THE TRUTH ABOUT BOTOX AND FILLERS
I feel like everyone is talking about Botox and fillers lately. They have become more common and less taboo since celebrities have made it so popular and now I see it all over Instagram. I’ve always felt unsure about them but mostly because I didn’t know anything about Botox or fillers.
I wanted to learn more and started looking at different places around Calgary. I found Rejuvenation Laser and Aesthetics, a brand new state of the art facility with highly experienced nurses and doctors and booked in for a free consultation.
On the day of my consult I was impressed by the waiting area at Rejuvenation and was feeling excited to learn more about Botox and fillers. I got to meet with nurse Kara Thomson who is so sweet and answered the hundreds of questions I had. I learned that Botox is typically used to treat lines and wrinkles but also treats many different things. I also found it interesting that Botox is key to preventing future lines and wrinkles…
I really wanted to know was the difference between Botox and filler was and this is what Kara said:
“Botox is a safe and effective, non-surgical option to soften expression lines and correct the signs of ageing that can make us look sad, tired, or angry. The purpose of Botox is to impede the muscle contractions that form wrinkles. Wrinkle prevention and longer lasting results are cumulative benefits of regularly timed treatments. Botox usually treats the forehead, up…with some exceptions. The most common areas on the face that we treat with Botox include forehead lines, frown lines, the lateral brow (for that pretty eyebrow lift) and crows feet.
The Juvederm family of products is a collection of leading-edge facial fillers from Allergan, a world leader in aesthetic medicine. Juvederm is a smooth-consistency injectable gel filler that is used to refresh your appearance. Juvederm is made with hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring sugar found in your body (we actually produce hyaluronic acid since the day we are born and then as we age it depletes causing volume loss)! The injected hyaluronic acid combines with the water in your skin to restore lost fullness and smooth out lines and wrinkles. Best of all, the results are instant, natural-looking, and long-lasting. We use filler to treat the periorbital area down. Common areas we use filler for include the cheeks, under eyes, nasolabial folds, lips, jawline, and chin.”
Kara also told me some common myths about Botox and filler:
Botox is toxic and dangerous
Botox is FDA approved, and the FDA only ever approves cosmetic treatments that are thoroughly researched, trialled and proven to be safe.
Once you get Botox or filler you have to continue getting these treatments for life
Many people believe that once you start getting botox and filler, your skin will droop and wrinkle more than it ever has if you decide to stop the treatments. This is not true. When the effects of Botox or fillers wear off, your skin will look exactly the same as it did before the treatment.
Botox and fillers are extremely painful
There will always be some amount of discomfort when having cosmetic injections, but it is by no means unbearable. At our clinic, we use very fine needles that ensure the treatment is the most comfortable it can be and our fillers have lidocaine (freezing) mixed into them which aids in comfort during this type of procedure as well. Not to mention we do have topical numbing we give to patients if they are needing it. We also have a machine called the ProNox at Rejuv that is technically laughing gas, which helps patients feel more relaxed and at ease during cosmetic procedures. The ProNox is patient controlled and you are able to drive home after use.
Botox makes you lose all facial expressions
Botox only relaxes muscles at the point of injection which means that it cannot completely inhibit facial expressions. Provided that it is administered by a skilled injector who knows exactly where to inject the substance, patients will still maintain an entire range of facial expressions, only with fewer lines! We never want any patient walking out of Rejuv looking “frozen”. Our goal is to ensure clients are still able to animate, but with smoother facial lines and a more refreshed and rejuvenated look.
Botox only works for facial wrinkles
Botox has a variety of uses aside from smoothing out lines and wrinkles. It can relieve migraines, neck and back pain, facial twitches, jaw pain and excessive sweating.
After talking with Kara I was feeling a lot better about Botox and fillers, I especially liked the idea of getting it for the purpose of prevention. I already religiously take care of my skin and so I decided to take it to the next level and try some Botox in my forehead! I was able to do it right after my consultation, Dr. Paul Kuzel came in and injected Botox in a few different places. I was slightly uncomfortable but overall the pain wasn’t too bad. I liked that there were no side affects and minimal aftercare.
Make sure to follow along on my Instagram this week to see more about my experience and my before and after photos: @lifewithzandra
And here is the link for a free consultation at Rejuvenation Laser and Aesthetics.