by an experienced clinician — the goal is not a frozen, treated look but the version of yourself on a really good day.
Areas treated
What's included
- GMC-registered medical doctor with surgical anatomy training
- MHRA-licensed prescription products only, selected and prescribed to suit your anatomy
- Personalised dosing for movement-preserving, natural-looking results
- Visible difference 5–12 days; full effect at 14 days
- Effects last 3–4 months for cosmetic use, longer for medical indications
- Aesthetics Complications Experts Group (ACEG) member — trained in complication management
Boundaries of practice
What's not treated
Good practice means saying no when indicated:
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Active skin infection at the injection site
- Neuromuscular disorders (myasthenia gravis, Eaton-Lambert syndrome)
- Known allergy to the prescription medicine used or any excipient (including human albumin)
- Recent use of aminoglycoside antibiotics or other agents that interfere with neuromuscular transmission
- Body dysmorphic disorder or unrealistic expectations identified at consultation
Patient journey
What to expect
Consultation & preparation
Avoid ibuprofen, aspirin, vitamin E, fish oil, and alcohol for 24 to 48 hours before treatment to minimise bruising. Come makeup-free. If you have ever had cold sores, flag this at consultation — antiviral prophylaxis may be prescribed for peri-oral treatments. For migraine treatment, bring your headache diary covering the most recent 8 weeks.
During treatment
Aftercare
Stay upright for 4 hours and avoid pressure, massage, or makeup on the treated area during that window. Skip heavy exercise, saunas, and alcohol for 24 hours; avoid facial massage and lying face-down for 7 days. Visible change starts at day 5 and peaks at day 14. Migraine treatment effect builds across 2 to 3 weeks; reassess against your headache diary at 12 weeks.
Transparent, all-in pricing
Cosmetic
Lower face / medical
Medical
Written and medically reviewed by Dr Oli Curwen , Aesthetic Doctor — MBBS BSc MRCS · MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) — the medicine used is a prescription-only medicine; NICE TA260 covers its use in chronic migraine prevention.
FAQ
Common
questions
How long do anti-wrinkle injections last?
Cosmetic use typically lasts 3 to 4 months. With consistent treatment every 3 to 4 months, many patients find the interval stretches to 5 or 6 months as the treated muscles atrophy slightly from reduced use. Medical uses tend to last longer: masseter treatment for bruxism lasts 4 to 6 months, hyperhidrosis 4 to 9 months, and migraine treatment is repeated quarterly per the PREEMPT protocol.
Will I look frozen?
Not at this clinic. Dr Oli's technique uses personalised dosing prioritising natural movement — the goal is a refreshed, well-rested appearance, not a treated look. Most patients describe the result as "only noticeable to you and the people you tell". Lower starting doses are used in first-time patients because adding more product is straightforward and removing it requires waiting for the effect to wear off.
Can these injections treat my migraines?
NICE recommends this treatment for chronic migraine — defined as ≥15 headache days a month, ≥8 of those with migraine features, lasting at least 3 months, and unresponsive to 3 oral preventatives. The PREEMPT injection protocol delivers the medicine to 31 sites every 12 weeks. Treatment is best delivered as shared care with your neurologist; Dr Oli can coordinate or take over a stable PREEMPT regimen.
How does masseter treatment differ from cosmetic treatment?
Masseter (jaw muscle) treatment uses higher doses per side than upper-face treatments. Two main goals: reduce bruxism (nocturnal grinding/clenching) and visibly slim a square or overdeveloped jawline. Onset is around 2 weeks for symptom relief; visible jawline change builds over 6 to 12 weeks as the muscle atrophies with reduced activity. Effect typically lasts 4 to 6 months; repeat treatments tend to last longer as the muscle remains less active.
Is treatment painful?
A 30-gauge ultrafine needle is used, and most patients describe each injection as a small pinch lasting 1 to 2 seconds. Topical numbing cream is available on request. The injections themselves take around 2 minutes for a typical three-area cosmetic treatment, slightly longer for medical indications such as hyperhidrosis (multiple sites per area) or PREEMPT migraine (31 sites).
Are there side effects?
Common, mild and short-lived: pinpoint bleeds at injection sites, a small bruise (5–10% of treatments, resolves in 5 days), and mild headache for 24 hours. Uncommon: temporary asymmetry corrected at the 2-week review. Rare: ptosis (drooping eyelid or brow) lasting 2 to 6 weeks — minimised by careful technique and avoiding the lateral brow region in forehead treatment.
Related Treatments
Get Started
Ready to begin?
Book today.
Dr Oli Aesthetics • 1 Orchard Street, UNTIL Marylebone, London W1H 6HJ
BookAppointments typically available within 1–2 weeks