Soft Lift™

BOTOX® is the trade name of Botulinum Toxin Type A, a purified toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. XEOMIN is another brand of the same medication. Used in small amounts, it paralyzes muscles and prevents them from contracting, thereby diminishing or preventing associated wrinkles.

BOTOX® and Xeomin are intended to enhance the way you look, not change it. When administered by an experienced physician, you can still smile, frown and be expressive. The treatment relaxes only the muscles beneath the lines at the point of injection, so other elements of your facial expression remain active. There is also no effect on the sensory nerves, so you will have a normal feeling in the treated areas.

Results can vary for each individual; the average is three-to-four months when proper dilution is used.

Those who can be licensed to administer BOTOX® and XEOMIN are limited to:

• Physicians actively licensed by the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta
• Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners actively licensed by the College & Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta, who are injecting with sufficient education and training in this procedure, and with support from a physician
• Licensed Practical Nurses actively registered with the College of Licensed Practical Nurses of Alberta who are injecting with additional education and training in this procedure, and with support from a physician
• Aestheticians, medical aestheticians and dentists are NOT licensed to administer neurotoxins in Alberta unless they meet the above criteria

Botulinum Type A has been licensed in Canada since 1990 as a safe and effective treatment for a variety of medical conditions. In 2001, Health Canada approved its use specifically for wrinkle therapy. It has become the most popular physician-administered cosmetic treatment in North America, with an estimated three-million treatments performed annually.

It is important to ensure your neurotoxin procedure is administered by a fully-licensed practitioner who:

• Is licensed in Alberta for injections (please see FAQ ‘Who can perform injections in Alberta?’)
• Has experience in injections and cosmetic procedures, with additional training in injecting BOTOX and XEOMIN, and who is prepared and qualified to handle any complications
• Has a very strong knowledge of facial anatomy
• Is someone you are completely comfortable with and trust

Neurotoxin injections are generally well-tolerated. Some common side effects are localized discomfort or tenderness, swelling, redness, bruising and headache—which usually resolve within one week. Patients may experience uneven or an incomplete response to treatment. Rarely, patients have been reported to develop a slight lowering of an eyelid (ptosis), or slight lowering of the forehead. This is usually temporary and resolves within a few weeks. During consultation, Dr. Dawes will discuss all risks of your particular treatment, which will also be fully-disclosed in writing prior to treatment.

There are very few restrictions regarding the use of neurotoxins. Those who are pregnant, nursing or have a neurological disease should not be treated. Please contact our office for more information.