Botox Toronto: The Quick Guide for Beginners

Botox – Toronto is no stranger to this cosmetic “maintenance” secret. Men and women of all ages rely on this popular anti-aging treatment at Sovereign Skin, and now it’s your turn.

If you’ve been mulling it over, and you think you’re ready to give Botox a try, we’ve got your newbie Botox 101 guide.

Botox – What Do Neuromodulators Do?

Health Canada has approved Botox®, Xeomin, Nuceiva, and Dysport for wrinkle injections. They are similar products made from the Clostridium botulinum bacterium.

First, Botox doesn’t “plump” or make anything bigger. If you’re picturing full, pouty lips, it’s dermal filler that you’re thinking of.

Botox is injected in tiny micro-doses into muscles where it attaches to nerve endings to temporarily limit movement. Dynamic expressions such as frowning forehead contractions create wrinkles in the overlying skin and deep folds over time.

Botox results last 3 to 4 months, depending on the individual and the area treated.

Does muscle strength bounce right back once Botox wears off? Not always, and not ideally. If you plan a maintenance protocol with your injector, the strongest facial furrows are kept at bay. One characteristic that all your muscles share is that they atrophy with disuse. That means that maintaining treatments keeps precisely targeted facial muscles weaker and smaller, so they don’t dominate.

As you might guess, treating facial muscles with Botox is a delicate balancing act, requiring the in-depth knowledge of facial anatomy as well as safe practices. Be sure to seek out a skilled, experienced, and licensed injector.

What Areas Can Botox Treat?

Botox is safe – one of the longest-studied medications in Canada. It’s also non-surgical, fast, and completely customized just for you.

You might book your appointment for Botox in Toronto to treat:

• Number 11 lines between the brows (glabellar)
• Horizontal lines on the forehead
• Lines around the eyes (crow’s-feet)

There are numerous off-label uses too:

• Smoker’s lines
• Lip flipping
• Upturning mouth corners
• Reducing a gummy smile
• Masseter (jaw muscle) reduction
• Softening neck lines
• Reducing neck bands (turkey neck)

What Will Your Toronto Botox Appointment Be Like?

Before Botox, you’ll probably have questions, and your practitioner will too. You will be asked to provide some information related to medical conditions, medications you take (especially blood thinners), and even supplements. Did you know that some herbal and “natural” formulas can make you bleed and bruise more easily? If you take one of these daily or NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as Ibuprofen, you might be advised to stop for a week and return for treatment when bruising will be less likely.

Botox hasn’t been studied for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding, so most practitioners will advise you to avoid treatment during that time as a precaution.

Next, you’ll have a chance to discuss your areas of concern. It’s possible to have your Botox done at the same time as your consultation, so expect to have a little makeup cleaned off and to lie back in the chair for roughly 10 to 20 minutes.

*Remember, you are unique, and your treatment will be based on your needs, so it’s unhelpful to compare “units” that a friend of yours may have had to yours. You may need a little less – or a little more – to see the results you want.

Expect 1 to 2 weeks for Botox to take full effect. It’s a great idea to schedule a follow-up appointment at that time if you want any “tweaks.”

Does Botox hurt?

The overwhelming majority of people don’t like needles! We get it, but rest assured, the needles used for Botox are tiny. Because they are small and the treatment is fast, you don’t need to give this part too much thought. Your injector will have a “squeeze ball” for you to hold, which can help.

You’ll be able to leave the clinic right away, and most people see only temporary bumps at the injection site or a few little red dots. These usually disappear within a few hours.

What Happens After Botox?

As with all injections, the following are rare but possible:

• Bruising (typically resolves within 14 days)
• Temporary redness
• Minor swelling (lasts for an hour or two)

Your injector will also review the rarer possible complications from Botox before you provide consent for your procedure. We believe that a subtle, conservative approach helps avoid most unwanted effects and allows the naturally glowing version of you to shine through!

Book Your Toronto Botox Consultation at Sovereign Skin

Still have questions about Botox? Or are you ready to dive in and smooth away your wrinkles? Either way, we’re looking forward to helping you take the next exciting step!