Ask ten people what good injectables look like and you will get ten answers. We asked Rachell Wong, Nurse Injector and Cosmetic Lead at Rejuvenation Dermatology's Edmonton South clinic, who has been performing Botox® treatments since 2013. Her definition is refreshingly simple, and it shapes every step of how she plans treatment.
What a natural result actually means
Rachell's test is an everyday one. If a regular person walking down the street would not take a second glance at your face and wonder what treatment you had, the result is natural. The goal is not a new face. It is a rested, balanced version of your own.
Assessment comes before any product
Before she suggests anything, Rachell looks at the face as a whole. She considers your overall facial shape, looks for clear asymmetries or areas of hollowness, and assesses how thick your skin is. She also asks what is really behind a concern: is it a muscle issue, or is there a lack of underlying bone structure?
Those answers decide which product she chooses and recommends, and whether filler is the right tool at all. A line caused by muscle movement, for example, is usually a job for a muscle-relaxing injectable such as Botox® rather than filler. Our companion article on what dermal fillers are and how they differ from Botox® explains why.
What makes a face look overdone
In Rachell's experience, there are a few common culprits:
- Too much filler in the sides of the face. Adding large amounts of product to the lateral face while chasing a lift can leave the face looking very wide.
- Overfilled under-eyes. When the under-eye area is too full, it can crowd into the eyes when you smile.
- A mouth that no longer moves normally. Overtreatment around the lips can change natural movement.
How Rachell avoids an overdone look
Every plan is tailored to exactly what the patient needs. A few examples she shared:
- When the sides of the face are already full but still need lift, she thinks about biostimulators or energy-based devices rather than more filler. At Rejuv Edmonton, biostimulating options include Sculptra®, Radiesse® and HArmonyCa, and device options include EMFACE.
- For the under-eyes, a little filler can help when there is true hollowness, but she is careful not to go too heavy. She first looks at whether the real issue is the muscle or the quality of the skin.
- For lips, she keeps most of the volume within the width of the nose, which helps the lips read as natural at first glance.
Just as important, Rachell deliberately under-treats. She aims for roughly 50 to 80 percent of the correction at the first visit, lets everything settle, and reassesses about a month or two later to see whether more is actually needed. It is easier to add a little than to undo too much.
Why injectables are an investment in maintenance
What does Rachell wish more people knew before their first appointment? That injectables are an investment. Treatment can bring back some collagen and youthfulness, but much of the value is in prevention: keeping and maintaining what you already have. Once you have made that investment, her aim is to help you maintain your look steadily rather than swing between very different looks.
That is a good conversation to have at your consultation: not only what to do today, but what a sensible plan looks like over time. You can explore all injectables at Rejuv Edmonton, meet Rachell, or book a consultation.
This article shares Rachell Wong's experience and approach, paraphrased from our interview with her. It is general information, not medical advice. Every face is different, every treatment carries some risk, and your plan is set with your provider at consultation. If you think you are having a complication after any injectable treatment, contact your provider right away or seek urgent medical care.
