For those of you who have been considering enhancing your appearance with Botox and/or dermal fillers, but haven’t taken the leap, this blog post is for you. At Blu Cocoon MedSpa in San Jose, we do dermal fillers and Botox/Dsyport treatments every day and we know that first-timers usually have lots of questions. We’ve narrowed down the top questions that clients come in with and answered them for you.
What is the difference between Botox and dermal fillers? Do I need them both?
Botox (and Dysport, which is similar to Botox, just a different brand) relaxes the muscles that make wrinkles. Botox is injected into the forehead area to erase frown lines between the eyebrows and the lines across the forehead. The end result is smooth, wrinkle-free skin. Botox is not typically used beneath the eyes.
Dermal fillers are injected under the skin to plump up places in your face that have lost volume. Typically we use dermal fillers to enhance cheekbones, fill in under the eyes, soften the nasolabial lines (the lines from the nose to the mouth), stop a mouth from down-turning at the corners, give the jawline more definition, or give the eyebrows more lift. Dermal fillers provide structure to your skin that is lost due to aging or after a dramatic weight loss.
Depending upon what you want to correct or enhance on your face will help you determine what treatments to get. We have clients that just get Botox, others that just get dermal fillers, and others that get both.
Do the Botox or dermal filler injections hurt?
We won’t lie! Botox injections are not as relaxing as getting our Classic Blu Cocoon Facial but it’s not as bad as getting a Tetanus vaccination shot. Most people definitely feel the prick of Botox injections, but are able to easily tolerate the treatment. Since dermal fillers tend to go in more sensitive areas of the face, we provide a topical anesthetic and/or an oral block for the client, which makes the treatment very comfortable.
I hear that Botox is temporary which means I will have to keep coming back?
Yes, the effects of Botox and Dysport last from 3 to 4 months on most people. Dermal fillers, depending on the type and brand used, last anywhere from 6 to 12 months. Having a Botox or dermal filler treatment is a choice and you do not have to come back when it is no longer effective, but we’ve found that our clients love the results so much that they are excited to come back for their re-fills!
What is the cost of a Botox or dermal filler treatment?
At Blu Cocoon, Botox is $14 per unit. How many units you need depends on the state of your wrinkles. Dermal fillers are purchased by the syringe. Most people usually need one syringe, but in some cases, where the amount of volume lost is great, a person may need two or more syringes. View our injectables pricing on our website.
Why do I see really cheap Botox at some places, but not at others?
When you buy Botox, you are buying the product AND the service. At Blu Cocoon, we have highly-skilled aesthetic nurses who are properly trained in the technique of giving a Botox treatment that yields results that are natural and not overdone. In fact, we get this question so much that we blogged about it – read the entire post here.
I have a big event coming up. When should I get Botox or dermal fillers?
Botox (and Dysport) take a few days to set in, so we would recommend getting Botox at least a week or two before your big event. The results of dermal fillers are instantaneous (so gratifying!) but, again, we recommend that you do the treatment one to two weeks before your event. Another consideration is that some people may bruise slightly at the injection site, which will disappear, but may take a week or two to completely fade. Ideally, we would recommend getting Botox and/or dermal fillers about one month prior to your special occasion.
There is no better time than now to try Botox, Dysport or dermal fillers because there are rebates available (but only until March 31, 2012):
- Receive a $50 rebate for one Dysport treatment
- Receive a $40 rebate per syringe of Restylane (minimum 2)
- Receive a $50 rebate per syringe of Perlane
We want you to feel comfortable with the decision to get Botox and/or dermal fillers so we encourage you to make an appointment (online or by calling 408.295.2580) so that we can discuss your individual needs.
We look forward to renewing your outer beauty and your inner spirit!