A holistic approach to cosmetic injectables that achieves natural results.
As a Naturopathic Doctor, my fundamental aim is to support each person’s health holistically so they can confidently live in their optimal health. For some, it may come as a surprise that I also offer cosmetic treatments like botox and fillers in my practice. I’ve encountered many raised eyebrows and curious inquiries about why a practitioner focused on natural health would offer “toxic” treatments. So, why is a Naturopathic Doctor like myself offering treatments like botox and filler? Here are a few reasons.
Understanding Botox and Fillers
First, let’s break down what cosmetic injectables really are. Neuromodulators, such as botulinum toxin type A (found in products like Botox, Dysport, Nuceiva and Xeomin), is a natural protein derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. In small doses, it temporarily relaxes facial muscles, reducing the appearance of wrinkles and preventing the formation of new ones. This can dramatically soften your expression lines, making you look more rested. For my full guide to neuromodulators, click here.
Dermal fillers, on the other hand, do what their name suggests—they fill. The primary ingredient in many fillers is hyaluronic acid, a substance already naturally found in the skin, which adds volume and hydration. As we age, we lose volume in our face, which can be replenished in a very natural-looking way with these products. For my full guide to dermal fillers, click here.
I spend a lot of my time creating educational guides and content—as well as speaking to my patients during consultations—because I believe you should have a full understanding of your options prior to treatment. When a patient is new to cosmetic injections, their concerns tend to be the same; they are afraid of looking like the unnatural celebrity that we often associate with botox and filler. There’s this common misconception that getting botox or fillers inevitably leads to looking fake—and that is a realistic concern, if you choose the wrong cosmetic injector! There are different ways to approach cosmetic injections. Here’s how I approach botox and filler as a Naturopathic Doctor:
Holistic Aging
One common misconception is that natural health practices and aesthetic treatments are mutually exclusive. However, they don’t need (and shouldn’t) be. Offering these treatments is an extension of my holistic care approach. Aging is a natural process, and it’s natural for people to desire looking their best at any age. While cosmetic injections can be a helpful tool in reducing the signs of aging, I am a huge advocate of taking a holistic approach to aging. Fueling your body with the nutrients it needs, using quality topical skin care, staying consistently active and taking supplements that will support better aging, are all natural ways to support a youthful appearance beyond cosmetic injections. This is one of the many reasons why I offer my patients these top three supplements for natural aging in addition to offering cosmetic injections in Parksville, Nanaimo and Langley, BC.
By integrating preventative botox and fillers into a broader anti-aging strategy that includes diet, lifestyle, and other non-invasive therapies, you will be able to better maintain the youthful appearance you desire. This approach can also prevent the need for more intensive procedures later on. Plus, cosmetic injections can have significant therapeutic and psychological benefits. Many patients report feeling more confident and satisfied with their appearance, which can positively impact mental health and overall well-being. The notion that looking good and feeling good are interconnected is well-supported in psychological research. And patients with conditions like chronic migraines, muscle spasms, excessive sweating can find relief with therapeutic botox treatments.
Natural Injecting Techniques
Though being a Naturopathic Physician who offers cosmetic injections can raise some eyebrows amongst my peers, I am so glad that my path to cosmetic injections started within Naturopathic Medicine. I bring a comprehensive understanding of facial anatomy to my role as a cosmetic injector. A lot of the time when you see cosmetic injections that look “fake” it is due to one or two reasons: too much product and/or a lack of facial balance. When injecting, proportions play such a key role in ensuring your cosmetic injections look natural and enhance your beauty, not alter it. This is why I focus on facial rejuvenation and profile balancing over treating individual facial features by syringe or unit.
Each area and muscle of our face is connected and understanding how treating one area will impact the other is vital in achieving natural results. And this goes for both botox and fillers. When treating a patient with botox, I am constantly taking into consideration how relaxing one muscle will impact how the surrounding muscles function if not also treated. For example, I will never treat your forehead with botox without treating your frowner as the forehead would be left heavy and unsupported, causing unnatural results. To see some of my work, check out my patient gallery or follow me on social media.
Injectable Brands You Can Trust
While both botox and fillers are derived from substances that are naturally occurring in the environment or the human body, not every cosmetic injectable brand is created equally. I have curated a selection of injectables that align with my philosophy of clean, natural aging. I offer Dysport®, Botox, Nucevia ( my preferred neuromodulators), Redensity 2, Redensity 1 and Revanesse®, a hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler line known for its smooth consistency and natural results. My cosmetic injectable brand choices are deliberate, aimed at providing safe and effective treatments that align with my perspective as Naturopathic Doctor.
Plus, I trust and use each of the products I offer personally before offering them to my patients. In my professional and personal experience, Dysport® and Revanesse®, are of the highest purity and quality, minimizing potential side effects and maximizing biocompatibility. Recently, new biostimulators like Sculptra® have entered the market, further supporting my natural approach to cosmetic injections. Biostimulators are a special class of fillers; not only do they add volume, but they also stimulate the body’s own collagen production over time, leading to a more natural, gradual, and lasting rejuvenation. This aligns perfectly with the naturopathic emphasis on supporting the body’s inherent healing and regenerative processes.
Practitioner-Lead Treatments
I am deeply aware of the potential for misuse in aesthetic medicine. The trend of “alienization,” where individuals may receive treatments that distort rather than enhance their natural features, is a real concern. In my practice, I advocate for and practice the principle that “the best injectable is the least detectable.” It’s about enhancing, not altering, one’s natural beauty. I also take a cautious approach with patients who may have unrealistic expectations or signs of body dysmorphic disorder.
What does this mean for you as my patient? I may say no to injecting more product if I feel it is not in your best interest now and in the future. My goal is to help you achieve the results you desire for many years to come and sometimes that looks like not adding more volume right away or waiting another month before injecting more units of botox. If your cosmetic injector always gives you exactly what you ask for in terms of number of syringes or units, it could be a red flag.
A No Pressure Environment
As a Naturopathic Doctor, my commitment is to support each person’s unique health journey—inside and out. Whether through botox, fillers, or supplements, the goal remains the same: to help each individual feel and look their best in a way that honors their body and their values. Embracing these cosmetic treatments as part of a holistic approach to health and aging allows me to offer comprehensive care that respects the natural processes of the body while acknowledging the desire to maintain a youthful glow.
When choosing the right cosmetic injector for you, make sure you do your research and ask a lot of questions. Never feel pressured into getting more filler than you’re comfortable with or committing to any if you’re not fully informed and confident. I should also note that I don’t believe anyone needs cosmetic injections, and if you stick with altering your lifestyle to support better aging, I support you in that choice. I believe in choices and I am here to provide you safe and natural-looking cosmetic injections if you choose to get them.
I look forward to helping you find the natural cosmetic injection results you desire. Book your consultation and treatment with me at any of my three locations (Langley, Parksville or Nanaimo).
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