Facial expressions are part of what makes your face yours. We smile, frown, concentrate, squint and laugh thousands of times.
Over time, repeated muscle movement can create lines that remain visible even when your face is completely relaxed.
Botulinum toxin is a medical treatment that temporarily reduces the activity of selected muscles. Used thoughtfully, it can soften expression lines while preserving natural movement and expression.
At Lior Medical, the aim is not to make you look "frozen" or different.
It is about understanding your face, your anatomy and your goals, then making a subtle, considered adjustment.
What exactly is botulinum toxin?
Botulinum toxin is a purified medical protein that temporarily reduces the ability of a targeted muscle to contract.
It has been used medically for many years for a range of conditions, as well as aesthetically to soften dynamic facial lines.
The treatment involves placing very small amounts into carefully selected muscles. The aim is to reduce excessive or unwanted muscle activity while leaving surrounding muscles functioning normally.
This is why the treatment is much more than simply "putting injections into wrinkles".
The muscle is the target. The wrinkle is the result.
How does it work?
Think of the communication between a nerve and a muscle as a little message:
"Contract!"
Botulinum toxin temporarily interrupts that message at the neuromuscular junction. The treated muscle therefore contracts less strongly.
As the muscle relaxes, the overlying skin is subjected to less repetitive folding. Dynamic lines can soften and, over time, may become less pronounced.
The effect is temporary. Your nerve-muscle communication gradually recovers, and normal muscle activity returns.
This is why botulinum toxin is not a permanent treatment.
When will I see a result?
This is one of the most common questions we hear.
Not immediately.
Botulinum toxin needs time to take effect.
Some people begin noticing a change within a few days. The effect generally develops progressively over the first couple of weeks, with the final result assessed after the treatment has had sufficient time to settle.
So please don't look in the mirror the evening after your appointment and wonder where your result is!
A typical journey
- Day 0: Treatment
- Days 2–5: Early changes may begin
- Around 1–2 weeks: The effect becomes much more apparent
- Around 2 weeks: We can properly assess the result
- Around 3–4 months: Muscle activity gradually returns and treatment may be repeated
Individual responses vary, so your experience may not follow this timeline exactly.
How long does it last?
For facial aesthetic treatment, the effect commonly lasts around 3–4 months, although some patients experience a shorter or longer duration.
There is an important point here:
The treatment doesn't suddenly "switch off" one morning.
The effect gradually fades as the nerve-muscle connection recovers. You may therefore notice movement slowly returning rather than experiencing an abrupt change.
With regular treatment, the pattern of muscle activity can also change over time. Some patients find that their results last longer with repeated treatments.
For this reason, we often discuss treatment as an ongoing maintenance programme rather than a once-off event.
Managing expectations
This is perhaps the most important part of your treatment.
Botulinum toxin is excellent at treating dynamic lines, meaning lines that are created or deepened by muscle movement.
It is not a magic eraser for every line on the face.
If a line has become deeply etched into the skin over many years, reducing the underlying muscle movement may soften it, but may not completely remove it.
Likewise, botulinum toxin does not replace lost volume, improve significant skin laxity or completely change the structure of the face.
Sometimes the best result comes from combining different treatments, each addressing a different part of the ageing process.
Our goal is not "no wrinkles".
Our goal is a face that looks rested, balanced and natural, while still allowing you to look like yourself.
You should still be able to laugh.
You should still be able to express surprise.
You should still look like you.
Just perhaps a slightly more relaxed version.
Why does the cost differ between patients?
There is no universal "one-size-fits-all" dose.
Your face has its own anatomy, muscle strength, proportions and movement patterns.
Two people of the same age can require completely different treatment plans.
Factors that influence treatment may include:
- the strength and size of individual muscles
- your facial anatomy and proportions
- how expressive your face is
- the depth and position of your lines
- the areas you would like treated
- your previous treatment history
- your desired degree of movement
This means that the number of units required is determined by your face, not simply by your age or by how many areas you want treated.
At Lior Medical, we therefore assess your facial movement and anatomy before deciding on an appropriate treatment plan.
The aim is to use enough to achieve the desired effect, but not more simply because it is available.
Before your appointment
There is usually very little preparation required.
Before treatment:
Come with clean skin where possible.
Tell us about all medications and supplements you take.
This includes prescription medicines, over-the-counter medication, vitamins and supplements.
Some medicines and supplements can increase the tendency to bruise. Do not stop prescribed medication without discussing this with your doctor first. (AAD)
Tell us if you are pregnant, planning pregnancy or breastfeeding.
This is important information for your medical assessment.
Tell us about previous aesthetic treatments.
Previous botulinum toxin, fillers, surgery and other procedures can all be relevant when planning your treatment.
Arrive with realistic expectations.
The consultation is an important part of the treatment. Sometimes the most appropriate recommendation is to treat differently from what you initially had in mind.
After your appointment
Botulinum toxin generally requires little downtime, and most people can return to their normal activities soon after treatment.
However, at Lior Medical we recommend a few simple precautions to allow your treatment to settle comfortably.
For the rest of the day:
- Don't lie flat for prolonged periods immediately after treatment.
- Avoid strenuous exercise until the following day.
- Don't rub, massage or press firmly over the treated areas.
- Be gentle when cleansing or applying skincare and makeup.
For the next few days:
- Avoid saunas, steam rooms and significant heat exposure for approximately 3 days.
- Avoid facial treatments, massage or procedures over the treated areas for approximately 3 days.
- Don't repeatedly manipulate or massage the injection sites.
Small areas of redness, tenderness, swelling or bruising can occur after injections and are usually temporary.
And perhaps most importantly:
Don't judge your result too soon.
Your face is going through a process, not receiving an instant filter.
Give it time.
Your face. Your anatomy. Your treatment.
At Lior Medical, we don't believe in treating a face according to a template.
We look at how you move, how your muscles work, how your features relate to one another and what you would like to achieve.
Sometimes that means treating more.
Sometimes it means treating less.
And sometimes it means saying, "I don't think you need that."
Because good aesthetic medicine isn't about doing more.
It's about knowing what will make the right difference.
