Everything You Need to Know About Injectable Treatments: Fillers, Anti-Wrinkle

Cosmetic, non-surgical injectable treatments have become one of the most effective and trusted ways to address the visible signs of ageing without surgery. Designed to rejuvenate, refresh and enhance facial features, these treatments work at different layers of the skin to improve skin quality, restore lost volume and soften lines and wrinkles. In this guide to injectable treatments at MediZen, we will cover:

• Anti-Wrinkle injections
• Dermal Fillers
• Polynucleotides
• Profhilo

What Are Aesthetic Injectable Treatments? 

Aesthetic injectable treatments are non-surgical cosmetic procedures that use injections to help combat the signs of ageing and rejuvenate the skin. These injections can help address:

• Fine lines and wrinkles
• Loss of facial volume
• Skin laxity and sagging
• Dull or tired-looking skin
• Uneven skin texture
• Reduced skin elasticity
• Dehydrated skin
• Hollowing under the eyes
• Deep folds such as nasolabial lines
• Thinning or crepey skin

How Do We Age?

As we age, many changes occur which contribute to physical signs of ageing appearing. .

Skin:

The skin loses elasticity over time, becoming crepey and starting to sag. Collagen levels decrease, leading to fine lines and wrinkles forming.

Fat:

Beneath the skin are fat pads that help support facial structure. As they shrink, we lose volume, causing sagging skin, jowls, lines and hollowness under the eyes.

Bone:

Bone resorption occurs with age, reducing structural support. This leads to hollowing in the mid-face, loss of cheek fullness and a receding chin, which can worsen jowling.

Together, these changes explain why the face can appear less defined over time. Aesthetic injectable treatments, such as dermal fillers, target the signs of ageing, helping to restore hydration, improve skin quality, replace lost volume and support facial structure.

Anti-Wrinkle Injections

As we age, elasticity in the skin reduces and therefore fine lines and wrinkles become more prominent, particularly around the eyes, forehead and mouth. Anti-wrinkle injections are injected into the muscles which cause the skin to crease, essentially the muscle is put into hibernation for around 3 to 4 months, helping to smooth out existing lines and reduce existing ones from deepening.

Anti-wrinkle injections work on wrinkles caused by muscle movement. These are called dynamic wrinkles or expression lines. They form when we make facial expressions such as smiling, frowning or squinting. Here are some common areas anti-wrinkle injections can be used on:

Forehead Lines: Horizontal wrinkles across the forehead that appear when you raise your eyebrows.

Crow’s Feet: Fine lines around the eyes, caused by smiling or squinting.

Smile Lines (Nasolabial Folds): Deep lines running from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth, most visible when you smile.

Jawline: The area along the lower jaw where wrinkles or sagging can occur.

Frown Lines: Wrinkles between the eyebrows that appear when you frown.

Bunny Lines: Small wrinkles on the sides of the nose that appear when you scrunch your nose.

Lip Lines: Lines above your upper lip that appear when you purse your lips.

Chin Creases: Lines or dimples that form on the chin, often when you clench or tense your jaw. 

Neck: Lines that appear vertically down the neck due to repetitive movements, sun damage or smoking. 

What are the benefits of anti-wrinkle injections? 

• Wrinkles are smoothed out, leaving you with a more youthful appearance.
• Your face appears brighter and more vibrant, with a natural lift that enhances your features.
• You’ll notice how much your overall beauty shines through with smoother, softer skin.
• You can smile, laugh and cry without worrying about developing new wrinkles or deep lines.
• You’ll experience an extreme boost in your confidence and self-esteem. 

Anti-Wrinkle Injections: Procedure and Results

Procedure:

• Pre-treatment consultation to discuss goals, medical history and allergies.
• Your practitioner examines targeted areas to determine the best approach and dosage.
• Treatment takes 15 to 30 minutes.
• Mild discomfort or a slight pinch may be felt, usually well-tolerated.

Results:

• Initial effects visible within 3 to 7 days.
• Full results appear in 10 to 14 days.
• Typical results last 3 to 4 months.
• Timing your first appointment at least a month before a special event allows for any touch-ups.

Find out five things you didn’t know about anti-wrinkle injections and how they can prevent and soften expression lines.

Medical Uses For Anti-Wrinkle Injections:

Muscle relaxing injections can also be used for medical purposes including migraines, excessive sweating and Raynaud’s disease.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are another type of injectable skin treatment used to target specific concerns such as lines, wrinkles and volume loss in different areas of the face. Dermal fillers are an aesthetic treatment that can help to:

• Reduce hollowing, sagging and fine lines and wrinkles in certain areas of the face
• Contour facial features and restore volume where it has been lost

What Areas Can Dermal Fillers Be Used On?

• Lips (enhancement and volume)
• Nose (non-surgical reshaping / smoothing)
• Cheeks (add volume and contour)
• Jawline (contouring and definition)
• Jowls (lower face sculpting)
• Mid & lower face areas (general volumising and contouring)
• Fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth (e.g., nasolabial folds / smile lines)
• Corners of the mouth (to lift or soften downturns)
• Nose-to-mouth lines (deep creases)

Which Brand Of Fillers Do We Use?

There are many different types and brands of dermal fillers, and at MediZen we use a variety of brands and products to ensure every treatment is bespoke to each individual. This includes Juvederm, Teoxanne and Evolus. Your practitioner will discuss your concerns and goals with you during your consultation and choose the most suitable filler for your desired outcome. 

What are the Benefits of Dermal Fillers?

