What are muscle-relaxing injections?

Expression lines develop because the muscles beneath the skin repeatedly contract when we frown, smile, squint or raise our eyebrows.

Muscle-relaxing treatment temporarily reduces the activity of carefully selected muscles. This can soften dynamic lines and reduce repeated skin folding.

We plan treatment based on how your face moves as a whole, not simply by injecting directly into a visible line.

What can be treated?

Depending on your anatomy and clinical assessment, treatment may be considered for:

• Frown lines between the eyebrows
• Horizontal forehead lines
• Crow's feet around the eyes
• Bunny lines across the nose
• Chin dimpling
• Downturned corners of the mouth
• Prominent masseter muscles and lower-face width

Not every concern is best treated with muscle-relaxing injections, so we will advise you if another approach is more appropriate.

What happens during treatment?

If treatment is clinically appropriate and has been prescribed, we inject small amounts into selected facial muscles using a fine needle.

The procedure itself is usually quick, with minimal downtime. Temporary redness, tenderness, small bumps or bruising can occur around the injection sites.

Your practitioner will provide individual aftercare advice following treatment.

When will I see results?

The effect is not immediate.

Muscle activity gradually begins to reduce over the following days, with the result developing progressively rather than appearing straight away.

The effects are temporary and vary between individuals depending on factors such as muscle strength, treatment area and dose.

Dynamic lines and static lines

Muscle-relaxing injections work best on dynamic lines, which appear when the face moves.

Static lines remain visible when the face is relaxed. Reducing muscle movement may soften these over time, but established lines may not disappear completely.

Where skin quality is also contributing to the concern, we may recommend additional treatments to improve texture, collagen production or overall skin health.

Why choose The Camden Clinic?

The Camden Clinic is a medically led aesthetics and skin clinic focused on safe, considered treatment and natural-looking outcomes.

Our practitioners assess the whole face rather than treating individual lines in isolation. Recommendations are based on anatomy, movement and what is realistically achievable for you.

Sometimes the right recommendation is less treatment, a different treatment, or no treatment at all.

Book a consultation

If you are concerned about expression lines or facial muscle activity, the first step is a consultation.

We will assess your facial anatomy, discuss your goals and explain whether muscle-relaxing treatment is appropriate for you.