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Before & After Gallery for Botox in Kelowna

Just like skin, results may vary. These pictures (of our awesome, real-life clients!) help you see what is possible and set a realistic expectation for a Botox treatment in Kelowna.

We’d love to get to know you, learn more about your goals, and see what treatment options would suit you best.

With Botox® Cosmetic You Can

REDISCOVER YOUR TRUE LOOK AT DERMMEDICA

With over 15 years of experience and over 12,000 injectable patients alone, Dr. Crippen is an expert Botox injector who has trained physicians and nurses alike. Trust your one and only face to someone with years of experience and dedication to their craft. Who is it for? Anyone who wants to reduce fine lines and wrinkles on their face. How does it work? Relaxes muscle movement to smooth the skin over time. Dr. Crippen has over a decade of experience injecting Botox for thousands of his patients. You will be in very experienced hands.

EXPECTED RECOVERY TIME & RESULTS FOR BOTOX COSMETIC

Immediate – patients receiving Botox® are able to return to their normal activities immediately. There is no downtime. It will likely take 2 -4 days for treatment to start working, and up to a week before the treatment takes full effect. When the treatment is activated, the visible results will be smoother skin, the reduction of wrinkles, or decreased sweating depending on the condition being treated. It is important to remember, however, that results are only temporary (typically around 3 months, but this duration varies between patients) and additional treatments will be necessary to maintain achieved results.

THE BOTOX TREATMENT PROCEDURE

The average appointment is 10-15 minutes, involving a simple Botox® injection into the treatment area with little to no discomfort. The effect of the Botox® treatment will take a few days to become noticeable and in some patients, it can take up to a week for Botox® to start fully working. You are supposed to use your muscles normally after treatment however, do not manipulate or massage the treated area for the first 24-48 hours. This will allow the Botox® proteins to penetrate into the muscle correctly and in the desired location.

HOW DOES A BOTOX® TREATMENT IN KELOWNA WORK?

Botox® Cosmetic works by blocking nerve impulses to injected muscles. This reduces muscle activity that causes the moderate to severe lines to form. These types of lines are also called dynamic lines. Muscles receiving Botox® cosmetic injections no longer get the signal to contract. These muscles stay at rest resulting in smoother skin over time. Botox® therapeutic works by temporarily blocking the chemical signals from nerves that stimulate sweat glands. Botox® is a great wrinkle therapy and is an alternative to the Fraxel® laser, Juvederm® filler, Xeomin®, Dysport®, Restylane®, and Radiesse®.

BENEFITS OF BOTOX® COSMETIC

Botox® is a medicine that is injected into muscles. There are two uses for Botox® currently available: Botox® Cosmetic can be injected into muscles and used to improve the look of moderate to severe frown lines between the eyebrows for a short period of time (temporary). Botox® Therapeutic is injected into the skin to treat the symptoms of hyperhidrosis or severe underarm sweating when medicines used on the skin (topical) do not work well enough.

Benefits of Botox Cosmetic:

WHAT CONDITIONS DOES BOTOX® TREAT?

These include:

BOTOX® TREATMENTS IN KELOWNA, BC

Botox® or Botulinum toxin is a product manufactured by the company Allergan. It is used for both cosmetic and medical treatment purposes. Health Canada Warning: Make sure you have an experienced physician administer your Botox®. Anyone else performing this procedure would be considered an illegal activity by the Canada Food and Drugs Act.

Dr. Crippen has been performing Botox Cosmetic injections in Kelowna for over 20 years and is one of the most experienced physicians in the country. Make sure you have an experienced physician perform your Botox Injection in Kelowna. To the left is a video of Dr. Crippen performing a Botox cosmetic treatment

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Treatment Spotlight:

JAW MUSCLE REDUCTION WITH BOTOX®

A wide square jaw is a traditionally masculine quality that can be embarrassing or undesirable for females. Some women wish to narrow the lower third of their face. Botox® injections in the masseter muscle offer a non-surgical method of jaw reduction.

Jaw reduction surgery can be invasive for many patients who prefer to opt for a lower-risk form of jaw reduction. It is important to consult with a doctor to make sure that it is the masseter muscle and not the jawbone that is causing the extra width of the face. If it is the jawbone then Botox® jaw reduction treatment will not work and surgery remains the only option.

Where the masseter muscle along the edge of the jawbone is responsible for the square appearance of the face, the injection of Botox® can weaken this muscle and reduce its size creating a rounder and daintier facial shape.

Repeat injections can often weaken the muscles. Many patients come in for two or three initial treatments. Some patients return every six months or so for additional work.

