Are you noticing more fine lines and wrinkles on your face? Patients come in all the time saying they have been considering Botox, but have been too nervous to try it. If you are one of those people and not sure who to trust or where to go to have your treatment, be sure to consider the following questions.
What is Botox?
First, you need to understand what Botox is. Botox is an injectable medication that temporarily paralyzes the facial muscles, that, in turn, improves the appearance of wrinkles on the face. If injected in the correct muscles, Botox can stop the formation of your frown lines (the 11’s), horizontal forehead lines, and crow’s feet. Botox is not reversible once it is injected; it takes about 3 days for initial onset with full onset at seven to ten days. Each treatment should last three to four months.
Do Your Research and Ask Questions
When considering a medical spa or doctor’s office always ask if the practitioner is willing to do a free consultation. If there is a fee for the consultation, ask if it will be applied to your treatment cost. During the consultation do not hesitate to ask where and how your medical professional was trained. Don’t focus on the titles of the trained professional but rather their training and experience in medical esthetics. In considering a practitioner to inject Botox, experience counts! Ask how many patients they inject with Botox, their risk of complications, and ow they manage those complications. Word of mouth is always the best advertising so ask your friends that you trust if they have had any experience with a particular practitioner. Remember there is always a small risk of complications with Botox injections and any practitioner who doesn’t admit to having complications is probably not telling the truth or has not done many procedures.
Experience Counts
Always have your treatment done in a medical office equipped to handle the extremely rare allergic reaction. The esthetic specialist that injects Botox may be a physician, dentist, nurse or physician assistant. Choose the specialist with the most experience, the degree is less important. You want an injector who is constantly being trained on new on new products and equipment in the esthetic industry. If you get a bad feeling, or you’re not comfortable with the injector it’s probably not the place for you. Use caution if the practitioner is pushing treatments that you do not need or are not interested in. If the practitioner is making you purchase large amounts of product before starting the treatment, be careful. You should always start with a small amount of Botox and work your way up if you love the results. If your practitioner will not disclose the substance they are injecting, RUN AWAY! Botox injections are a medical procedure that requires the practitioner to understand the anatomy and physiology of the facial muscles. Talk to your practitioner, ask questions, and be comfortable with him or her. (Small hint: look at their face, and the employees in the office: there is a good chance they do most of the procedures they offer to themselves and their employees). The popularity of Botox is unmatched in cosmetic surgery. When Botox is done right by a qualified medical professional it can enhance your natural beauty. It’s your face!