Name: Juvea Aesthetics
Address: 1742 29 St SW, Calgary, AB T3C 1M4, Calgary Alberta Canada, Alberta, T3C 1M4, Canada
Telephone: 403-975-7523

Updated October 2025

With thousands of skincare products on the market, choosing what actually works can feel overwhelming. At Juvea Aesthetics, we often hear the same questions: “Is medical-grade skincare really worth it?” and “How is it different from what I can buy at Sephora or a drugstore?”

This guide breaks down the science, the benefits, and why medical-grade skincare delivers superior value, especially in Calgary’s harsh climate.

What is Medical-Grade Skincare?

“Medical-grade skincare” refers to products that must meet strict standards for proven efficacy, ingredient stability, and clinical results. These products undergo:

Third-party clinical trials to prove results
Health Canada approval for medical-grade status
Formulations designed for measurable change in the skin, not just surface hydration

For example, if a serum claims to reduce wrinkles by 75% in three months, that result must be verified through clinical trials before it can be labeled medical-grade.

By contrast, over-the-counter (OTC) brands and even prestige lines are not legally permitted to call themselves medical-grade. They are allowed to look clinical, but they are not held to the same strict standards.

Medical-Grade	Drugstore
Ingredient Purity Higher % active ingredients, clinical formulation	Ingredient Purity Cosmetic grade, lower concentrations
Clinical Studies Required / typically clinically supported	Clinical Studies Optional / seldom required
Target Results Corrective	Target Results Maintenance / Preventative
Access Sold by medical clinics	Access Anyone can buy

Why Medical-Grade Skincare Is Only Available Through Professionals

Medical-grade products are intentionally potent. Because of this, they must be recommended by trained professionals who understand:

Ingredient strengths and tolerances
How to customize routines to avoid irritation
How to combine products safely
How to support long-term skin health

Using potent ingredients without expert guidance could cause irritation or worsen conditions like acne or rosacea. That’s why consultations with our advanced medical aestheticians are essential.

Medical-Grade vs Drugstore Skincare: The 5 Biggest Differences

1. Proven Results

Medical-grade skincare must prove that it delivers the results it advertises through controlled, repeatable clinical trials.

2. Smaller Molecule

Medical-grade ingredients are designed to fully absorb into the skin – not just sit on the surface. This means:

You use less product
You see faster results
Active ingredients reach deeper layers of the skin

3. Active Ingredients

Medical-grade products use stabilized, high-potency actives like:

15% L-Ascorbic Acid (stable vitamin C)
Micro-encapsulated retinol for deeper penetration with less irritation
Driver ingredients such as Vitamin E to improve absorption

4. Advanced Delivery Systems

Ingredients are often micro-encapsulated or formulated with penetration enhancers, something that you won’t typically find in over the counter products.

5. Clean Science (especially with AlumierMD)

AlumierMD is the only medical-grade skincare brand in Canada that excludes:

Phthalates
Sulphates
Carcinogenic ingredients

Their protective trademarked ingredients are designed for sensitive, reactive, and aging skin.

The Top Benefits of Medical-Grade Skincare:

Deeper, faster absorption so you can use less product
Clinically proven results that drugstore skincare brands can’t claim
Stabilized active ingredients that remain potent until absorbed
Better long-term skin health with a customized regimen
Lower cost-per-day than typical multi-step beauty routines

Why Calgary’s Climate Makes Medical-Grade Skincare Even More Important

Compared to other Canadian cities, Calgary has:

The highest UV exposure in Canada due to elevation
Over 300 sunny days per year
Severe dry air and winter winds
Snow reflection amplifying UV exposure even in winter

This means your skin barrier is constantly under stress. Medical-grade skincare provides the protection and recovery your skin needs in order for your skin to thrive in Calgary’s climate.

Because Calgary sees such drastic seasonal changes, you’ll need to adjust your skincare routine to match. The moisturizer you use in the Summer (don’t forget the sunscreen!) won’t provide the deeper hydration you’ll need during the winter months in Calgary. But don’t worry – your Juvea skin expert will adjust your routine seasonally to match climate shifts.

Why Medical-Grade Costs Less Over Time

1. Lower Cost Per Day

Because the ingredients absorb efficiently, you use significantly less. Many clients spend under $3/day for a full routine.

2. Fewer Irritation Issues

Once we repair the skin barrier, sensitive clients often require fewer calming or corrective products long-term.

3. No Trial-and-Error

Over the counter skincare relies on consumers “trying” until they find something that works. With medical-grade, the guessing game ends after your complimentary Skin Health Assessment, saving time, money, and your skin from the damaging effects of using the wrong products.