You can find further information about Botox® online at www.botoxcosmetic.ca

Nuceiva (jeuveau) in Kelowna

What Is Nuceiva (PrabotulinumtoxinA)?

Nuceiva (Jeuveau in USA) Canada’s newest Health Canada-approved botulinum toxin type A formulated for the temporary improvement in the appearance of glabellar lines in adults. Other brands in this category include Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin.

How Does Nuceiva Help Me Feel More Confident?

It’s a wonderful thing to express how you feel! But most people don’t want to look older than they are. It’s impressive what smoothing away a few lines can do to brighten your look and the impression you make.

If you have forehead or facial lines and wrinkles that you wish to banish, and if you’re interested in preventative or corrective treatment, contact us about Nuceiva at Kelowna’s DermMedica clinic.

Discovery and Early History

Botulinum toxin’s history begins long before its cosmetic applications, dating back to the 19th century. Originally identified due to its role in causing botulism, a form of food poisoning, the toxin was first isolated in the late 1920s. Over the ensuing decades, scientists discovered that botulinum toxin could block nerve signals, leading to muscle paralysis.

History of Nuceiva and Price

Marketed as Jeuveau by Evolus in the United States, it originated with South Korea pharmaceutical company Daewoong. In Korea, it’s been gaining momentum as the new “it” cosmetic treatment since 2014, and now Nuceiva in Canada is turning heads.

Part of its unique appeal is the lower price.  The effects are comparable to other cosmetic injections and at a beautiful new lower price point. If you’ve been on the fence about wrinkle treatment, it just became more attractive.

Medical Therapeutic Use

The therapeutic potential of botulinum toxin was first realized in the 1970s. Ophthalmologists Alan Scott and Jean Carruthers observed that botulinum toxin could be used to treat strabismus (crossed eyes) by relaxing the overactive muscles. This discovery marked the toxin’s first foray into the medical field, leading to its approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the 1980s for treating strabismus and blepharospasm (eyelid spasms).

Cosmetic Use

The cosmetic application of botulinum toxin emerged somewhat serendipitously. Jean Carruthers, while treating patients for eye spasms, noticed that their wrinkles around the eyes softened following the injections. This observation led to the exploration of botulinum toxin as a cosmetic treatment. In 2002, the FDA approved Botox, a form of botulinum toxin type A, for the temporary improvement of glabellar lines (frown lines between the eyebrows), marking a significant milestone in the cosmetic industry.

The Development of Nuceiva

As the popularity of botulinum toxin for cosmetic use grew, other formulations began to emerge. Nuceiva is one such example, developed as an alternative to existing products like Botox and Dysport. It is manufactured by a biopharmaceutical company and received approval in various countries, including Canada and South Korea, for cosmetic use.

Mode of Action

Nuceiva works by blocking the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter, at the neuromuscular junction. This blockage inhibits muscle contraction, leading to a temporary reduction in muscle activity.

When injected into specific facial muscles, Nuceiva relaxes these muscles, reducing the appearance of wrinkles caused by repeated facial expressions. This effect is particularly noticeable in areas like the forehead, around the eyes (crow’s feet), and between the eyebrows.

Clinical Trials and Safety

The approval of Nuceiva in various countries was based on clinical trials demonstrating its efficacy and safety. These trials showed that Nuceiva effectively reduced the appearance of facial wrinkles with a safety profile comparable to other botulinum toxin products. Like all medical treatments, Nuceiva carries potential side effects, such as temporary bruising, swelling, and headache, but serious side effects are rare.

Market Position and Public Perception

Nuceiva entered a market dominated by well-established brands like Botox. Its success hinged on offering a comparable efficacy and safety profile, often at a more competitive price point. Public perception of Nuceiva has been generally positive, with many patients and practitioners reporting satisfaction with the results.

Regulatory Landscape

The regulatory landscape for Nuceiva, as with all botulinum toxin products, is stringent. Regulatory bodies like the FDA and Health Canada oversee the approval and monitoring of these products, ensuring their safety and efficacy for public use.

Future Developments

The future of Nuceiva, alongside other botulinum toxin products, may see expansion into therapeutic uses beyond cosmetic applications. Research continues into the potential of botulinum toxin in treating conditions like chronic migraines, excessive sweating, and muscle spasticity.

Conclusion

Nuceiva represents a modern chapter in the long history of botulinum toxin. From its roots as a dangerous toxin to its transformation into a widely used cosmetic and therapeutic agent, botulinum toxin’s journey is a testament to scientific innovation and adaptation. As Nuceiva continues to make its mark in the cosmetic industry, its story reflects the broader narrative of medical science turning challenges into opportunities for human benefit.

