Botox

Pros

• Botox is considered the gold standard for erasing facial fine lines and wrinkles caused by muscle movement.
• The treatments are quick and practically painless. In some cases, injections take as little as five minutes.
• Downtime is almost nonexistent.
• As long as your injector doesn’t overdo it, your face should still look natural, not frozen. 

Cons

• Results from a Botox treatment aren’t permanent and a session every 3-4 months is recommended to retain results.
• Bruising can sometimes occur at the injection site and can last up to a week. 
• If you’re pregnant, breastfeeding or considering getting pregnant, Botox is not recommended.

• Your general health is good.

• You have moderate to severe facial wrinkles.

• You have realistic expectations for improvement.

Botox is derived from botulinum toxin and when used in small doses – such as in the application of Botox – it is considered to be safe. There were only 36 cases of adverse conditions reported the FDA between 1989 and 2003; and 13 of those cases may have had more to do with an underlying condition. Generally, the overall risk of Botox is minimal.

Seeing a skilled and an experienced medical practitioner for your treatments is recommended to avoid adverse side effects. Minor side effects are possible, including: pain, swelling, or bruising at injection site; headache; fever; chills. Some side affects have been associated with the injection area, and may include: drooping eyelids, uneven eyebrows, dry eyes, excessive tearing. Most side effects are temporary and will be resolved in a matter of time.

Anytime you do injections, there’s always the risk of bruising, which can take up to a week to go away. You can minimize your chances of a bruise by stopping anything that thins the blood (and isn’t medically necessary) one week before your appointment. This includes alcohol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), like aspirin and ibuprofen, fish oil and vitamin E supplements.

The process starts with a consultation, in which your injector discusses your concerns and goals and takes a full medical background and history to ensure that the injectable is safe for you.

Photographs may also be taken so you’re able to see the changes from your treatment. Then your face is cleansed, and the medical professional injects the areas of concern. 

Botox is definitely a lunchtime procedure; it usually takes between 5 and 10 minutes. You can pop out to have your treatment done, then drive yourself straight back to the office. 

If you have any residual redness or bruising, it can be easily covered with makeup. 

The needle used for Botox injections is very thin, so most patients experience only a brief twinge of mild discomfort. If you’re concerned, you can request a topical numbing cream.

Recovery from the injection is relatively simple and requires no downtime. The most important thing you need to know is how to reduce the chance that the Botox could spread to other areas. Follow these guidelines to reduce that risk:

• Don’t lie down for 90 minutes to reduce the risk of diffusion. While this is a remote possibility, it has been documented.

• Don’t exercise for 24 hours. Exercise increases circulation which can increase the risk that the Botox will be taken away from the injection zone before it gets fully absorbed which can decrease the effect.

• Don’t rub the treated areas for four hours or apply pressure to the area including wearing tight hats or applying cold ice packs that you may press onto your skin. Patients can wash their face gently that night, however, we recommend they hold off on using any scru”b brushes (Clarisonic) until the next day.

Results from Botox typically appear one week after treatment, but full results can take up to 14 days. In general, results from Botox last 3-4 months, but can be shorter for some or longer for others.