Anti-wrinkle treatment in Leeds

Anti-wrinkle treatment is the most popular aesthetic treatment in the UK, and the one where the practitioner matters most. The difference between a rested, natural result and an obviously treated one is almost entirely down to assessment, dosing and placement. At ELM Aesthetics, all anti-wrinkle treatments are assessed, prescribed and carried out by Melody Steel, a Nurse Prescriber with over 19 years’ experience and a background in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery unit at St James’s Hospital.

What it does

Anti-wrinkle injections use a prescription-only medicine to temporarily relax the specific muscles responsible for expression lines — the horizontal lines across the forehead, the frown lines between the brows, and crow’s feet at the outer corners of the eyes. As those muscles soften, the skin creases less on movement and existing lines gradually appear smoother.

Because it is a prescription-only medicine, UK law prohibits advertising it by brand name, and it can only be provided following a face-to-face consultation with a prescriber. Both of those rules exist to protect you, and we follow them exactly.

Areas we treat

• Forehead lines — the horizontal lines that appear when you raise your brows
• Frown lines — the vertical “11s” between the eyebrows
• Crow’s feet — the lines fanning from the outer corners of the eyes
• Advanced areas — corners of the mouth, lip flick, chin dimpling, bunny lines and the Nefertiti lift for jawline definition, assessed individually

Related treatments for teeth grinding and jaw slimming and excessive underarm sweating use the same medicine and have their own pages.

Natural, not frozen

Melody’s approach is deliberately conservative: treat the muscles that are actually causing the lines, in a dose that softens rather than stops movement, and review at two weeks. You should still be able to raise your brows and smile with your eyes. The goal is for people to notice you look well, not to notice you have had something done.

Your appointment

Every visit begins with a thorough consultation and careful assessment of how your face moves naturally — because treatment should enhance you, never erase your expression. Melody will prescribe your personalised treatment plan at this consultation. Your treatment is then scheduled for a separate day: Melody cannot legally prescribe and treat in the same appointment, and the gap gives you time to consider everything before proceeding.

At your treatment appointment, the injections themselves take five to ten minutes with an ultra-fine needle; most people describe a brief, light scratch, and you can return to normal activities straight away. For subsequent visits you will not need another full face-to-face consultation — only the initial appointment requires the detailed assessment.

Aftercare, in brief

Stay upright for four hours, avoid rubbing or massaging the treated areas, and skip strenuous exercise, saunas and alcohol for 24 hours. Small red marks at the injection points settle within an hour or so. Results begin to show at three to five days and are fully developed at two weeks, when a review appointment lets us fine-tune if needed.

Honest limitations

Anti-wrinkle treatment works on lines caused by movement. It will not fill a deep line that is present when your face is completely at rest, restore lost volume, or lift skin that has lost elasticity — those concerns are addressed with other treatments, and a good consultation will tell you which. Results are temporary, typically lasting three to four months, and vary from person to person.

What it costs

Advanced areas (corners of the mouth, lip flick, chin, bunny lines, Nefertiti lift) are priced at consultation. A two-week review is included. A deposit will be required to secure your appointment.

Your questions answered