How Medical-Grade Skincare Supports Every Age

20s–30s: Strengthen & Protect

Preserve collagen
Prevent glycation
Reduce pollution & UV damage

40s–50s: Restore & Replenish

Stimulate collagen production
Address visible aging
Pair skincare with in-clinic treatments

60+: Revitalize & Maintain

Reverse accumulated skin damage
Improve radiance and elasticity
Support with advanced treatments and biostimulators

Skin Conditions That See Exceptional Improvement with medical-grade skincare

Rosacea: AlumierMD has been one of the most effective lines for soothing and stabilizing rosacea-prone skin.
Acne: Optimized routines and eliminating triggers can dramatically reduce breakouts.
Hyperpigmentation: Must-have active ingredients create noticeable improvement in sun spots, melasma, and uneven tone.

For a comprehensive skin analysis and treatment plan we encourage our clients to book a Juvea Journey with one of our aesthetics experts where we perform an in-depth analysis of your skin, review your skin care history, and create a bespoke treatment plan to help you achieve your skin goals. During your consultation, we may recommend a multi-modality treatment approach using a combination of skin care and in-clinic treatments such as Microneedling, Aerolase Laser Therapy, Chemical Peels, and more.

Why Juvea Chooses AlumierMD

We carry only AlumierMD because:

The brand is backed by clean science
It is suitable for every skin type, and skin tone, including highly sensitive and
It offers consistent results across acne, rosacea, aging, and pigmentation

We believe if we carry something, it must be the best skincare brand available in Canada. For us, that’s AlumierMD. If you’re ready to experience the difference that clinical-strength, clean-science formulations can make, explore our curated lineup of AlumierMD medical-grade skincare in our online shop. Every product has been hand-selected by our clinical team to deliver real, measurable results for brighter skin, fewer breakouts, calmer rosacea, or long-term anti-aging benefits. Book a complimentary skin health assessment and let our experts build a customized routine that works.

At Juvea Aesthetics medi spa in Calgary, we’re passionate about delivering treatments that make our client’s self-esteem bloom right before our eyes. Over the years, mesotherapy in Calgary has become a popular, non-surgical approach to skin rejuvenation that delivers just such an outcome, with almost no dowtime and natural-looking results.

What is Mesotherapy?

Mesotherapy is a non-invasive treatment that delivers a skin-boosting cocktail of vital nutrients directly into the middle layer of your skin (the mesoderm) through super-fine microinjections. The ingredients are chosen to best address your particular skin condition, concerns, and goals such as skin dehydration, dullness, pigmentation, fine lines, and more. Think of it as customized skin nutrition therapy—where your skin gets exactly what it needs, exactly where your skin needs it.

Your Customized Mesotherapy Cocktail Could Include:

Hyaluronic Acid (HA)
Vitamins
Antioxidants
Peptides
PDRN (Salmon DNA)
Etc.

What Can Mesotherapy Treat?

Based on its technique, mesotherapy can treat a variety of concerns, including some you wouldn’t expect!

Fat Reduction from your chin, neck, stomach, thighs, buttocks, hips, legs, arms, and face.
Minimizes Cellulite
Fades Wrinkles and Lines
Tightens Loose Skin
Re-contours the Body
Brightens Pigmented Skin
Can Help Treat Hair Loss (such as Alopecia)

What to Expect from Mesotherapy

Depending on your individual progress and the nature of your mesotherapy treatment, you may require 1 to ~3 treatment sessions to get your desired results.

Any Preparation Needed?

At Juvea, we always recommend you schedule a preliminary, complimentary consultation before booking the actual procedure. Our skilled practitioners will want to see your skin in person, and get an in-depth understanding of your expectations, questions, and concerns.

Avoid aspirin or any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or pain relievers for a week before your mesotherapy treatment as they can increase the risk of bleeding and bruising.

What About Aftercare?

Afterward, you can leave your appointment and continue with your day. However, some might need to take a day off because of swelling or discomfort from injection sites.

Why Choose Juvea Aesthetics for Mesotherapy in Calgary?

At Juvea, we work with you to create a customized treatment plan. We use only clinical-grade serums and advanced injection techniques to ensure your comfort, safety, and the most beautiful, natural results possible.

Highly qualified team of expert injectors and aestheticians
Specialize in natural-looking enhancement results
Expertise with diverse skin types and facial anatomies
2025 list of Top Medispas in Calgary
Trusted and recommended by hundreds of clients

At Juvea Aesthetics, we are redefining your natural beauty. At our medi spas in Calgary and Edmonton, we are focused and committed to highlighting your best features without compromising the integrity of your unique beauty. We believe in enhancing your natural look with premium medical aesthetics in Calgary, including Botox, dermal fillers, lip injections and belkyra. We also offer vitamin drips and therapy, mesotherapy and skincare consultations. Schedule your appointment at our Calgary medi spa by calling 403-975-7523.

