Have you recently been considering Botox treatments? If so, there are some things you should know about the treatment so that you can be prepared for what you’re likely to experience before, during, and after the injection.
In this article, we will review the basics of Botox, then describe the process of receiving Botox injections.
How Botox Works
Botox is an injectable solution made up of a protein taken from the Botulinum toxin. While this may sound scary, the treatment is perfectly safe and has been used successfully for decades.
When the treatment is injected into an area of tight muscle, the muscle tissue quickly begins to relax, leading to the decreased appearance of wrinkles in the skin on top of said muscle.
Basically, this is the essence of how Botox works for cosmetic purposes. It can be used in similar fashion to treat other conditions as well, such as certain types of headaches and neuromuscular conditions.
Before Your Botox Procedure
Before you arrive at your first Botox treatment session, there are a few ways in which you can best prepare yourself. First and foremost, you’ll want to contact your dermatologist’s office and receive any specific pre-procedure instructions. They will be able to tell you exactly what to expect and will inform you of any specific steps you need to take before arriving for your treatment.
Furthermore, you should inquire, or search your dermatologist’s website, to find out whether there are any downloadable forms that you can fill out prior to arriving at their office. This will save you and the staff time when you arrive at the facility, allowing them the maximal amount of time to educate you about the procedure and ensure that you are comfortable before the treatment is performed.
Lastly, there are some foods and supplements you may want to avoid before your procedure. These will include those substances which may lead to worse bruising and swelling after the injections such as NSAIDS, foods high in Vitamin E, and alcohol.
During Your Botox Procedure
During the actual procedure, your friendly dermatologist team will prep your skin by applying a topical, pain-relieving cream first. Once they’ve done so, the dermatologist will inject the medication into the agreed-upon areas.
Truthfully, the entire treatment, from start to finish, usually only takes about 15 minutes. This means that you can easily schedule a treatment into a busy day. Many people will even pop over to their dermatologist’s office during their lunch breaks to get their Botox treatment.
After Your Botox Procedure
After your procedure is completed, you can expect to experience some soreness and other, mild side effects. Your dermatologist will likely instruct you to follow up within a few weeks just to ensure that everything went according to plan.
From there, you may decide to schedule your next Botox injection a few months down the road, or you may decide to wait until you decide whether you want to get more treatments in the future.
Ready to schedule your Botox treatment? Book your appointment with a Botox dermatologist now!
