Botox 101: Everything You Need to Know About, But Are Too Afraid to Ask

Are you seeking a solution to enhance the appearance of your skin due to aging, stress, or simply a desire for rejuvenation? Botox, also known as a neuromodulator, is a popular treatment to enhance the appearance of your skin by addressing wrinkles caused by repeated muscle movements like smiling, frowning, squinting or even chewing. Botox softens and reduces existing wrinkles and prevents future wrinkles and lines by preventing muscle movement. Various factors such as stress, imbalanced nutrition, lack of sleep, dehydration, smoking and aging can influence the development of frown lines, stress lines and wrinkles.

“The goal with a neuromodulators treatment is to slow down the aging process, not to stop it. It is important to us at MD Skin Lab, we maintain natural results where we are able to emote, make expressions and have movement. This is what makes you, you. Remember, the best injectable is undetectable.” Dr. Vishaal Govan

Botox can also provide therapeutic and medical benefits for some individuals—solutions for migraines, jaw clenching, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), and more. The degree to which these factors can impact your skin and body varies depending on the individual, so it's always best to consult your doctor to ascertain the cause of a condition.

At MD Skin Lab, our experienced team of physicians offer anti-wrinkle injections through a non-surgical and minimally invasive technique that will help revive and preserve your skin. Our bespoke service is professional and positive, and the treatment is backed by extensive research to bring you safe and favourable results. The injectables are FDA and Health Canada-approved. If a safe, professional, and aesthetic result is what you desire, let MD Skin Lab, a medical spa in Toronto, be a part of your journey to a more refreshed and rejuvenated version of yourself! 

What are Anti-Wrinkle Injections (Botox & Dysport)?

Botox is an anti-wrinkle injection, also known as a neuromodulator. These work by targeting the muscle layer underneath the skin's surface, which helps preserve the aesthetic quality of the skin, all through a non-surgical and minimally invasive technique. Botox works towards softening and reducing existing wrinkles and preventing future wrinkles and lines.

Many forms of anti-wrinkle injections, also known as neuromodulators, contain Botulinum, a purified protein. These neuromodulators are a class of pharmaceutical medications and go by the names: Botox®, Dysport®, Xeomin®, and Nuceiva®. The active ingredient in the neuromodulators is Botulinum which is used in cosmetic applications to soften dynamic lines and wrinkles. Not only do neuromodulators enhance the skin, but they also assist in reducing pain, such as chronic migraines and stiffness in the jaw area that can come from clenching and even hyperhidrosis, a treatment for excessive sweating.

When determining if Botox is the best solution for your skin, we recommend booking a consultation with our physicians at MD Skin Lab.

“Natural results when treating the face with neuromodulators is absolutely achievable! The goal is to prevent future wrinkles from forming while still being able to convey emotion through movement. Neuromodulators are also used therapeutically to improve our patient’s quality of life through treatment of migraines, jaw clenching, and excessive sweating.”
Dr. Soreya Dhanji

How do Anti-Wrinkle Injections like Botox or Dysport Work?

A neuromodulator involves reducing the transmission of nerve impulses into the muscles, relaxing them and softening skin creases, making it safe for clinical use. Botox has been researched extensively over the last few decades. Clinics worldwide have since applied it to address many cosmetic, medical and therapeutic treatments, like wrinkles, hyperhidrosis (treatment for excessive sweating), chronic migraines and more.

If we get more into the science aspect, a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine will signal the muscle to contract. When botox is injected into the injection site, acetylcholine gets temporarily blocked, particularly between the crossing of a nerve and muscle. The primary focus of the neuromodulators is to mitigate any muscle movement responsible for undesirable creases such as wrinkles and fine lines.

Are Anti-Wrinkle Injections Like Botox and Dysport Suitable for Me

Determining whether Botox or Dysport is right for you is a common question! It can seem a little intimidating, but our expert physicians at MD Skin Lab always want to ensure our patients are well-informed. It is important to remember that every individual is unique and could have a specific skin goal, which is why we create a bespoke plan for you, that is tailored to fit your skin goals. Although there isn't a certain age to begin using the treatment, our physician injectors recommend starting “preventative botox” in your late 20s or early 30s.

Anti-wrinkle injections can be an excellent choice for an individual who experiences dynamic or static lines, aging skin in general, or those seeking to improve the skin's texture. Botox is also suitable for reducing frown lines that start appearing around the eyebrows, crow's feet by the eye area and forehead creases. In addition, on a medical and therapeutic level, neuromodulators can help treat chronic migraines, excessive sweating and even muscle spasms. The results we focus on come from a more natural appeal to skin aesthetics. From the different neuromodulators we offer at MD Skin Lab (Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, Nuceiva), your physician will help determine the right one for you during your appointment. Please note that assessing your medical history before beginning treatment is essential; your safety is our priority at MD Skin Lab.

