Botox

What Is a Muscle Relaxer?

A muscle relaxer is an injectable agent used to temporarily diminish or eliminate lines and wrinkles on the face by relaxing underlying facial muscles. It is derived from botulinum toxin type A, a bacterium-produced neuromuscular toxin that can be deadly in a pure state.

 

A muscle relaxer contains a highly diluted form of the toxin and has been proven safe. For this reason, Health Canada has approved muscle relaxer's such as a botulinum toxin treatment for alleviating lines around the mouth, nasolabial folds, eye-muscle disorders, and smoothing frown lines, and smile lines. Injections of a  muscle relaxer are often used in conjunction with facial plastic surgery procedures such as a facelift or eyelid lift to maximize its cosmetic benefit.

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Treatment Requirements

Because a muscle relaxer procedure involves only a few small injections during a 10-minute session, a very large number of people seeking the treatment find they are excellent candidates. 

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Treatment Candidates

A muscle relaxer has been proven safe and effective for a wide range of candidates. While there are many possible injection sites and medical uses for the protein that makes up muscle relaxer the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles is far and away the most common application. Anyone who would like to smooth wrinkles through a muscle relaxer– whether they be crow’s feet around the eyes or wrinkles around the mouth – is potentially a candidate for this effective treatment. 

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Side Effects 

When performed by an experienced dermatologist, muscle relaxer's injections are relatively safe. However, some of the most common side effects include:

• Pain, swelling or bruising at the injection site

• Headache

• Flu-like symptoms

• Droopy eyelid

• Crooked eyelid or excessive drooling

• Eye dryness or extreme tearing