Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are a popular anti-aging treatment because of their range of application and ability to ‘reverse’ signs of aging such as volume loss, deep wrinkles, and sagging skin. Fillers are often used to instantly restore contours of the face and replace lost volume in facial areas such as the cheeks, eye hollows, jawline and lips. They can fill deep wrinkles, and smooth folds and grooves.

What are Fillers?

Dermal fillers are injected under the skin to naturally smooth out and/or restore facial features. Several dermal fillers such as Restylane®, Perlane® and Juvederm™ consist of hyaluronic acid, a sugar gel that naturally occurs in the skin, and helps to maintain moisture and volume. Hyaluronic acid is what makes youthful skin look so plump and healthy.

How Dermal Fillers Work

Once injected, hyaluronic acid-based fillers work with the body’s hyaluronic acid and the water in your skin to restore lost volume and fill deep wrinkles. Over time, the injected hyaluronic acid is broken down through the body’s natural process to sugars and water that are metabolized and eliminated by the body.

What are the Benefits?

• Creates a natural, youthful appearance without cosmetic surgery;
• Instant results;
• Long-lasting results;
• Minimal to no downtime.

What to Expect

An initial consultation with the physician is necessary to identify treatment goals and to determine which product is appropriate. A dermal filler treatment takes 15 to 60 minutes, depending on the area(s) being treated. After your treatment, you may return immediately to your normal activities. Some patients may experience swelling and/or bruising for a few days after treatment. The duration of dermal fillers depends on several factors, including where they are placed and how much product is used. Restylane® typically last about 8-12 months. Juvederm™ can last up to one year.

Botox

Botox is an extremely effective treatment for reducing wrinkles such as crow’s feet (eye wrinkles), forehead wrinkles, and frown lines. It targets wrinkles that are caused by repeated facial movements such as frowning, squinting or smiling. Botox should be administered by a skilled and experienced physician, who will enhance your appearance by creating a more natural and relaxed look.

What is Botox Cosmetic?

Botox is a purified form of a naturally occurring protein. Botox was approved in 2001 by Health Canada for wrinkle therapy and is now the most popular physician-administered cosmetic treatment in North America. The most commonly treated areas with Botox are the central frown lines (between the eyebrows), forehead wrinkles and crow’s feet. It can also be used to treat mouth frowns, bumpy chins, gummy smiles and neck wrinkles.

How Botox Cosmetic Works

When injected precisely into the muscles that are responsible for deep wrinkles, the protein in Botox relaxes the muscles, preventing the creases from forming in the skin. The Botox injection won’t affect the sensory nerves or other elements of your facial expression, so your face won’t look frozen or feel numb after the treatment. The overall result is a younger, more relaxed-looking appearance.

What are the Benefits?

• Temporarily reduces wrinkles for up to four months;
• Quick and easy treatment, less invasive than cosmetic surgery;
• No downtime – return to regular activities afterward with few limitations.

What to Expect

Botox will be injected with a very fine needle into specific muscles responsible for the wrinkles being treated. The treating physician, with your goals in mind, will decide the amount of Botox units to be administered. The procedure will take about 10 to 15 minutes. You will see results from your Botox Cosmetic treatment within a few days, but wrinkles and lines will continue to diminish for up to two weeks. Effects typically last four to five months and should be repeated about two to three times per year for maintenance purposes. After repeat treatments, the effects of a Botox injection may begin to last longer.