Let's Talk about Facial Lines

Over time, the collagen in our skin starts to break down, impacting the skin's elasticity abilities. Neuromodulators have a potent effect on aging skin. The most commonly targeted for an improvement in skin aesthetics are dynamic wrinkles and static wrinkles. Repeated movement in the facial muscles causes dynamic wrinkles, typically around the forehead, eyes and mouth. For example, a person who may be frustrated often could be making certain facial expressions like raising the eyebrows or squinting the eyes, resulting in frown lines around the eyebrows or crow's feet by the eyes. What's happening is that these muscles are constantly being contracted, thus resulting in dynamic wrinkles.

On the other hand, static wrinkles are different from dynamic wrinkles. Those are static wrinkles if you notice wrinkles being visible while the face rests. They emerge from factors such as sun damage, strong facial muscular contractions, aging and lifestyle. Static wrinkles can appear in different forms, like fine lines and folds, and most commonly occur in some places, like the cheeks or jawline. These wrinkles are best referred to as a natural aspect of aging. On a side note, individuals can undergo treatment for static wrinkles through Chemical Peels, Microneedling and Morpheus8, which are other services we offer at MD Skin Lab in Toronto. With the gradual use of neuromodulators such as Botox, the injections can work towards smoothing the skin while preventing new lines from forming. 

What Can I Treat with Anti-Wrinkle Injections (Botox)?

With our versatile services at MD Skin Lab, the following can be treated with the use of Neuromodulators:

• Forehead
• Frown Lines (Number “11’s” or Glabella)
• Crow’s Feet
• Brow Lift
• Bunny Lines (Side of Nose)
• Lip Flip
• Chin Dimpling
• Gummy Smile
• Crepey Neck
• Downturned Mouth
• Calf-Slimming
• Trapezius Size Reduction (also known as Swan Neck Botox)

These are specific medical and therapeutic areas that can be treated with the use of Neuromodulators:

• Masseter (Jaw Clenching)
• Migraines
• Excessive Sweating (Hyperhidrosis)

 

 

What is the Botox Treatment Like and Are There Any Side Effects?

Your injection treatment is set for nearly 30 minutes which can make a perfect visit during your lunch break. To prepare for the injection, your physician will cleanse the skin area using a medical grade antiseptic. Once your physician injector treats the injection site, a subtle yet minimal pinch can be felt; however, it would fade quickly. Most patients rate the feeling as a 1/10 on a discomfort scale.. Our dedication is to ensure the best possible experience produced for you at MD Skin Lab, which comes with complete safety.

When using neuromodulators like Botox and Dysport, the possibility of encountering side effects is temporary and rare. The rare side effects that can be experienced are a headache,bruising at the injection site, flu-like symptoms, weak muscles or some pain/aching and droopy eyelid. There is no actual recovery time, as Botox is usually a quick procedure requiring no downtime, however, there are certain things to avoid for the first 24 hours following your treatment, such as intense activities, especially within the first 24 hours. Our team of physicians is here to provide you with the correct aftercare instructions and to follow up with you to ensure everything is running smoothly after the treatment! It is crucial to select the right clinic, and speaking to one of our physicians can help you make a confident decision. The neuromodulators we use have received the approval of Health Canada, and each injection has been carefully curated.

What Do the Results Look Like, and How Long Will They Last?

When you have completed your treatment with us at MD Skin Lab, you could notice some improvement in lines, wrinkles and the overall texture of your skin around the first 48 to 72 hours. For the full result, it can take up to 14 days. Since everyone has different skin and aesthetic goals, the number of Botox units required will likely vary. To have a touch-up done by your physician after the first treatment is entirely normal. The peak of the results of the treatment will be between weeks 2-6 and you will begin to have more movement from week 8 onwards till about the 12 week mark, which is the general longevity timeline of Botox. After considering how many treatments you already have had, a maintenance treatment is suggested every 3 to 4 months for smooth, wrinkle-free skin. This is best for individuals who want to preserve their skin without reverting to its pre-treatment condition. A fact about Botox is that the effect of the neuromodulators will eventually wear off, leading to muscle movement being restored, which is why touch-ups are recommended.

Ready to Get Started?

You may now thoroughly understand how neuromodulators like Botox work and all things related to anti-wrinkle injections! Please book a consultation with our experienced physicians and allow them to guide you through your skin transformation journey.

MD Skin Lab in Toronto is committed to delivering a professional, comfortable and luxurious experience that ensures the safety of our clients. Dr. Soreya Dhanji and Dr. Vishaal Govan are certified and experienced physicians with an impressively extensive skin and medical aesthetics background. Our services are unique in this area of aesthetics because we bring physician injectors' approach and knowledge into the space. All injectables are performed by our physicians and never outsourced.

We are always happy to answer your questions and guide you through the anti-wrinkle injections treatment step process. Your physician will work with you to achieve the desired results based on your aesthetic goals or to bring in a general improvement therapeutically or medically in the facial area.