What you need to know about Injectables Part 1: Botox®

“I’m beginning to look like my mother”

How often have you heard someone say, “I’m beginning to look like my mother (or father)?” Regardless of how beautiful your mother may have been (or still is!), it can be unnerving to casually glance in the mirror on day and you see your mother. Or maybe you bump into an acquaintance you haven’t seen for and they say “ Wow! You look just like your mother.” We love our parents, but at age 40 or 50 we still think of ourselves as young. Okay, we know we are aging, but who wants to think about that or worse, be reminded?

Mortified to think you are getting older, the last thing you want to consider is cutting or scars or plastic surgery. You may not be ready for surgery but you know you need something more powerful than make-up. You may find the answer with “injectables” – non-surgical, no scar solutions that plump or fill or remove frown lines that can make you look angry, tired or older. Unlike make-up, injectables work under the skin and last for a minimum of three months. Like make-up, more is not better and the skill and perspective of the professional providing the injections can make all the difference!

Injectables defined: All good things come in threes.

1. Botox
2. Fillers
3. Fat grafts.

If you don’t know the difference, you are not alone. I wouldn’t know mascara from blush! In this series of blog articles, I will explain the difference, the benefits and uses of each, and help you identify the right solution for you. Let’s first take a look at Botox.

Botox

Also found under the Dysport and Xeomin brand names), Botox® is a safe injection that relaxes the muscle where it is injected. So if Botox relaxes the frowning muscles: no more lines between the brows. On the forehead, Botox® can make those worry lines disappear. Crow’s feet can look natural, especially when you smile. When the crow’s feet (on the side of the eyelids) are there all the time, Botox® can soften or erase them. Botox® can also change brow shape or position, like a brow lift, but without the surgery.

That Notorious Botox Look

Okay, so everyone has seen someone in a store, a friend, or someone on TV that has a frozen, doll-like look. That look where the eyes are moving, the lips are moving and every other part of the face is frozen is often associated with Botox. You ask yourself, “Is that the way it is supposed to look?” That scary look is not the way Botox should leave your face. You should look rested, softer, better.

The Popularity of Botox

Botox® is the most popular cosmetic procedure today. It’s safe, it’s easy and it works. No one has ever gotten sick from Botox®. The treatment session takes only a few minutes. You will see the results in a few days and they will last for 3-4 months. Like getting your make-up done by a professional before your wedding, this is your face, don’t look for the cheapest option. Find an experienced board certified plastic surgeon to inject you. The secret is not how much or how many units of Botox® you get injected, but what is right for you. An experienced professional can get you the most natural look and you might even spend less. If you are pregnant or have any medical issues, it may not be safe for you to have Botox.

In summary, Botox® is the most popular cosmetic procedure and can be an ideal solution to soften deep lines. It is important to work with a qualified, experienced professional for the safest, most effective treatment. In Part 2, we will look at injectable fillers as we continue to explore your non-surgical cosmetic options.