Before The Procedure
- Avoid taking aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen, Advil®, Motrin®, Nuprin®, Aleve®, Celebrex®, Fish oil, Ginko Biloba, St. John’s Wort, and high doses of vitamin E for 7-10 days before the procedure, as these may cause an increased risk of bleeding and bruising at the treated site(s). Regular multi-vitamin and Tylenol® are permitted (If not contraindicated).
- Inform your provider of any changes to your medical history, including supplements.
- It’s always best to have something in your stomach, so make sure you have eaten.
- They say to stop drinking alcohol 24 hours before the treatment, but as the saying goes, we don’t usually practice what we preach on that one.
- If possible, come to the office with clean skin.
If you were hoping to get another treatment done the same day as your Botox, schedule it before your Botox injections.
During the Procedure
After you complete your paperwork and consent, your provider will escort you to a private treatment room. The provider will review your medical history. They will ask you questions about your goals, which will help them determine your treatment areas. You can treat multiple areas
Number of Units
The FDA approval for Botox is 20 units for the forehead, 20 units between the brows, and 24 for crow’s feet. All other treatments are considered “off-label”. Allergan, the makers of Botox, recommends doing the “Look of Three,” which is when you treat all three areas with FDA-approved units. This is because the muscles work synergistically, so If one area is left untreated, it forces that muscle to work harder, which may cause wrinkles. We follow the guidelines, but your unique anatomy determines how many units we use.
Making Faces
Before injecting, your provider will ask you to make faces so they can see the muscle movement and pinpoint the areas they will inject. Your provider will ask you to make faces and then relax, and then they will inject. Good news, a unit does not equal a shot. It represents a measurement, so if you get 64 units, you will not have 64 shots, more like 20 injections. The needles are small and sharp, so it feels like a pinprick.
Your Recipe
Providers will always err on the side of conservative dosage because you can always add more Botox, but you can’t take it away. We call this process “nailing down your recipe.” Before leaving, your provider will review post-care instructions and ask you to set up a follow-up appointment in two weeks. At the two-week mark, your provider will determine if you need additional units via a touch-up. If so, your provider will record what you need at your subsequent treatment. Then, she will add more units to your recipe.
After the Procedure
After you receive your treatment, your provider will ask you to continue to make faces to work the Botox into the muscle. We ask that you do not lay down or exercise for four hours and not press or put pressure on the treated area.
Results
You can start to see results within a few days, but you will not see full results until two weeks. So be patient. Some muscles can kick in quicker than others. If you have any concerns, please contact our office, and we can address them.
Risks and Benefits
One of the biggest but rare risks of Botox is botulism-like symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, muscle fatigue, and even difficulty breathing.
There are other side effects to consider before trying Botox, which include
- Pain or swelling around the injection site
- Headaches
- Weakness in muscles near the injection site
You could also see side effects if you do too much Botox. In excess, it can make your facial features appear frozen. Another risk is ptosis, where the eyelid droops over the eye. Although not that common, it resolves in 3-4 weeks. You can also bruise since we are putting needles in your face.
Benefits of Botox
- Relaxes and softens lines and wrinkles
- Look more youthful without losing expression
- Gain confidence
- Quick and easy procedure
- Cost-effective
- Quick results
- Safely used for cosmetic purposes for 26 years
- It can help with health conditions like excessive sweating.
Costs
Pricing is usually done in two ways: by actual units used or by area. For example, we charge by the unit at Physician Skin Solutions in Glendale, AZ. The cost per unit can vary from $10-$18 a unit. Remember, you are not just paying for the product itself. You are paying for your injector’s skills, training, and knowledge. Currently, at the time of this article, Botox is $10.50 a unit with our injector staff and $12.50 a unit with Dr. Maltais.
You can join Allē Allergan’s loyalty program to help you save money. For example, every time you get a Botox treatment of 20 units or more, you earn 200 points, translating to $20 for your subsequent Botox treatment. In addition, they often have offers and rebates you can take advantage of via their app.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Botox can be a great way to look younger and feel more confident. With the right injector and careful consideration of risks, Botox can help you achieve your desired results. Take your time to find an experienced injector, and work with them to determine how many units suit you to achieve your goals. With these simple steps, you can ensure that getting Botox is a positive experience. So don’t wait any longer. Take the plunge and get ready to feel younger and more confident than ever before!
