
Cosmetic Medicine
Botox and Dermal Fillers
Botox and dermal fillers are cosmetic procedures, we use Botox for dynamic wrinkles (those seen when you are making facial expressions but that disappear otherwise) of the upper face. By contrast, dermal fillers are often used for static wrinkles (wrinkles that are visible when your face is relaxed) and to plump areas of the lower face (ie. cheeks, nasolabial folds, and lips, etc.).
We often combine Botox and Dermal Fillers to achieve your facial aesthetic goals. Neither treatment is universally better. Depending on what corrections and improvements you’re looking to achieve, we may recommend Botox, or fillers, or both based on those goals.
What is Botox and how does it work?
How Cosmetic Botox works:
Botulinum Toxin (BOTOX) is a neurotoxic protein that blocks the release of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine at the motor nerve endings. As a result, the targeted muscles contract less, which results in relaxed facial muscles.
What to expect:
After treatment, you can return to normal activities, no downtime needed. Within a few days, results start to show and typically last 3-6 months depending on factors like your metabolism and treatment dose. Over time, the frequency of treatments may be reduced as a result of the muscles weakening.
Areas that are commonly treated with Botox include:
Forehead
Frown Lines
Eyebrows
Bunny Lines
Crow’s Feet
Under Eye Lines
What are Dermal Fillers and how do they work?
How Dermal Fillers work:
At Restore Medi Spa, we use hyaluronic acid (HA) based fillers. HA is a carbohydrate (polysaccharide) that naturally occurs in the human body and provides moisture, plumpness and fullness to the skin. It does this via binding with and absorbing water to any given area. As we age this carbohydrate decreases. HA is commonly used in the cosmetic industry to reduce wrinkles and lines and rejuvenate the skin.
What to expect:
Aside from the improved visual changes in appearance, hyaluronic acid fillers may also cause more elasticity in the skin and make it feel softer. There are low and high cross-linked dermal fillers. The former usually last 3-6 months and the latter can last 6-12 months or even longer. On average dermal fillers will last 4-8 months, therefore follow up treatments are recommended around every 6-12 months.
Areas that are commonly treated with Dermal Fillers include:
Lid Cheek (under eye)
Cheeks
Lips & Lip Lines
Nasolabial Folds (smile lines)
Marionette Lines (mouth corners)
Botox and Dermal Filler FAQs

For more information on cosmetic injections, visit the Health Canada page.