I feel like this is a great topic for my first blog post. I have been a nurse injector for five and a half years. I have been to numerous advanced injector trainings and I inject a lot of Botox at my med spa. I’m always surprised when women come into the spa for consultations and how unfamiliar they are with Botox. So here are 5 things you need to know before getting botox.
What is Botox?
Botox is an injectable drug made from botulinum type A. It is used to relax the muscles in certain areas of the face to improve the look of lines and wrinkles. The most common areas injected are the 11’s (between the eyebrows), the forehead and the area around the eyes.
When should I start getting Botox?
There is no magic age to have it done. I started getting Botox when I was 37. That was when I started to notice the fine lines and wrinkles in my forehead and crows feet. I have read articles stating getting it done as young as 25 is preventative. I do agree with getting it done sooner than later. Wrinkles that are very deep and static lines (lines that are visible regardless of muscle action) are the hardest to treat.
How much am I going to need?
This is a question that will be answered by the injector. I highly recommend an appointment for a consultation before getting Botox. I tell my clients most people get anywhere from 20 to 40 units depending on what areas they want treated.
How long does it last?
Botox is going to last about 3 to 4 months. It takes 3 to 5 days to start working and 2 weeks for the full effect. I tell my clients to come in about 4 times a year. A regular routine of Botox treatments will help train the facial muscles to contract less which will continue to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Does it hurt? Is there any downtime?
The needle used for Botox is very small and not very painful. There is no downtime. The only restrictions you have is not to lie flat for 4 hours and no major working out the day of the injection. You may have pinpoint bleeding from the needlestick. You will also notice small bumps like mosquito bites that may last 1 to 2 days. You could also have some bruising, especially if you take blood thinning medications (i.e. Coumadin, Plavix, Aspirin, Motrin).
Neurotoxin has come a long way in the last ten to fifteen years. Now we have Xeomin, Dysport and the latest Jeuveau. They are all very similar in the way they work. They all relax the muscle so the wrinkles are softened. I explain it to my patients like this…it’s like Coke and Pepsi, Zyrtec and Allegra, Heinz and Hunt’s ketchup. The products are roughly similar they are just branded by different companies. Basically it comes down to price and patient preference.
So there it is! Botox in a nutshell! Please reach out to me with any questions! See you in the next blog post!
