‘Bunny lines’ is the name given to those wrinkles that appear by the side of the top of the nose when you smile. They are horizontal, slightly upswept lines that go in a similar direction to laughter lines around the eyes.
Bunny lines
Pebbled chin
A chin that appears bumpy or uneven at rest or during facial expression is a very basic definition of pebble chin.
It happens because the small muscle of the chin, the mentalis, pulls on the skin as it contracts causing it to ripple or indent. Many people who have a pebbled chin feel very self- conscious about it, and may feel that it’s distracting to others to whom they’re speaking to.
Botox injections into the mentalis muscle can soften and relax its powerful pull. This allows the skin to stay smooth, helping the chin to appear soft and rounded. Small amounts of botox are used for the procedure, but the results are impressive.
Nerfertiti lift
This procedure involves placing multiple injections of botulinum toxin horizontally along the lower jawline and vertically down the side of the neck along the platysmal band muscles.
Platysmal bands are what pull down on the lower side of the face. Relaxing the muscles in this area results in improved definition of the jawline, and an ‘upward lifting effect’ in the neck. Whilst this treatment can achieve around 15% lift, it should not be considered a ‘face-lift in a bottle’.
Excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis)
Botox is licensed in the UK for treating localised excessive sweating of the armpits. Small doses are injected into to the skin blocking nerve supply to sweat glands, thereby preventing the glands from producing sweat. This is not a permanent cure, and so repeated dosing is usually required every 5-6 months for maximum effect. Full effect usually occurs after 1 week.
Wide-set jaw/teeth grinding
Using botulinum toxin, we are able to reduce the width of the jawline by injecting into the chewing muscles, also known as the massater muscle. This makes it hard for you to bite with the same force you had before, hence teeth grinding is prevented. Full onset takes around 6 weeks and lasts around 6 months.
Down-turned corners of mouth
For some people, repeated muscle action eventually drags the corners of the mouth downward in a perpetual frown. You can use botox to paralyze these muscles and reduce the drooping of the corners of your mouth.
Gummy smile
Some people feel that when they smile they show too much of their gums, or that their gums are simply too prominent when they smile – this is often referred to as a ‘gummy smile’. Gummy smile is a phenomenon that when some people smile, their upper lip elevates too far above their upper teeth, exposing gums and producing an unattractive smile. One of the causes is a hyperactive muscle which elevates the upper lip. Occasionally, the gummy smile is also aggravated by a thin upper lip that further contributes to the problem by exposing the upper gum even more. Fortunately, gummy smile can be simply and effectively corrected with botulinum toxin (commonly known as botox) injections to reduce the activity of the muscle that elevates the upper lip.