Botox, Restylane or Juvéderm – Which one is right for you?

Botox and injectable fillers such as Restylane and Juvéderm top the list of most popular non-surgical anti-aging treatments in Canada, according to a survey of 2,500 physicians who perform such procedures. Conducted by Medicard Financial, a company devoted to financing cosmetic procedures, the survey found that Canadians received 126,554 filler injections and 142,374 Botox injections in 2005.

According to the Medicard findings, the typical injection recipient is a female resident of Ontario, British Columbia or Quebec and is between the ages of 35 and 50. Interestingly, while 72 per cent of the population seeking treatments is in that age category, the second largest group is between the ages of 19 and 34. And while women account for 83.5 per cent of the market, the number of men seeking non-surgical anti-aging treatments is growing.

Here's the goods on these popular injectables, plus all the info you need to determine which one is right for you.

1. Botox
A Botox treatment involves a very small amount of a specific purified protein produced by the clostridium botulinum bacterium injected with a very fine needle into the small muscles of the face. It temporarily 'freezes' or weakens the muscles, reducing your ability to squint or frown or show excessive worry lines.

What's it used for?
Botox is most commonly used in the glabellar muscle to erase frown lines between the eyebrows. It's also used on the horizontal lines on the forehead, for crow's feet around the eyes, and it can be used on the muscle that brings down the corner of the mouth, and in the neck.

How long does it last?
It usually lasts three to four months.

How much does it cost?
The charge for Botox varies from about $10 per unit if administered by a family physician or trained nurse to $15 to $17 per unit if it’s injected by a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon. Your forehead could require about 12 to 16 units; frown lines can take 25 to 30 units and crow's feet need 12 to 15 units per eye (men will need almost double that amount).

What are the benefits?
The procedure is quick – it takes only about 20 minutes, so it can be done on a lunch hour, and requires no down time. Botox has no effect on sensory nerves, so you'll still have normal feeling in the injected areas. The pain is minimal; the injections themselves feel like little bug bites. No sedation or local anesthetic is required.

What are the side effects?
Possible side effects include bruising and a temporary headache.

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