Some dentists offer cosmetic services like anti-wrinkle injections.

Some dental clinics offer anti-wrinkle injections in an attempt to reduce the appearance of fine lines or wrinkles on your face. To offer these services, the dentist must be a registered practitioner and complete additional training.¹ 

What are anti-wrinkle injections?

Anti-wrinkle injections are cosmetic injections that aim to minimise the appearance of facial wrinkles. Some injections try to do this by relaxing targeted facial muscles and reducing movements that can deepen wrinkles. Others try to minimise wrinkles by making certain parts of your face look fuller. 

These anti-wrinkle treatments involve injecting a compound into muscles beneath the skin in certain areas of the face, which might reduce the appearance of some wrinkles or delay the formation of new wrinkles, such as:

• frown lines on the forehead
• wrinkles above the nose
• crow's feet beside the eyes
• wrinkles on the neck.

You should only seek cosmetic injections from a registered practitioner. Check that your health practitioner is registered.^1,2,3

Why would a dentist perform anti-wrinkle injections? 

Are anti-wrinkle injections safe?

Even if your cosmetic injections are provided by a registered dentist, there's always a possibility of something going wrong. It's important to know the risks and potential side effects before undergoing a treatment.

You should not undergo anti-wrinkle injections if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.²

Tell the dentist if:

• you are allergic to any of the ingredients
• you have an infection or swelling in your facial muscles
• you have a muscle or heart condition
• you're taking any medication or drugs that could affect your muscles
• you’ll be undergoing another treatment under general anaesthesia shortly after the cosmetic injection
• you’ve had facial surgery in the past. 

One of these issues by itself may not prevent you from getting the injections, but you should still tell the practitioner. They should be able to help you reach an informed decision based on your circumstances^.2 

What to expect after cosmetic injections

After getting anti-wrinkle injections, you might experience mild pain, swelling or bruising where the injections were used. This may go away in a few days. You can try to manage any discomfort with over-the-counter medication but speak to your doctor first.

If these symptoms last for longer than a few days, or if you notice other side effects such as headaches, numbness or blurred vision, you should make an appointment to see a doctor.

Your dentist can give you specific instructions, but generally you should: 

• avoid alcohol, coffee and hot drinks for 24 hours after the procedure
• avoid exposing your skin to the sun and other high temperatures, such as saunas
• avoid touching or rubbing the skin where the injections were used
• keep your skin that was injected clean.

Questions about facial injections? 

Not all dentists offer cosmetic injections, but you can search for a dentist near you. Their Dental Care Network listing will tell you whether this is a service available at their clinic.

*Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.