Why I Choose NOT to Provide Botox And Fillers at My Wellness Center in Petoskey

By Dr. Lisa Fortin, ReYouvenate Wellness Centre

In a world where aesthetic medicine is booming with quick fixes, injectables like Botox® (botulinum toxin) and dermal fillers have become nearly synonymous with anti-aging. But at ReYouvenate in Petoskey Michigan, our philosophy is different: we believe beauty should be expressive, functional, and biologically supported—not masked or frozen. That’s why I’ve made a clear decision: We do not offer neurotoxins or dermal fillers in our clinic.

Not because they don’t “work” in the short term—but because they can subtly, and sometimes significantly, interfere with the very things we value most: connection, health, vitality, and long-term wellness.

Neurotoxins: Silencing More Than Just Wrinkles

Botulinum toxin injections temporarily paralyze targeted facial muscles to reduce the appearance of fine lines. While the aesthetic outcome may be desirable at first glance, the implications beneath the surface deserve deeper scrutiny.

Toxins That Travel: A Wake-Up Call from the Whisker Study

In a pivotal study published in NeuroImage (2016), researchers applied botulinum toxin to the facial whiskers of rats and later discovered that the toxin had migrated to their brain tissue on autopsy. The presence of the compound in the central nervous system challenges the longstanding assumption that botulinum toxin remains localized at the injection site.

“The findings raise questions about long-term neurological consequences in humans after repeated injections.”— Matak et al., 2016

When Emotion Is Frozen: The “Facial Feedback” Problem

The facial feedback hypothesis suggests that our emotional state is deeply connected to our facial expressions. When you smile, frown, or raise your eyebrows, your brain receives feedback from those movements, reinforcing emotional experience and social connection.

Studies in psychology and neuroscience have shown that repeated botulinum toxin injections may dull emotional sensitivity and reduce empathetic responses, particularly in areas like the amygdala and prefrontal cortex that are crucial for emotional processing.

“Blocking facial muscle activity interferes with emotional experience and recognition.”— Davis et al., Emotion (2010); Havas et al., Psychological Science (2010)

This may explain why some people report feeling emotionally flat or disconnected after regular use.

Dermal Fillers: Volume with a Hidden Cost

Hyaluronic acid-based fillers may offer instant volume—but this quick fix often comes with hidden consequences, especially when repeated over time.

 

Persistent Fillers and the Need to Dissolve

Plastic surgeons now report a growing need to use hyaluronidase—an enzyme that dissolves hyaluronic acid fillers—when patients develop chronic puffiness, asymmetry, or unnatural facial contouring long after treatment.

Why? Because even so-called "temporary" fillers can linger in tissue far beyond their advertised lifespan—sometimes years longer—leading to:

• Tissue distortion

• Poor movement

• Chronic inflammation

Fillers May Obstruct the Lymphatic System

Recent insights suggest that improperly placed fillers can impair the lymphatic drainage pathways of the face, particularly under the eyes and along the nasolabial folds. This can lead to:

• Swelling and stagnation

• Delayed healing

• Puffiness that no longer responds to manual drainage or skincare

This runs counter to our mission of restoring circulation, detoxification, and flow—the very things a healthy face needs.

Our Alternative: Restore, Don’t Freeze

At ReYouvenate, we take a functional, regenerative approach to facial rejuvenation. Our 4D Facial Rejuvenation protocol supports your body’s own healing and lifting mechanisms by working through:

• Muscle tone restoration (using neuromuscular stimulation)

• Fascia release (improving circulation and movement)

• Volume support (stimulating your own collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid)

• Skin resurfacing (with UltraClear Laser, RF microneedling, and exosomes)

We restore what aging depletes—without freezing what makes you you.

 Beauty Should Move With You

Your face is not just a canvas—it’s a living, breathing extension of your spirit. It smiles when you're joyful. It crinkles when you laugh. It expresses love, empathy, curiosity, and strength.

I choose not to offer neurotoxins or fillers because I believe in preserving expression, not paralyzing it. I believe in supporting health, not suppressing it. And I believe the most powerful form of beauty is the kind that reflects who you are, not just what you look like.

If that resonates with you, I invite you to experience the future of regenerative aesthetics—where movement, meaning, and medicine meet.

Dr. Lisa Fortin

ReYouvenate Wellness Centre Petoskey, MI www.reyouvenate.com