Have you heard about the trending Trap Tox or Barbie Botox. The procedure involves injecting a neuromodulator (e.g. Botox or Dysport) into the trapezius muscle to help slim the shoulders and neck. The treatment will help to relax the trapezius muscle and should not impact normal movement of the arm, shoulder or neck. As the injections take effect, generally over 4-6 weeks (though some may see results sooner and some may take 2+ months for full effect), you will see a slimmer looking neckline. Depending on the size and strength of the muscle it may take 30-50 units per side and results generall ..read more

I wanted to share this often-referenced study that compared the effects of Botox on facial lines in identical twins where one twin had undergone regular Botox treatments over the preceding 13 years, and the other twin only had Botox treatments twice, several years prior to the study. The results found that the twin treated with Botox regularly (image on the right) did not show as many of the signs of aging as her minimally-treated sister (image on left). Neither twin received treatment in the lower 1/2 of their face and a similar degree of aging was seen giving support to the belief that the ..read more

Many people think of filler just for the face but did you know it can be used to rejuvenate the hands? The hands are often said to reveal our true age (a claim supported by a 2006 study done by American Society of Plastic Surgeons). If you are dealing with hands that exhibit signs of aging, injectable filler is a treatment you can consider to help add volume that can minimize the appearance of volume loss and loose skin. To help with brown spots, another common sign of aging in the hands, a laser treatment may be recommended. Of course it’s always best to try and prevent rather than treat. Mo ..read more

Sweating is normal and necessary to help regulate body temperature, but excessive sweating can be a sign of a condition called hyperhidrosis. People with hyperhidrosis may produce up to 4-5 times the amount of sweat required to cool the body. This condition has been estimated to affect between 2-5% of the population. If you are dealing with excessive sweating there are a few options to consider. First, an antiperspirant containing aluminum can be considered and can be more effective if applied at night. There are other treatment options to consider, both in office or at home, but Botox inject ..read more

You have probably seen celebrities who seem to not be aging and yet they claim to not be getting botox or fillers. Non-invasive skin tightening is a great complementary or alternative treatment to help lift and tighten the skin and improve the appearance of lines. In our office we do this with micro-focused ultrasound or radiofrequency which can heat up the tissues to stimulate collagen. The results are natural (it’s just your own collagen!) and long-lasting, hence why they are so popular and perhaps a little “secret” of those who seem to defy aging. In other words it’s not just the olive oil ..read more

If you follow me (and other dermatologists) you have likely heard about retinoids and retinol as a “holy grail” of skincare.  Quick retinoid explainer… All topical retinoids are derived from Vitamin A and have similar properties that can help improve skin texture and tone, and minimize the appearance of dark spots, fine lines and improve acne. Some will have stronger effects, often those by prescription. For people seeking general “anti aging” benefits over the counter retinol (or retinal) products are easy to access and less likely to cause irritation. But for some people prescription re ..read more

Botox may not be for everyone but if you’re trying to decide if it’s right for you and want to understand a bit more about it, here’s some more information: First, Botox is a brand name but the name is often used to describe a whole class of neuromodulators that includes Dysport, Xeomin and others that work in a similar manner. I will use “botox” here to describe these products generally. With botox, the effect occurs at a specific location where it is injected in the muscle and attaches to nerve endings. Once attached it inhibits the release of the neurotransmitter responsible for triggering ..read more

Stretch marks are normal and quite common, as are questions on how to treat them. There is no proven way to prevent them, but some treatments may help to minimize the appearance. I’m all for embracing your stretch marks but if you do want to try and minimize their appearance here is what you should know. First, what are stretch marks? A stretch mark is a type of scar that develops when our skin stretches or shrinks rapidly. The abrupt change causes collagen and elastin in the skin to rupture. As the skin heals, stretch marks may appear. They commonly develop with growth spurts in puberty ..read more

Finding the right skincare products can be tough and labeling can sometimes make things more, not less, confusing. The FDA and Health Canada have some differences in how they regulate personal care products but overall similar approach and points here would apply in both .  The first point of distinction is drugs vs cosmetics. Cosmetics are intended to clean or improve the appearance of the skin, whereas drugs are used to treat a medical condition. Generally drugs must be pre-cleared by regulators and have a defined use and benefits. Only drugs are permitted to make therapeutic claims but ..read more

I counsel patients regularly and post on social media about the risks of over-exfoliating your skin. It is also the case that some people may be able to exfoliate regularly while others may not need to at all, though many people will benefit from at least some exfoliation, so how do you do it right? Personally I have combination - oily skin and I like to integrate chemical exfoliation in my routine. There are many ways you can exfoliate and you have to find what works best for you (please don’t use all of these!) First off, what is exfoliation? Exfoliating involves the removal of dead skin ce ..read more