Year after year Botox tops the charts as the most popular cosmetic procedure in the U.S. Last year alone a record setting 6.6 million treatments were performed. Despite its popularity, there are still many men and women that haven’t tried it. If you’re a Botox newbie and are a bit nervous about your first treatment, keep reading. Here are 5 things everyone should know before their first Botox treatment.
Know What Botox Can (and Can’t) Do
Botox is an injectable treatment that can smooth away wrinkles. It works exceptionally well, but isn’t the right solution for every wrinkle. Botox works by relaxing muscles that cause wrinkles, allowing the skin to smooth out. Botox is a great choice for crow’s feet, lines between the eyebrows, bunny lines on the nose, and forehead creases. Botox can also be used to perform a “Botox Brow Lift”, a non-surgical brow lift that is performed by relaxing the brow depressor muscles for about 5-7 mm of natural lifting. Botox can also relax some types of bands in the neck. For wrinkles caused by volume loss, not muscle activity, we may recommend a dermal filler instead.
Choose Your Injector Carefully
Your Botox results are largely determined by the skill of your injector. Both Dr. Velargo and Dr. Hendrick are skilled injectors and able to quickly determine which muscles are causing your wrinkles (and where to place the injections). They are skilled at administering Botox for both FDA approved uses and off-label uses.
Pre and Post- Botox Care
Botox is a wonderful treatment that requires very little pre-treatment or post-treatment care. Come in, get injected, and head right back to life with no downtime. We often refer to Botox as a “lunchtime treatment” as it would be possible to get your treatment and be back to work in the span of a lunchbreak.
Don’t Worry About the Discomfort
Many Botox newbies are worried about feeling pain during treatment and then pleasantly surprised by how comfortable the treatment actually is. The needle used is very small and most patients describe the injection sensation as a slight sting. Start to finish the injections take just a couple of minutes. Patients that are worried can receive a numbing cream in advance of their treatment, but you will need to come 30 minutes early. Most patients tolerate the injections well without any sort of pain relief.
Botox Pairs Beautifully with Other Procedures
If you’re coming in for another procedure and want to try Botox, ask if it can be paired with your scheduled treatment. Botox complements many cosmetic treatments. We may be able to add Botox to your current treatment and save you a second trip into our offices.
Still Feeling Unsure? Give It a Try
Is Botox right for you? One of the best ways to find out is to give it a try. We’re certain you’ll love your results, but if for some reason you don’t, Botox isn’t permanent. Your results will start to fade in about 3-4 months. Call us today and schedule your appointment for Botox at the New Orleans Center for Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery.
