Martin Braun, MD

I went for a consultation and after having a really bad experience at another well known clinic in Yaletown - I was apprehensive about being over sold. It was the complete opposite!
Dr. Braun deterred me from a more expensive procedure stating I wasn't the best candidate for it. Instead he recommended a less expensive one that did exactly what I wanted it to do. This was not what I was expecting and because of this he has a loyal client for life.
His clinic is immaculate, staff super friendly and the variety of treatment options were never ending.
You can honestly trust the advice you get here.

Let me just start by saying that I absolutely love my results and I will be going back for more! The recovery for me was very difficult as I did not know what to expect, but I hope in writing this review that I can help others experiencing the same thing.

I have very, very tiny lips naturally. My top lip is pretty much non-existent. I have been wanting to get lip injections for several years now and I finally had enough money saved up that I decided to go for it. I booked by appointment 2 weeks in advance. The consultation was to happen immediately prior to the procedure.

When I got into the consultation room I had a lot of trouble communicating what it was exactly that I was looking for. I was extremely nervous. I was not prepared with pictures or anything and I wish I would have brought some! The assistant who was doing the consultation was extremely nice and she was showing me pictures of different lips. She was putting a lot of emphasis on the ratio of top to bottom lip (bottom lip should be 60% bigger). I told her I was looking for a bigger upper lip mostly as mine is almost non-existant. I WISH I would have brought pictures to show her examples of what I was looking for as I was looking for my upper lip to be almost the same size as my bottom - personal preference, I like the look of it. I also told her I was not expecting to get the results in just one treatment as I am starting off with very small lips and I'm looking for a dramatic change.

She took my pictures and then brought the doctor in who had a look at my lips. He spoke quickly and told me I could use 1 to 1.5 syringes. I said I would like to start with 1 and if I felt like I needed more after, I could come back. He said he would like to use Juvederm Ultra Plus XC as it is better for the vermillion border and typically lasts longer. He said next time if I would like a softer lip, I can get the Juvederm Plus XC. He also suggested to me that I might prefer to have a dental block as opposed to just topical numbing as my upper lip was so small that he wanted to inject into the vermillion border to increase it's size and that area is typically more painful. I obliged. Looking back, I do not think I needed the dental block as I have a fairly good tolerance to pain and I did not like having my entire face frozen for the next 4 hours. Next time I definitely won't get it.

Then I was moved into the procedure room, given my freezing, and it began! I was SO nervous, I was shaking - not out of fear of pain or anything but just excitement to finally be having this done. He explained to me what he was doing but he did not show me. I couldn't feel a thing but he made sure to check constantly to make sure I wasn't in pain. I tried to mumble out to make sure to put more in my top lip and he just said back something about the top to bottom lip ratio and how I didn't want the top to look too big. I just let him do his job. In the end, I do wish I had been more persistent with letting them know where I wanted the injections to be. I think he injected too much into the corners of my mouth and it looks a little bit unnatural.

In the end, when they handed me the mirror I cried. I actually had lips!! I was thrilled.

Then, the healing began and OH MAN it was not pleasant. I looked absolutely ridiculous for the first couple of days and I HATED IT. At first, the stiffness concerned me a lot.. I could hardly move my lips. I thought it was going to stay like that and I started to get a bit panicked! I could feel the tough Juvederm in my lips when I pressed them together - ew! I also couldn't make a kissy face or even talk properly at all. Then the swelling... it was insane! I really did look like a duck... my upper lip stuck out so far! I didn't realize the swelling would go down and I would look like a normal human being again. I thought I had ruined my face. I cried for hours on the evening of the day after my procedure. I was planning on calling the clinic in the morning and booking an appointment to get the Juvederm removed. Then, the next morning when I woke up the swelling was down slightly and my lips felt softer so I decided to wait a few more days to see if it would get better - and it did!

I had a LOT of bruising (as you can see in the pictures) but I wasn't very concerned about that. I was mostly concerned with the stiffness and the lumpiness. My lips were VERY lumpy for the first few days. Slowly, the lumps started to soften and dissipate. It is now 9 days from when I had my Juvederm injected and I hardly have any lumps left, my lips feel soft and moveable just like they had naturally. There is still some stiffness and soreness around the edges of my lips, but I imagine that will disappear with time as well.

Overall, I am extremely happy with my experience. I can finally actually wear lipstick!! I am not totally pleased with where the doctor injected the Juvederm - I think there is too much in the corners of my mouth - but I think that is my fault. Next time, I will be sure to come to my consultation with pictures of EXACTLY what I am looking for and I will be able to tell the doctor exactly where I am looking for volume in my lips.

I started applying Latisse on June 18. I'm a redhead with very fair lashes, nothing spectacular at all. This makes it just over 4 weeks since I've been using it. I'm already seeing a difference when I apply mascara, they're clearly longer. I'll post some photos once I hit the 16 week mark.

I used to get eyelash extensions, and had them for a couple of years. The biggest issue with them was needing to book the time to get them done, and then if I couldn't get in, they would go go go until the day a big clump fell out and I ended up looking like the dude from A Clockwork Orange. Not cool. The maintenance (and very careful eye makeup removal, etc.), was a huge hassle. I'm really hoping to see what the Latisse does over a few months.

I'm 23 - I originally got Botox on the recommendation of my orthodontist - in the muscles beside my nose to reduce my gummy smile. The Botox works by relaxing the muscles that lift your upper lip when you smile - now my lip lifts just above my teeth. Much better than the alternatives - gum grafting or surgery. I figured while I was there I would ask about the fine lines forming on my forehead and frown lines. I have very fair, dry skin and have had too many sunburns - so it makes sense that the wrinkles are forming now in my early 20's. The doctor put a few units in for my forehead wrinkles, frown lines (the "11"s) and at the corners of my eyes. I know a lot of people have a misunderstanding about Botox - but it works to prevent deep wrinkles from forming in the first place - so starting it in your 20's makes sense to me! We set the groundwork in our TEENS (sun damage anyone?)for what our skin will look like in our 30's and beyond. Definitely worth it - make sure you go to a good doctor. Droopy eyebrows are not cool, and there are so many facial muscles - don't take the chance with someone who doesn't know what they're doing.