What is BOTOX treatment?

Any facial movement, smiling, frowning, squinting, through time can cause wrinkles often around the lips, on the forehead and between the eyebrows, and at the corner of your eyelids (crow’s feet). These are called “dynamic or expression lines” as appose to “fine lines” that are caused by the thinning of collagen protein in the skin.

As you age the dynamic wrinkle lines become deeper and more noticeable and make you look tired, angry, sad, or upset when you are not. One of the quickest and safest procedures to remove these lines is the injection of highly purified botulinum toxin protein type A.

Commonly known types of botulinum toxin type A injections include Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin.  Botulinum toxin (hereafter referred to as Botox) blocks the nerve signals that cause muscles to contract. It relaxes the targeted facial muscles and temporarily smooths the expression lines.  Botox is also used to balance facial asymmetry and smooth out tight neck bands that can be corrected by relaxing a muscle.

Here at Grand Genesis, we also offer ThermiRase ®, as an alternative treatment to botulinum toxin type A injection. ThermiRase ® is a toxin-free, long-lasting approach to reducing unwanted facial and necklines.

Medical applications of Botox

Before being used as a cosmetic remedy, Botulinum toxin was first licensed to be used by ophthalmologists to treat such conditions as exaggerated blinking (benign essential blepharospasm) and some eye disorders such as crossed eyes (strabismus). Soon after more research and trials proved botulinum toxin effective in alleviating facial spasms, and muscle contractions affecting partly paralyzed patients muscle stiffness/spasms or movement disorders (such as cervical dystoniatorticollis), and overactive bladder.

More recently, Botulinum toxin has been used to reduce the number of migraine attacks and tension headaches in patients. It has also been used to treat severe underarm sweating. In this application, Botulinum toxin works by blocking the chemicals that turn on the sweat glands.

Botulinum toxin is administered by injection. The injection must always be done by an experienced health care professional. The injection site depends on the condition that needs the treatment. It is injected into the affected muscles (intramuscularly) when treating eye disorders, muscle stiffness/spasm. When used to prevent migraines, it is injected into the muscles of the head and neck. It is injected into the skin (intradermal) for the treatment of excessive sweating. When treating overactive bladder, it is injected into the bladder.

Why Grand Genesis?

  • Largest Private Plastic Surgery Centre in Ontario, fully equipped state of the art facility located in Richmond Hill, efficient and user friendly but more economical than downtown luxury mini clinics

  • 2 Fully Equipped Operating Rooms – 15 Recovery Beds for Overnight Stays

  • 15 Plastic Surgeons (Guest & In house) – 30 Nurses

  • VERY SHORT waiting times for Consult & Surgery

Botox Done by Following Surgeon:

Dr. Tymon Tai

Price & Cost

Fillers (Restylane, Juvederm)$550-$1000 per syringe
Botox$14 per unit
Excessive Sweeting (Botox)From $1,800 per treatment

At Grand Genesis Botox & Filler injection is done by our Plastic & Cosmetic Surgeons. Prices might seem higher, value for the quality.

Our surgeon can give you an exact estimate of the cost after examination & talking with you. The Consult session is free.

Who is a good candidate?

You are a good candidate for Botox treatment if:

  • You are developing expression lines and wrinkles on your face and/or thick lines on your neck
  • You are not pregnant or breastfeeding
  • You do not have a history of neuromuscular diseases (such as multiple sclerosis or myasthenia gravis)
  • You don’t have weak muscles or skin disorders on or around the target area
  • You have a positive outlook, with a clear and realistic vision of what you want the procedure do for you
  • You are in general good health and do not have a serious illness or infection
  • You are not allergic to any ingredient in Botox or another botulinum toxin product
  • You are at least 18 years old

Botox treatment can smooth out expression lines. It is not effective on fine lines or deep lines caused by skin’s loss of elasticity.  Fine lines are best treated by Fillers or non-invasive Thermi Smooth procedure.

The Procedure

Botox treatment is fast and straight forward. After the initial consultation, your surgeon will determine the injection sites, mark them and use very short and thin needles to administer the medication. The number of injections depends on your facial features and the extent of your wrinkles.  An experienced surgeon can carefully choose the exact muscles that cause the wrinkles, avoid over injection and therefore preserve more of your natural facial expression.

Anesthesia is not required for this procedure.  Nevertheless, you may ask your surgeon for topical anesthetic medication. You will probably experience minimal pain caused by injection that subsides shortly after.  The procedure normally leaves temporary swelling, and cause minimal bleeding. Your surgeon will apply cold compress on the injection site to calm the skin. The entire procedure may take 15 to 20 minutes.

Recovery

After the procedure, it takes several days for the medication to fully affect the muscles and show the full results which will last for about three to four months.

There is virtually no downtime and recovery after Botox injection. You can resume your normal activities the same day. However, it is good practice if you avoid excessive physical activity that causes sweating of the treated site. Also, avoid rubbing the injection site because the medication may spread to an unintended area.

Possible complications

Although generally safe, Botox side effects and complications can include:

  • Temporary muscle weakness.
  • Redness, irritation, and swelling at the injection site.
  • In rare instances, patients may experience dry mouth, headache, dizziness, nausea, and fever.

Not many clinical studies have been conducted on the effects of long term use of the medication. Nevertheless, some experts suggest that like any muscle of the body there is a risk of thinning and weakening of the facial muscles due to long-term immobility. Total paralysis of the muscles may also force the individual to recruit other facial muscles to communicate his or her emotions which may result in new expression lines to form on the face. (https://www.instyle.com/beauty/skin/preventative-botox). It may be for these reasons that the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery recommends Light botulinum toxin under-treatment as it preserves some movement in the muscles and allows for facial expression.