Botox in Calgary

Repeated muscle movements from facial expressions create dynamic wrinkles. Smiling, squinting, and frowning etches lines into the skin that become more pronounced over time. These types of wrinkles are different than static wrinkles, which develop as our skin produces less collagen and elastin and the effects of sun exposure and other environmental factors take their toll. Different treatments address different types of wrinkles.

Your procedure can take anywhere from a few minutes to an hour, depending on the area or areas being treated. Depending on the product used, you should see initial results within 3 to 7 days with BOTOX. The results typically last between 3 to 5 months, so we recommend periodic treatments to seamlessly maintain the results.

The active ingredient in Botox and the other neuromodulators targets specific muscles by blocking the nerve signals to them. This results in the muscle relaxing, reducing the appearance of wrinkles.

These injections are typically not considered painful because they are quick and performed with a fine needle. We prep the treatment area with a numbing cream to minimize the potential for any discomfort.

While there is no downtime needed after a BOTOX treatment, we recommend taking the following precautions:

• Do not lie down for at least 4 hours after treatment.
• Avoid rubbing or massaging treated areas for the first few hours.
• Postpone strenuous exercise for 24 hours.
• Avoid excessive alcohol consumption for 24 hours before and after treatment.

Botox, which was originally approved by the FDA to treat droopy eyelids (“lazy eye”), is now approved to treat multiple conditions. These uses can help greatly improve the quality of a patient’s life. The conditions Botox is used to treat include:

• Excessive underarm sweating — A condition called hyperhidrosis causes some people to have overactive sweat glands in their underarms. It can be an embarrassing and costly issue for women and men who have to constantly replace stained shirts or blouses.
• Migraine headaches — People who suffer from chronic migraines often have a difficult time finding effective relief using medication. Botox injections have helped many migraine sufferers because the treatment temporarily relaxes muscles that have been linked to the condition. If you have migraines more than 15 times a month, Botox injections can reduce the frequency of the headaches.
• Masseter reduction — The masseter muscle is one of a trio of muscles used when we chew food. It is in the cheek area and when it is overdeveloped the masseter muscle can cause your face to appear square rather than slim and triangular. Botox is used for jawline slimming because it temporarily relaxes the masseter, so it doesn’t appear so pronounced.
• Gummy smile — If your upper lip lifts high enough to expose the gums above your top teeth when you smile, Botox injections can prevent the lip from lifting so high.