The popularity of Botox treatment (or Brotox) is bound to keep on rising. Celebrities, mums, dads, young professionals, everyone seems to want to smooth out that wrinkle or three on their face. And with almost zero downtime and faster results, you don’t need to spend time at any hospital after having your lunch with a side of Botox. To say the least, this Botox trend that never seems to get old is always a quick fix when a wrinkle seems to be out of place. Since some of us have already had their share of Botox, we sought out some professionals in the field to tell us what’s the most important thing you should consider before jumping on the Botox bandwagon.
Have this in Mind Before Your Botox Treatment
Cheap is Always Expensive
How many people have had an unhappy ending when it comes to Botox treatment? More than enough. This usually isn’t down to the Botox itself but the place it is done at and the person who’s doing it. It may seem like a great bargain when you pay less for Botox but in most cases, it will probably cost you more somewhere down the line. A piece of advice? You should never compromise on your health (wrinkles in this case) and it’s best to pay a little bit more than end up with a botched face.
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Do Your Research on Botox Treatment
It is very important to dig into every bit of information you can about the treatment before getting your shots. Look at forums and at before and after pictures and see if that result is what you want. Make sure you weigh the ups and downs of it and the possibility of how your life would be affected if anything went wrong. How would it affect your job? Or your own confidence and self-esteem?
Choose Reputable Cosmetic Centres
It’s also important to research good, reliable places that do Botox treatment. The simplicity of the procedure coupled with how much money can be made from it has opened a backdoor for quacks to try their hand at Botox. Whilst some will do a good job, there’s more that won’t. Always go to a licensed cosmetic surgery center that has reliable, qualified and experienced plastic surgeons. In this age of social media, have a look through the clinic’s social media pages and see what the reviews say.
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Ask for the Doctor’s Certificates
Don’t ever be afraid to ask for reassurance. Like in tattoo parlors and hospitals, plastic surgeons need to uphold a high standard of professionalism. Most plastic surgeons usually have some sort of certification to prove that, and even more display them on their walls, showing how proud they are of their job. Ask to see certificates of their qualifications too, and anything else that proves they are trustworthy and good at their job. If they are hesitant, it may be the first sign of someone who’s not sure what they’re doing or isn’t confident in their practice.
Always Ask the Cost Beforehand
It is important to always ask how much the procedure will cost. Some places will charge quite low while others can charge an arm and a leg. Know the price before you get the Botox treatment done, so as to avoid any unwanted surprises and awkwardness when you’re not ready to pay that much.
Have Reasonable Expectations
Botox doesn’t last forever and it’s different for every person. For some people, Botox can last for maybe two months, while for some up to six months. We all have different lifestyles, genetics and as usual, whatever might work for Johnny might not work for Linda or Susan. So, have some reasonable expectations (not unless your plastic surgeon injects a less amount than needed).
Keep in mind also that there will be swelling and redness after the procedure. This will be around the injection marks (will look like an insect bite) but that usually resolves itself quite fast. Also, for the next four hours after having a Botox treatment, don’t lean forward to avoid the toxin from spreading to other untargeted facial muscles and paralyzing them.
All in all, Botox treatment is a simple and fairly safe antiaging procedure, but always do your research and find the right place and plastic surgeon to do it (even when you are planning on having a Botox party).
Post written by John Stuart, who seems to know a thing or two aboout having a Botox treatment in addition to Aesthetics training.
