Esprit Medical Aesthetics botox

BOTOX Cosmetic® is the most popular of all physician administered cosmetic procedures (surgical and non-surgical combined).  It is used by millions of people around the world to temporarily reduce facial signs of aging by minimizing the appearance of wrinkles across the forehead, between the brows and at the corner of the eyes.   It may also be used successfully in the lower face as well.  

BOTOX Cosmetic® is a purified protein derived from the Clostridium Botulinum bacteria.  BOTOX®  was licensed in Canada in 1989 for the treatment of specific medical eye conditions. Its cosmetic benefits were discovered by Vancouver ophthamologist Dr. Jean Carruthers as she was using BOTOX®  to treat ocular conditons including "lazy eye". She noticed that in treating the muscles surrounding the eye, the associated wrinkles would smooth out or even disappear. In 2001 Health Canada approved BOTOX Cosmetic®  for the temporary treatment of facial wrinkles. It is now extensively used for the treatment of forehead creases, crows feet, bunny lines and frown lines between the brows.

BOTOX Cosmetic®  is a therapeutic muscle relaxing agent that functions by temporarily blocking nerves that innervate specific muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles. In simple terms, it keeps the muscles that cause frown lines from contracting resulting in a smoother appearance. It is therefore used for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe facial wrinkles, particularly those around the eyes and on the forehead.

Once treated with BOTOX Cosmetic®, it may take 2 to 7 days to appreciate the full effect and resultant smoothing of the wrinkle. Thus a follow-up is advised 10 to 14 days after treatment. At that time a touch up may be required. Improvement may continue for up to 1 month after treatment. Usually there is at least 80% relaxation of the treated muscle, and often this may approach 100%. The effects of BOTOX Cosmetic® generally last from 4 to 6 months. It is recommended that a follow-up be booked within 4 months of treatment. With repeated treatment the interval between procedures lengthens and the amount of BOTOX Cosmetic®  required to relax the muscles and therefore smooth the wrinkles usually decreases.

Medical Uses
Research into the various medical/therapeutic applications of BOTOX Cosmetic®  is very exciting. Not only is it used for cosmetic applications but it is also used to treat a number of medical conditions in a variety of specialties.

Hyperhidrosis
BOTOX® was approved for the treatment of hyperhidrosis(excessive underarm perspiration) by Health Canada in 2001. This treatment can greatly improve the quality of life for people living with severe underarm perspiration. BOTOX®  blocks the message from the nerve to the sweat gland so that perspiration is at the very least reduced in the area that is injected. Often the benefit of treating Hyperhidrosis with BOTOX ® can last for 6 - 9 months and in some cases may last for more than a year.  Dr. Stewart regularly treats axillary hyperhydrosis.

Procedure
The first step is to consult with the client. The problem areas will be addressed and the treatment personalized. Before pictures are taken. The skin is cleansed. The client is asked to dynamically contract the pertinent muscles and the sites of injection are marked. A very tiny needle is used to inject the BOTOX Cosmetic®. The procedure is nearly painless. Within 10 minutes of the procedure, there is no evidence that anything has been done. Life can proceed as usual.

Side Effects
The most common side effects are:

  • Slight swelling / redness at the injection site
  • Slight pain at the injection site (insect bite)
  • Transient numbness at the injection site
  • Very mild bruising
  • Transient eyelid swelling
  • Mild headache or heaviness in affected muscles (may last up to several days)

Safety
BOTOX Cosmetic® is very safe and has been administered to millions of people around the world. Side effects are rare (<1%) but may include drooping of the upper eyelid (lid ptosis) if the wrong muscle is treated. Because BOTOX Cosmetic® is temporary, so are the side effects. Lid ptosis can be reduced or reversed with medicated eye drops, and it usually resolves on its own within a two week period. Infection is also a theoretical risk although rarely occurs. Bruising may occur at the injection site and is usually no larger than the size of a dime and resolves over 1-2 weeks.

Typically men and women between the ages of 30 - 60 years old derive the most benefit from BOTOX Cosmetic®.  Patients must realize treatment with BOTOX Cosmetic®  enhances and improves your appearance but DOES NOT change you overall look. If you want to enhance your appearance BOTOX Cosmetic® may be for you.

BOTOX Cosmetic® is not recommended for individuals suffering from neurological diseases such as ALS, Myasthenia Gravis or Lambert-Eaton Syndrome or if you are pregnant or nursing.

Combination Treatments
Optimal results frequently are achieved by combining a number of techniques.  For example, BOTOX Cosmetic® is useful for dynamic lines but dermal fillers are necessary to re-contour the face.  Chemical peels improve texture and surface changes. A combonation of these procedures will often yeild the best aesthetic result.