• Immediate results: You leave the clinic looking fresher and more youthful
• Long-lasting effects: Results typically last between 9 and 24 months
• Minimally invasive: Unlike surgical procedures, fillers have minimal downtime

Dermal Fillers: Procedure and Results

Procedure:

• Initial consultation to discuss aesthetic goals and assess suitability
• Review of medical history to ensure treatment safety
• Treatment typically takes 30 to 60 minutes
• Targeted areas are cleansed prior to injection
• Topical numbing cream may be applied for comfort depending on treatment area
• Fillers are injected using fine needles or cannulas
• Sensation is usually described as mild pressure or a small pinch

Results:

• Immediate improvement in volume, contour and facial balance
• Skin appears smoother and more refreshed
• Results continue to settle naturally over the following days
• Outcomes are subtle and designed to enhance natural features
• Results can last between 9 to 24 months, depending on the area treated

Read our take on the changing filler trend and learn how dermal fillers can restore lost volume and reshape facial contours naturally.

Polynucleotides

Polynucleotides have become one of the most popular injectable treatments because they focus on skin quality. They are derived from the building blocks of DNA and RNA, known as nucleotides. When many nucleotides are combined, they form polynucleotides. Most medical-grade polynucleotides used in aesthetics are derived from fish DNA, which is highly biocompatible. 

How do Polynucleotides Work?

Polynucleotides work by stimulating fibroblasts in the skin. Fibroblasts are cells responsible for producing collagen and elastin, both of which keep our skin firm and youthful-looking. Essentially they help your cells work more similarly to how they did when you were younger, rejuvenating the skin.

Where Can Polynucleotides Be Used?

Polynucleotides can be used almost anywhere, including:

• Around the eyes
• Neck
• Backs of the hands
• Areas with crepey skin texture
• Stretch marks
• Scars
• Hair restoration
• Vulvar rejuvenation

What are the Benefits of Polynucleotides?

Polynucleotides offer multiple skin benefits, including:

• Improved skin texture and elasticity
• Increased hydration
• Reduction in fine lines and wrinkles
• Healthier, more radiant-looking skin
• Mild plumping effect (not a substitute for dermal filler)
• Reduce inflammation
• Promote new blood vessel formation
• May help regulate pigmentation
• Improve hair thickness and density

Polynucleotides: Procedure and Results

Procedure

• Initial consultation to assess skin concerns, goals and medical suitability.
• Treatment involves injecting polynucleotides into targeted areas of the skin.
• A course usually consists of 3 to 4 sessions spaced 3 to 4 weeks apart.
• Treatment sessions are quick, sensation is often described as mild stinging and is generally well tolerated with minimal discomfort, numbing cream can be offered for those who find it more uncomfortable.
• Minimal downtime, with small bumps settling quickly after treatment

Results

• Stimulates collagen and elastin production at a cellular level.
• Improves skin texture, hydration, elasticity and overall skin quality.
• Helps soften fine lines and improve crepey or thin skin.
• Particularly effective for delicate or hard-to-treat areas such as under the eyes, neck and hands.
• Results develop gradually over weeks as collagen production increases.

Discover more about what polynucleotides are, how they work as a regenerative injectable and when they’re the best option for improving skin quality.

Profhilo

Profhilo launched in 2015 and went on to win multiple aesthetic awards year after year and created its own category of injectable treatment. It is a non–cross-linked hyaluronic acid injected just under the surface of the skin, where it disperses quickly and reacts with your own tissues to instantly boost hydration. This injectable treatment is used to improve fine lines, elasticity, hydration and skin quality, while also tightening the skin and providing a subtle lift. It’s popular because it isn’t a dermal filler, yet results can be seen as quickly as two weeks, which is fast for a skin-focused treatment.

Where Can Profhilo Be Used?

• Face to improve overall skin quality, hydration and elasticity
• Neck to address crepiness, laxity and loss of firmness
• Décolletage to smooth fine lines and improve skin texture
• Hands to improve skin quality and reduce signs of ageing
• Body areas (using Profhilo Body) such as arms, abdomen or knees, to target skin laxity

What Are the Benefits of Profhilo?

• Deep hydration due to high concentration of hyaluronic acid
• Improvement in fine lines and wrinkles
• Increased skin elasticity and firmness
• Overall skin tightening with a subtle lifting effect
• Enhanced skin glow and healthier-looking complexion
• Natural rejuvenation without adding volume

Profhilo: Procedure and Results

Procedure

• Injections are placed within the skin where collagen and elastin stimulation occurs
• Sensation is often described as mild stinging
• The procedure is quick and usually completed within a short appointment
• Minimal downtime, with small bumps settling quickly after treatment

Results

• Skin appears more hydrated, firmer and smoother
• Fine lines and crepiness are visibly reduced
• Skin quality continues to improve gradually over time
• Results look natural and refreshed rather than enhanced or overfilled
• Improvements can be noticed as early as two weeks post-treatment
• Profhilo can be combined with other treatments, including Profhilo Structura, for enhanced rejuvenation

Injectable Treatments at MediZen

At MediZen, we are a medically led clinic in Sutton Coldfield in Birmingham led by Dr David Eccleston, who has been recognised for his work in anti-ageing. All injectable treatments are planned and delivered by highly trained and qualified doctors and nurses. 

We are a CQC-registered clinic and hold a Save Face accreditation and focus on safe, natural results that build on long-term skin health. If you’re ready to take the next step in your aesthetic journey, book a consultation with our expert team who will guide you through every stage with professionalism and care.