Since we still haven’t found the fountain of youth yet, Botox may be the next best thing as a quick and nearly painless injectable to minimize the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
If Botox has been on your mind, you’ll want to equip yourself with these five things to know before getting Botox.
1. Botox is a brand name
It may come as quite a shocker to many, but Botox isn’t actually called “Botox”. It’s one of a few brands that create neurotoxin, the main component of, well, Botox.
Botox (the brand) is, understandably, the most popular. Hence, people have begun referring to the cosmetic procedure as such.
Other common brands include Xeomin and Dysport. Though no one brand is wholly better than the other, we still highly encourage that you do your own research and consult your doctor first.
2. Botox is preventative, not restorative
Many get Botox while they’re young because it’s better as a preventative measure rather than a restorative procedure. Botox works better at preventing lines from appearing on your face rather than erasing ones that are already there.
Since it’s made from a drug called botulinum toxin, what Botox does is stops muscles from contracting. Contracting deepens wrinkles, so by stopping this, wrinkles temporarily soften and smoothen.
With that said, Botox can only address wrinkles and lines that form with facial expressions. These include crow’s feet (wrinkles at the corner of your eyes), frontalis (lines on your forehead), and glabella (wrinkles between your eyebrows when you scrunch them).
So if you have a wrinkle or a line that’s still there even when your face is at rest, Botox won’t be able to fix that.
3. It’s more temporary than you think
Botox, like many cosmetic procedures, is only temporary. You’ll also need multiple sessions in order to truly see results.
The effects of Botox last about an average of three to six months. Meanwhile, effects begin to show within two to seven days.
Did you know that the average Botox patient will get Botox done around four times annually? This is because as the effects of Botox wear off, acetylcholine receptors are produced by our nerves, which causes wrinkles to re-appear.
These receptors are what make facial expressions. Hence, wrinkles will continue to come back, especially if you live an active lifestyle or are just an expressive person.
4. Your face is going to feel a bit weird
Just like any other procedure, there will be side effects, but the extent of these will vary. Many Botox patients report feeling as though there’s tape on their faces.
Because the toxin freezes your muscles, your facial movements and expressions will be restricted.
Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to show happiness, sadness, anger, and whatnot through your face. You just won’t be able to do it as easily as before.
During the first few weeks and months, you’re going to feel a bit tight and restricted since this is when the effect is the most intense. Of course, as the Botox begins to wear off, you’ll regain more movement in your face.
Before going into treatment, thoroughly discuss the procedure, possible side effects, complications, and so on with your doctor. Make sure you’re both on the same page and that you fully understand everything.
5. Take it easy for a while
Just like any other procedure, you are going to have to tweak your routine a bit since aftercare is the key to a healthy healing process.
Keep your head upright for the next few hours after your procedure to allow the neurotoxin to properly settle.
To avoid the neurotoxin from moving around, do not touch your face. This means avoiding make-up, lying face down on your mattress, or basically any activity that will have something come into contact with your face.
Skip your jog or workout for the next few days, too. This is because the increase in blood pressure could potentially cause inflammation.
6. Do extensive research before making any final decisions
Though a very common and popular procedure, there are also a ton of risks that come with not doing proper research.
Always, no matter what, have your procedure done by an experienced, reputable, board-certified, and licensed medical professional.
A licensed doctor will always do a proper and thorough consultation, present all your options, do a comprehensive health assessment, and all the long but necessary steps to ensure that you’re going through this procedure in the safest manner possible.
Ignore all the deals no matter how much of a steal they seem to be. This is because they’re most likely a diluted dose, which is why they’re so cheap.
If not, they’re probably illegally sourced or counterfeit products, which could also mean they haven’t been properly stored or handled.
And that concludes our list of five things to know before getting Botox. We hope we were able to give you a little insight into what’s in store for you.
Since we’re already on the topic of cosmetic procedures, we’ve got a list of reputable clinics you may want to check out: