If you’re bothered by the appearance of lines and wrinkles on your forehead, near your brows or at the corners of your eyes, you might be considering getting BOTOX® to help smooth them away. Even though injectable wrinkle treatments can be fairly quick and easy to perform, though, there are a few facts about BOTOX you need to know first.
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BOTOX Needs to Be Performed by a Skilled Injector
It’s true that injectable treatments like BOTOX are generally simple procedures compared to plastic surgery. But that doesn’t mean that just anyone can administer them. In the hands of an inexperienced or untrained injector, you could be left with a “frozen” or “done” appearance at best.
Like most things in life, you’ll get the BOTOX results that you pay for, so don’t shop around just to get the best deal. Instead, make sure your provider is trained, certified and experienced to ensure your safety and the quality of your results.
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You Can Schedule BOTOX During Your Lunch Break
One of the biggest perks of BOTOX is that it usually only takes 20 minutes or less to complete, so you might not even have to take any time off of work. Simply schedule your procedure during your lunch break or in between other normal daily errands and activities, and you should be good to go.
Even if you’d like to pair BOTOX with injectable dermal fillers or another cosmetic treatment, your appointment should be able to easily fit within your busy schedule.
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Side Effects Are Typically Mild
Another reason why BOTOX Cosmetic can fit so nicely into the middle of your day is because most people only experience very mild side effects that tend to diminish on their own pretty rapidly. The most common side effects include redness, swelling and bruising.
Although your plastic surgeon will likely recommend that you avoid strenuous exercise and directly rubbing the treated area for the first few hours after getting BOTOX, you shouldn’t have to worry about any restrictions or downtime afterwards.
Before getting BOTOX, avoid taking medications or supplements that can thin your blood, including NSAIDs and vitamin E, to help minimize bruising.
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BOTOX Can Last for Several Months
Like many other types of wrinkle treatments, BOTOX results will gradually fade away over the course of about 3 to 6 months after your appointment. But because each session typically only takes a few minutes, most people find that maintaining regular appointments spaced a few months apart is easy to fit into their schedules.
There is some evidence that BOTOX can help to prevent future lines and wrinkles from forming in the treated areas. Getting BOTOX sooner rather than later may actually help to slow signs of aging and could mean fewer treatment sessions in the long run.
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There’s No Way to Dissolve BOTOX Early
Unlike dermal fillers that contain hyaluronic acid such as JUVÉDERM® or Restylane®, which can be dissolved using a substance called hyaluronidase, there’s no way to get rid of BOTOX before it wears away on its own. This is another reason why it’s so important to carefully choose a provider who can get your BOTOX injections right the first time, so that you’re happy with your results for as long as they last.
Dr. Lee B. Daniel is board certified by both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and General Surgery. He is a member of numerous societies including the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