Updated May 2025

Lip Fillers Gone Wrong? Here’s What to Watch For and How to Fix It

You’ve recently had lip injections done and you were hoping for plump, luscious lips, but instead, you’re noticing that the results aren’t turning out quite as you expected.

While lip injections can beautifully enhance your features, poor technique, incorrect product choice, or improper aftercare can sometimes lead to less-than-ideal outcomes. Here’s how to tell if your lip filler has gone wrong and what you can do about it.

5 Signs of Bad Lip Filler or Lip Filler Gone Wrong

1. Uneven or Asymmetrical Lips

Are your lips looking off-balance or “duck-like”? If you’re still experiencing swelling or uneven results 2 weeks after your lip filler treatment, this could mean the filler was injected or placed improperly. A follow-up corrective and treatment with an experienced injector may be able to correct your lip filler concerns.

2. Lumps or Bumps

It’s normal to feel slight firmness after injection, but if lumps or nodules persist beyond 3-5 weeks, we highly recommend you follow up with the injector who initially did you lip filler treatment in Calgary. If you’re still concerned after the follow up we suggest getting a second opinion.

3. Infection

Swelling, heat, pus, or significant redness may be signs of infection and this needs immediate medical attention and may even require antibiotics. Although very rare, this may suggest that you were injected with a silicone-based or unapproved filler. Another reason your lip filler could look wrong is if your injector did not have the experience and technique required for the advanced techniques required for lip filler injections.

4. Overstretching

Repeated overfilling can lead to sagging or stretched tissue over time. This is why a personalized plan with a skilled injector is essential. Choosing an injector who is not afraid to say “no” to too much lip filler and who will be honest with you is important.

5. Necrosis (Tissue Death)

Rare but serious, symptoms include skin discolouration (white, grey, or blue), pain, blisters, and cold patches. This is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. Your injector should be equipped with the proper dissolving agents, such as Hyaluronidase, to reverse your lip filler should something go wrong.

Can Lip Filler Mistakes Be Fixed?

If you’re wondering how to fix uneven lip filler or how to fix other lip filler complications, we have good news for you. Most complications can be corrected safely with the help of a trained medical aesthetician. At Juvea Aesthetics, we offer:

Consultations for second opinions
Filler dissolving treatments
Tailored re-treatment plans for natural, symmetrical results

Lip Filler Correction Before & After

Why Choose Juvea Aesthetics

Highly experienced team of injectors
Specializing in filler corrections and natural-looking enhancements
Extensive experience in treating diverse skin tones and facial anatomies with a deep understanding of ethnic features
Trusted by thousands of clients across Canada

What Happens If My Lip Injections Go Wrong?

At Juvea Aesthetics, we specialize in Lip Filler Corrections in Calgary. If you think your lip filler was done incorrectly or you just aren’t happy with the results Book a consultation at our medi spa for a second look. We also have a detailed guide on how we can repair any botched lips: “How To Fix Botched Lip Fillers”. Read it for more information.

Botox and fillers are two of the most popular injectable cosmetics treatments for clients booking procedures at a medi spa in Calgary. Both procedures produce similar benefits that make you feel beautiful and look natural, and many people often use the terms interchangeably. However, when you look at the details of each, there are significant differences between the two treatments. Juvea Aesthetics is here to explain.

Medi Spa Calgary Botox

Let’s start with botox.

How Botox Works

Botox is an injectable treatment made from a highly purified protein called clostridium botulinum, a neuromodulator. Once the neuromodulator is injected, it blocks nerve signals in the muscle. This prevents the muscle from moving, reducing existing wrinkles and preventing unwanted wrinkles and lines from popping up in the future. Botox is great because you get immediate results with minimal downtime after the procedure and can last up to 4-6 months.

What Does Botox Treat?

Botox is extremely useful for treating various problem areas, regardless of age (as long as you’re 18 years old or older), ethnicity, bone structure or personal preferences. Below is a list of reasons Juvea Aesthetics will perform Botox treatment:

Forehead Wrinkles
Frown Lines
Crow’s Feet
Eyebrow Lift
Bunny Lines
A Gummy Smile
DAO (Depressor Anguli Oris)
Lip Flip
Chin
Neck Lift
Headache & Migraine Relief
TMJ Pain Relief
Teeth Clenching
Hyperhidrosis
Muscle Stiffness

Medi Spa Calgary Fillers

How Fillers Work

On the other hand, when you get dermal fillers from the best medi spa in Calgary, you won’t be altering muscle behaviour with neuromodulators. Fillers are made with a naturally occurring substance called hyaluronic acid. As the name would suggest, dermal fillers are injected to literally fill (hence filler) the area beneath the skin (hence dermal) to add volume and fullness, enhancing your natural beauty. Fillers last longer than Botox, keeping your skin rejuvenated for as long as 6 to 18 months.

