Nurse-injector explainers — no marketing spin. Every article is medically reviewed by Karine Lauzon RN, who has personally performed over 100,000 injectable treatments across a 35-year career.
Both are prescription-only botulinum toxin type-A. Botox is the household name; Dysport diffuses slightly wider and kicks in a day or two sooner. Neither is 'better' — the right choice depends on the muscle, your metabolism and the injector's experience.
Hyaluronic acid fillers give you volume the same day and last 6–24 months. Sculptra stimulates your own collagen and results build for 3–6 months, lasting up to two years. For structural lift and long-term skin quality, Sculptra wins. For lips and instant contour, HA filler wins.
Averages: forehead 8–20u, glabella 15–25u, crow's feet 8–16u per side, jaw slimming 20–35u per side. Your first-ever dose usually needs 20–30% more than someone on their fifth treatment. Never buy by the unit alone — buy the plan.
Lips 6–12 months, cheeks 12–18 months, jawline 18–24 months, chin 18–24 months. High-metabolism clients (marathon runners, saunas) can burn through 30–50% faster.
Skip heat, alcohol and heavy exercise for 24h. Skip facials, lasers and headstands for 48h. Movement in the treated muscles for the first 2h helps the product settle — the old 'don't touch for 4 hours' rule is outdated.
Laser Genesis heats the upper dermis to stimulate collagen and shrink dilated capillaries. Warm-tingling sensation, no numbing needed, 20–30 minutes, walk out with visible glow. Best stacked in a series of 4–6 monthly sessions.
No, filler doesn't stretch your lip permanently. No, you don't have to keep injecting once you start. No, 1 mL will not give you "trout pout" if the injector knows what they're doing. The look you see on Instagram is a choice — not the default result.
Small, well-placed doses in the mid-20s to early 30s DO slow the etching of dynamic lines into permanent static wrinkles. But "preventative" doesn't mean "prevents all aging" — it prevents muscle-driven line formation. Volume loss, sun damage, and collagen decline still happen. Best paired with SPF, retinoids, and a good sleep habit.
Laser Genesis (1064nm) is the workhorse for diffuse rosacea redness because it targets superficial capillaries without breaking the skin. Best in a series of 4–6, monthly, paired with SPF and gentle skincare. Not a cure — rosacea is a chronic condition — but a very effective calmer.
Tear-trough filler is not for everyone. Candidates: mild-moderate hollowing with good skin quality and no obvious puffiness above the trough. Non-candidates: thin translucent skin, obvious festoons, or bags — filler will make these worse. Redensity 1 (hydrating booster) or laser skin quality treatments are safer first steps for most people.