Unmasking More Myths About Botox®

MYTHS ABOUT BOTOX® IN KELOWNA – DERMMEDICA

As always, it’s important for us to point out that undergoing any type of medical procedure should entail consulting with a licensed and highly experienced physician first. No one else should even be attempting to inject Botox or other medicines, let alone inject you with anything unless they are or have been trained by licensed physicians.

Sadly, not everyone does their due diligence before undergoing cosmetic procedures. As a result, some people have some horror stories following surgeries or treatments that involve injections. However, it isn’t Botox® that deserves the bad rap. Instead, it’s the non-licensed individuals posing as professional physicians who should be reprimanded.

That being said, it’s important to unveil some truth about Botox®. And in order to do so, we must take a look at some of the most prevalent myths about it. On EmpireMedicalTraining.com, a list including the top five myths about Botox® can be found. We began to take a look at this list in our last blog. Let’s pick up where we left off, shall we?

Since 1987, doctors have been performing an average of three million Botox® procedures per year without any patients experiencing long-term side effects. As EmpireMedicalTraining.com puts it, Botox® “is a purified protein and a medical prescription product, and has been used therapeutically to treat a variety of medical conditions.”

 

We hope our blogs have helped to dispel some myths while encouraging you to consult a physician if you have any questions about Botox®.

 

Not located in Kelowna? We see patients from many surrounding areas!

 

Other Sources:

 

Davis, Joshua Ian, et al. “The effects of Botox® injections on emotional experience.” Emotion 10.3 (2010): 433.

The third myth listed is that Botox® will leave you with a frozen face or give you that unnatural “startled” look. In fact, patients generally appear more relaxed and youthful. Once again, this is a myth that is perpetuated by the unqualified individuals who have improperly administered Botox® injections.


Trained professionals know exactly which muscles to treat and only inject Botox® into those specific muscles. Here’s another myth: You can only get one Botox® treatment. In actuality, you can repeat your Botox® treatments. As EmpireMedicalTraining.com explains, treatments can last up to three months in order to achieve optimum results.

Some people respond quicker than others, so the frequency of visits depends on the individual. Again, consulting with a doctor is the best way to discover what treatment plan is best for you. Finally, myth number five is that Botox® is a dangerous toxin. In truth, it has a fabulous safety record.

This myth is all about not being able to stop treatments once  you start. Some people spread the lie that your face will look horrible if you ever stop botox. Not true at all, you can stop treatments at any time for any reason and your skin will start wrinkling again like it did before. By performing botox treatments you are delaying the skin aging process but you can certainly go back to wrinkled skin any time you wish!

This myth was more common in the early days of botox treatments, decades ago. This myth is that you will get “botulism” disease if you inject botox into your body.  Botulism is a disease caused by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum which can contaminate some foods. It is a very rare illness and not linked to botox treatments whatsoever. Botox is the protein that is purified from this bacteria and then injected in very small quantities into the skin so certain muscles are forced to relax. There is no way to get botulism from botox injections, this one makes no sense at all.

Sometimes patients are under the impression that Botox can smooth your skin right away, but that’s not how Botox works to smoothen the skin.  Once botox is working by relaxing your muscles, this gives your skin a chance to heal and repair all the damage you have created by wrinkling it all the time. Over the next few weeks and months, as you generate new skin cells, your skin will become smoother and less wrinkled. It’s all about not moving certain muscles to allow your skin to repair itself. Amazing stuff.

While Botox Cosmetic is an amazing product to smoothen facial lines and wrinkles by relaxing muscles, the effect only lasts 3 months on average with some areas of the face beginning to move sooner than that. Some patients even claim their previous treatments have lasted them multiple years. Unfortunately this is simply not possible. Perhaps these patients discarded the habit of moving those muscles all the time and that habit took a long time to return? While it would be lovely to have a product like Botox work for multiple years, we aren’t there just yet. Hopefully in a few more years!

We see this sometimes when older patients visit us for recommendations to treat aging skin. They sometimes feel that after a certain age, it’s not possible to achieve any improvements or that it’s “just too late” for them. On the contrary, Botox cosmetic and a variety of other treatments can be highly effective for patients who are older and have never had any treatments previously. Actually it is those patients who haven’t invested in any cosmetic treatments throughout their lives who will see the biggest changes. We have patients in their 80s and even 90’s who still enjoy Botox cosmetic treatments!

There are common misconceptions that different neuromodulators or toxins work differently. They are based on the exact same molecule and differences in manufacturing and end product allow different manufacturers to make various claims. In our experience, all toxins work similarly and individual patients may prefer one over the other. Our recommendation is to use the toxin you are currently using and don’t switch to see more effectiveness because you will likely be disappointed.

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