The Ultimate Guide to Botox
Botox is something that you’ve probably been hearing about for a while. Initially made famous by countless celebrities, in recent years, Botox has gone mainstream. And for good reason. Botox truly is the best anti-wrinkle treatment out there, which is why it’s been used by millions of people since 2002.
No matter if you’re mulling over the idea of your first treatment or are a Botox regular, this ultimate guide to Botox will take the guesswork everything you’ve ever wanted to know (and maybe have been afraid to ask) – from how much botox costs and treatment areas to the dos and don’ts of aftercare.
What Is Botox?
We know that there are some fears associated with Botox. Is it safe? Will it look overdone? Can it cause eye drooping? So, let’s start with the basics. Botox (Botulinum toxin) is a neurotoxic protein injectable that works to safely relax nerve-muscle imbalances and is primarily used to prevent and treat facial wrinkles. But that’s not all, Botox is also used to treat muscle spasms, excessive sweating and chronic migraines.
Here’s how it works. Wherever it is injected, Botox temporarily paralyzes the muscle from moving, and once the muscle is relaxed, the lines diminish. The treatment itself is safe and simple, taking only minutes to complete. During your appointment, your doctor or nurse will discuss with you your goals for the procedure, map out the areas that you’d like to target, make a few quick injections (you’ll feel a mild pinch), and you’re done! It’s so simple that you can squeeze in a quick touch-up during your lunch break, while you’re running errands, or on the weekends.
How Long Does Botox Last For?
How long Botox treatments last vary patient to patient. Most will start to see results 3-7 days after their appointment. And typically the Botox will last for 3-6 months. The longevity of the treatment can depend on things such as sun exposure, exercise and how often you’ve previously gotten botox injections. If you’ve regularly been getting treated, your results may last longer than a first-timer.
How Much does botox cost?
Botox is a much less expensive and safer alternative to invasive cosmetic surgeries. The cost of botox treatments can range anywhere from $300 to over $1000, But at SDBotox there are no hidden fees and we are completely transparent about how much it will cost upfront. All of our Botox treatments start with a free consultation, regardless of if you decide to get Botox or not.
The total cost of Botox all depends on the number of units injected and the amount needed based on the size of your muscle. We charge $12/unit for Botox, $11/unit for Xeomin and $4/unit for Dysport (this has ⅓ of the potency of Botox and Xeomin so you’ll require more units).
Botox will leave you looking and feeling great, so it’s no surprise that we have tons of repeat clients. For those of you who know that you’ll be getting multiple treatments a year, we recommend getting a SDBotox membership, which offers discounts on services including Botox, Coolsculpting, laser treatments, and many more.
Is Botox Right for You?
Botox really is right for almost anyone! It all depends on your desired outcome. We treat men and women in their twenties all the way to people in their seventies. It can be used to remove wrinkles that are already etched into the skin or before they even start to appear as a preventative measure. There’s no issue with long term use either, we’ve seen people use if for over twenty years with no side effects.
However, we don’t recommend getting Botox if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding. While there’s no clinical evidence to suggest that it’s harmful, you and your little one’s health is the most important thing to us.
What to do before a botox treatment:
There’s lots of information floating around about what to do to get ready for a botox treatment. Whether it’s your first time or one hundredth time, here are some tips to prepare for your botox appointment.
Do
- Let us know if you have had or currently have any cold sores. You’ll need to be prescribed medication to get rid of any infection and prevent the chance of them developing post-treatment.
- Eat healthy and drink plenty of water the week before your treatment. This will help your skin be in tip-top shape for when the big day arrives and can reduce any swelling that may occur.
- Tell us if you bruise easily. We can recommend products to take beforehand that will help.
Don’t
- Take any anti-inflammatory or blood-thinning medications (Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Fish Oil, Vitamin E) 10-14 days before your treatment. These types of medications increase your chance of bruising and swelling at the injection site.
- Schedule your appointment within 2 weeks of any big event. Since the treatment could cause bruising or swelling you want to give yourself ample time to heal and look picture-perfect.
Treatment Areas
Gone are the days of frozen-looking faces, at SDBotox, we pride ourselves on the fact that our skilled team of medical professionals will leave you looking younger and refreshed, yet still natural. Here are the main areas we treat and what to expect from each of them.
Mouth
Due to laughing, smiling and frowning, we naturally develop lines and wrinkles around our mouths as we age. Luckily, Botox can work wonders around the lip area, including removing smile lines, correcting a ‘’gummy’’ smile, elevating the corners of your mouth and enhancing the upper lip (also known as the “Botox lip flip).
Typical number of units needed for treatment: 3-10 units
Eyes
As one of the most expressive areas on our faces, eye muscles get quite a workout, leading to crow’s feet fanning out from the outer corners of our eyes and wrinkles that slope beneath our lower eyelids. Botox is the best treatment for these types of lines, especially when at home creams and serums aren’t delivering strong enough results.
Typical number of units needed for treatment: 16-24 units
Forehead
Because of the range of eyebrow movements we use, those stubborn lines snaking across foreheads and pesky frown lines between the eyebrows (also known as the 11 lines) are some of the first facial wrinkles to appear. Botox injected into forehead muscles is an effective method for reducing these problem areas.
Typical number of units needed for treatment: 10-30 units
Chin
Though we typically think of Botox being used for the top half of the face, it works great for the chin as well. As you age, bumpy skin might start to appear on your chin – known as the Peau d’Orange (orange peel) effect. This is due to the chin losing volume which creates a rippled look.
The mental crease might be another problem area for some on the chin. This indentation appears between the lower lip and the chin. It is usually a single deep groove that runs horizontally.
Both of these issues can be easily treated with small injections of botox into the muscles around the chin.
Typical number of units needed for treatment: 5-10 units
Neck
As we age, the platysmal bands around our neck begin to become more apparent. A combination of Botox and other procedures can be used to tighten up the skin of the chest and neck area to take years off your appearance.
Typical number of units needed for treatment: 50-100 units
Botox Aftercare
Though there is little to no downtime after your Botox treatment, there are a few things to do after your treatment to ensure a smooth recovery.
- Don’t rub or put pressure on your face for 24 hours. It might cause the Botox to migrate to unintended areas.
- Try not to lie down for at least four hours.
- Don’t exercise for 24 hours following the treatment.
- Try to avoid sleeping flat on your face for 3-4 days.
- Avoid intense heat or sun after treatment.
- Stay hydrated and drink lots of water.
- Don’t be afraid to make your natural facial expressions. Smiling and laughing is encouraged!
Though we think everyone deserves to treat themselves to procedures that will make them look and feel fabulous, the only way to know if Botox is right for you is a consultation. Contact our team of experienced medical providers, today to find out how to start your beauty journey.