BEFORE BOTOX, ASK YOURSELF THESE 8 QUESTIONS

Considering a little indulging in injectables? The holiday season is the perfect time to refocus on looking and feeling your best, and botox can certainly help, especially if they’re delivered by a skilled hand.

Best of all, they’re accessible, non-invasive, have a low risk for side effects, and can even help prevent future wrinkles from forming, too. Who wouldn’t want that?! But let’s hit the brakes for just a moment.

Before you run to the phone and schedule an appointment, we want you to be sure that this is the right option for you. Start by asking yourself these eight questions to ask before you get botox.

WHY DO I WANT BOTOX?

Try to finish this sentence:

I want botox because it will help me_______________________ .

If you can’t fill in the blank, it’s a sign that you need to learn more about the process before you schedule your service. You should be able to define exactly why you want botox and how it will help you with your skin before you commit.

DO I THOROUGHLY UNDERSTAND HOW BOTOX WORKS?

You might already know that botox helps eliminate fine lines and wrinkles, but do you know why? Understanding how it works can help you decide if it’s right.

Botox is essentially a neurotoxin extracted from botulinum bacteria. It works by relaxing or slightly paralyzing small muscle groups just under the surface of your skin, which reduces the appearance of fine lines and grooves.

And in case you are wondering? Yes, that’s the same bacteria associated with botulism infections. But in all but the rarest cases, botox won’t make you sick; it’s pharmacologically adjusted to only affect tissue in a localized area.

WILL I HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS ABOUT RESULTS?

While botox often produces incredible results, it isn’t a magic wand against aging or issues with connective tissue. Furthermore, you might need more than one session in order to achieve the kind of results you want. It won’t be as effective as a surgical face lift, either – but it is far less invasive.

Being realistic about your expectations will help you stay satisfied with your results before and after your session. Still, you can expect botox to work at least a little bit of magic; most patients see noticeable results after just one appointment.

DO I FULLY UNDERSTAND THE POTENTIAL RISKS AND SIDE EFFECTS?

As with any other medical procedure (cosmetic or otherwise), it’s important to understand the risks of botox before you dive in. There’s good news and bad news, here:

THE GOOD NEWS: Botox is one of the safest and most widely accessible cosmetic procedures we have available. An overwhelming majority of patients can expect to get through injectables just fine without more than just a little redness, swelling, itching or irritation.

THE BAD NEWS: There are a few more concerning risks, most of which only apply to people who are immunocompromised or have certain serious health conditions. If you are taking blood thinners, are pregnant, are nursing a child, have an autoimmune disorder or are diagnosed with cancer, be sure to tell your injector in advance. These conditions could raise your risk for systemic infection.

WHAT’S AN APPROPRIATE BOTOX MAINTENANCE REGIMEN?

Some patients see results in as little as one session, but the reality is that most will need occasional touch-ups to keep results intact. At best, you’ll need to do this around once per year. But some people seem to process botox faster than others; if this is the case for you, you may need to return after as little as three to six months.

If you’re feeling a little dismayed by this info, here’s something to lift your spirits again. There’s good evidence to show that the more botox sessions you have, the less botox you need over time.

So, even if you’re one of the unlucky few that needs quarterly touch-ups, you’ll probably find your timeframe extends to six months or even a year over time. Some people eventually stop needing touch-ups altogether.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF I DECIDE TO STOP GETTING BOTOX INJECTIONS?

One of the reasons botox is so super is that there’s no nasty kickback if you decide to stop treatments. The cessation effects are minimal and really depend on how long you’ve been having botox in the first place.

If you’ve only ever had one or two sessions, you can expect results to slowly fade back to your natural look within a few months after you stop. If you’ve been having botox for years, you might not see any loss of results at all.

SHOULD I COMBINE BOTOX WITH OTHER TREATMENTS?

Absolutely! In fact, it’s best to look at botox as just one facet of an overall plan to achieve your skincare goals. Consider pairing botox with:

• Facials
• Chemical peels
• Microdermabrasion
• Laser therapy

Or even just a daily anti-aging routine with prescribed cosmeceuticals

Plus, let’s be honest…it’s a great excuse to spend a day at the spa being pampered by a trusted, skilled injector. You deserve that self-care treat! As for which other treatments are right for you…well, that’s something we can’t recommend without getting to know your skin. Ask your injector for more info.

DO I TRUST MY INJECTOR’S EXPERTISE?

At the end of the day, this just might be the most important question of all. Botox can only ever be effective if it’s delivered by a skilled injector.

Your injector should have experience with neurotoxins and/or cosmetic procedures; avoid being anyone’s “first time” or first client. It’s important to note that black market botox does exist, and it isn’t even that difficult to find online if you know where to look.

This has led scammers to believe they can buy fake product, watch a few videos, and then become a injector – no training, school, or internship required. And that’s really dangerous; in fact, there have been instances where people have died as a result of it in the past.

Be especially wary of anyone who has no demonstrable history of working in medical cosmetics, yet offers to provide botox services at their home or yours. This is especially true if the service they offer seems “to good to be true” or overwhelmingly cheap – MAJOR red flag that they aren’t on the up and up.