For many years, clients have asked us to do Botox injections. We know its money on the table, and 'everyone else is doing it' but we don't feel as a wellness center trying to provide real solutions for people for anti-aging that Botox is a long term solution. In fact when people really understand what they are injecting into their face, we ask ourselves why? As well, the 'botox look' over time seems to resemble a 'mask', rather than a natural looking healthy face.
In 2002, botulinum toxin (aka Botox Cosmetic) was only FDA-approved to treat cross-eyes, uncontrollable blinking, cervical dystonia (a neurological disorder that causes severe neck and shoulder contractions), (it was only intended for) moderate-to-severe frown lines between the eyebrows. Sixteen years and many FDA-approvals later, it’s been the number-one nonsurgical procedure ever since.
Now, we don't think Botox is bad, but it's just not for us. And like anything, everything should be used in moderation.
Here are some recommendations if you are choosing Botox:
Before choosing someone for your facial or cosmetic treatment, it is wise to base your decision less on price and more on the qualifications and background of your provider whose primary focus should be your safety. Due your due diligence to help you feel more confident about your investment and help justify the purchase now and years down the road.
Step 1:
Choose someone qualified with a strong educational background with experience in that field.
When considering a cosmetic enhancement, whether surgical or non-invasive, there is no substitute for safety, which is why it is important to choose only a skilled and well credentialed provider that you can trust.
OUR ADVICE: NEVER DO BOTOX PARTIES
Not ever Botox practitioner has the qualifications you seek. Like taking a vacation, you need to know all the specifics rather than just a destination and duration of time you’ll be gone. As your search begins, some important qualifications should be education, experience, reviews, referrals, reputation, and ethical considerations. Choose a provider who really understands your concerns and goals and can perform the right procedure for you.
OUR ADVICE: TREAT YOUR APPOINTMENT LIKE AN INVESTMENT
Step 2:
Do your homework and learn about the treatment, but don’t rely on Youtube or even Internet pages to be your only source of information. The reason why is because often competitors will create adversarial pages that talk bad bout their competition only to put themselves in your line sight of ‘the solution’. It is recommended when visiting a website to go to the very bottom of the page and see it what you are looking at is simply an elaborate advertisement. Quite often it will be, masquerading as some editorial content.
OUR ADVICE: ONLY WORK WITH NURSES WHO KNOW HOW TO DO INJECTABLES
Step 3:
Go to your consultation with questions and set expectations. Don’t expect a one and done treatment. ALL beauty treatments will require multiple visits or some type of homework. For example when trying to reverse aging, you will need to drink an adequate amount of water, eat properly and probably have more that 1-3 cosmetic treatments within the first 100 days.
As another example if you are intending on helping to lose weight or body contour you will need to exercise, at the very least you will need to go for a walk around the block. If you live where it is hot, you should join a gym to exercise safely. If you live where it is cold, doing pilates or yoga doesn’t require any additional equipment but just a simple matt where in the comfort of your own home you can do at least 20-60 minutes a day. If that is too much to ask, then guess what you get out of it what you put into it.
OUR ADVICE: WORK WITH SOMEONE IN THE 30'S OR 40S, YOUNG TECHNICIANS MAY NOT UNDERSTAND HOW SKIN LOOKS AND CHANGES IN YOUR 40'S AND 50'S.
You and your provider will create what we call a ‘beauty roadmap’ or plan of action to take you from consideration to consultation, to pre and post treatment guidelines or recommendations.