What Do Fillers Treat?

Unlike Botox, dermal fillers are only used in the facial area, and are more limited to aesthetic purposes. Not all dermal filler procedures are identical, as Juvea Aesthetics will take into consideration your facial shape and ethnic beauty to give you the outcomes you deserve. Dermal fillers are often used for the following reasons:

Cheek Contouring
Jawline Sculpting
Tear Troughs
Nasolabial Fold & Smile Lines
Marionette Lines
Non-Surgical Rhinoplasty
8-Point Face Lift
Chin
Lips
Temples

Lip fillers can add definition, volume and balance to your lips while enhancing the equilibrium of your facial features and symmetry.

As lip injections are made with hyaluronic acid – a natural substance found in the body, the same main ingredient as dermal fillers – these injectables enhance your natural features while ensuring you have no adverse reactions to the treatment. Results can last several months, depending on the number of injections required.

However, sometimes the results do not come out as expected. There have been numerous situations where lip fillers may result in less-than-ideal outcomes.

Why does it happen? What are the signs it’s gone wrong? And, most importantly, how do you fix botched lip fillers? Juvea Aesthetics has the key details for you in this all-important article.

Why Do Lip Injections Go Wrong?

There are many reasons why lip injections can go wrong.

Most commonly, it is due to incorrect injection technique, inappropriate product selection, applying too much filler, and poor aftercare.

Perhaps the ultimate red flag is when patients have had fake hyaluronic acid fillers or fillers not recognized and approved by Health Canada, administered to them. This can result in botched results and potentially harmful health issues. If you suspect red flags with the service or injector, such as overselling expectations or not being ethical in practice, you should avoid them.

Ultimately, these situations usually occur when receiving treatment from an unqualified and non-certified “professional” that has not received the required medical training to administer lip injections safely. That’s why it is imperative that if you wish to get lip injections, you do so from a trusted expert who has medical experience and training to deliver such services – like Juvea Aesthetics!

(See some of our beautiful work with our “Before & After” gallery)

The Signs of Terrible Lip Injections

While there are side effects from the treatment, such as redness and bruising, there are very distinct signs that the treatment has gone wrong. Here are some of the signs that you should be on the lookout for:

Bumpy Lips: If small hard lumps and bumps do not subside within a few days, there is a chance that there might be an issue. Bumps and lumps occur when due to overfilling or injecting in uneven areas. It could also occur due to product selection.

Unevenness: Do you notice that your lips are uneven, unbalanced and not consistent? This is known as “asymmetrical fullness” and occurs when the lip filler is injected poorly in the treatment areas.

Overfilled Lips: Commonly known as duck lips, this occurs when there is excess filler across the lips, resulting in them protruding – like a duck’s beak. In many situations, overfilled lips can become stiff, making them difficult to amend.

Necrosis: Essentially known as ‘tissue death’, this is a serious complication that requires medical treatment. This occurs when the blood vessels are blocked either directly or indirectly blocked by the filler. Signs of this include:

Severe pain
Blanching of the skin and white spots
Mottled skin
Blue, black or purple discolouration
Blisters and skin shedding
Coolness (as there is no blood in the lips)

Necrosis is extremely rare but can happen if incorrect products are used or are poorly administered by an untrained professional. Seek immediate medical advice or contact our medi spas in Calgary or Edmonton for assistance.

How To Fix Botched Lip Fillers

So, how do you repair botched lip injections? Well, there are a few steps to take, but in the hands of a certified and trusted injector (have we mentioned how great we are?), it shouldn’t be a concern.

The main aim of this process is to dissolve the current filler before conducting a refill treatment. While some patients might desire to have more filler to help repair their botched results, it tends to end up with more problems in the future.

Here is how we approach your botched lips:

We will have a consultation to assess your facial structure and symmetry and align it with your personal goals. This way, we ensure that we can deliver perfect results for you.
We dissolve the filler in your lips by using hyaluronidase, which is a soluble protein enzyme. This enzyme destroys the bonds holding the hyaluronic acid in the lips. The effect of hyaluronidase begins right away but will take two full weeks for results (hence step 2 below). We have our own personal protocol for administering hyaluronidase, which has proven to be very effective.
We now have to wait a full two weeks to ensure that the hyaluronidase has effectively eliminated all the filler.
Finally, we administer a refill of filler. It’s here that injection technique is crucial to ensure you get your desired results. Before you know it, you’ll have the lips you’ve always wanted.

If you suspect any problems with your lip injections, you should speak to our injectors immediately. We can ensure you get beautiful lips with our service and care.