How to Prepare for Botox and Fillers
Botox and filler treatments are gaining popularity with celebrities and beauty enthusiasts alike, but many people have no idea what to expect – nor do they know just how to prepare for such treatments. This article will shed some light on the subject.
Botox is a type of therapy that works by blocking the signals from your nerves to your muscles, causing them to relax. Fillers are injected just below the skin’s surface which helps tighten up any wrinkles or creases. The most important thing to remember before you head into your first Botox or filler treatment is that there are many things you can do beforehand to prepare for it which can make the experience much more pleasant.
Perhaps most importantly, anyone considering Botox and filler should always have a consultation with your doctor or dermatologist before having any cosmetic treatments. He or she will go over the best procedures for you, and they may even recommend some natural techniques to get you started on a regimen that can help improve your skin’s condition.
A few thing you can do beforehand is stay away from any products containing alpha hydroxyl acids or glycolic acid because these ingredients can cause your skin to swell. If you are using any prescription medications, it’s also best to consult with your doctor before having Botox or any other cosmetic treatments since some of them can interfere with the process.
What to Do Before and After Treatment
The best way to prepare for Botox and filler treatments is to eat a healthy diet and stay hydrated. Other suggestions include:
- Resting your face as much as possible.
- Avoid being under the sun for extended periods of time.
- Wear sunscreen daily.
- Wear protective clothing when going outside or exercising.
- Keep your skin clean at all times with antibacterial soaps.
- Do not smoke cigarettes or take drugs if you are capable of doing so.
- Drink lots of water before and after getting treated with either Botox or filler.
- Have an idea on what you want done beforehand in order to maximize results achieved on your areas of concern.
- Try getting massages without oil on your face first on a regular basis to help reduce facial tension that may be present which could compromise results.
When it’s time for your procedure, just remember to stay calm and trust in your doctor or dermatologist. The experience may be a little bit uncomfortable, but any pain should only last for a few seconds and will definitely be worth it in the end when you see how great you look and feel.
After your treatment, you should avoid drinking alcohol, smoking, and over-exercising for the next 24 hours. But you should be able to return to work after about an hour or so. Also, make sure you are using the medications provided by your treatment facility. These will help with any pain or swelling that you may experience.
What to Expect the Day of Treatment
When it comes to Botox injections, there isn’t all that much that you need to do in order to prepare yourself physically for the appointment. Here are a few things you can expect during your visit:
- Your specialist will probably give you a topical numbing cream so your experience will be more comfortable.
- A tingling sensation is normal when you receive the injections. If the numbness gets too intense, let your injector know. They may then look to lower your dosage so you can get the results you want without any discomfort.
- After several days, some people will experience bruising around their treatment area where injections were performed. This is normal and will go away within a few days.
The FDA has approved Botox for these purposes, but it is recommended that you talk to your primary care provider before coming in for treatment. If you know this will be your first time getting injections, wait until at least three days after your appointment to have any other cosmetic procedures performed. This is because Botox can affect all of the muscles in your face, and that includes those that are used during lasers or peels.
There is not too much you need to do before an appointment for filler treatments, but here are a few things to expect the day of your appointment:
- The specialist will probably use either numbing cream or an injection of lidocaine around the treatment area so everyone is comfortable during treatment.
- Because dermal fillers are made from hyaluronic acid, they are one hundred percent biocompatible with human tissue. However, if anyone has an allergy to animal proteins, then they should avoid this type of treatment.
- If you are interested in having any corrective treatments, make sure to tell the specialist during your consultation. That way they can make sure that they use an appropriate amount of filler in order to help correct whatever issue you are worried about.
- Many people experience a few minutes of mild discomfort or even no pain at all. However in some cases the injection site may be tender for a couple hours after the appointment. This is because filling materials do not absorb into our bodies like Botox does, but it should go away within a day or two without any lasting effects.
- Don’t be shy about asking questions during your appointment.
Know Before You Go
In order to achieve the results that everyone wants from Botox and filler treatments, it is important that clients follow some basic guidelines before choosing these cosmetic enhancements. Knowing where to begin is easy. Read the following list carefully:
- Before any injection appointment, make sure your skin is clean and dry. That way it will be easier for the specialist to see exactly what they are treating or injecting.
- Make an appointment with a professional if you plan on getting injections more than once a year. Having a routine treatment done by an expert will help ensure that you get the best possible results.
- Everyone’s cosmetic needs are different, which is why there is typically a consultation before treatment. During that time, the specialist will ask you about your past experiences with injections and help you determine whether or not Botox or dermal fillers are right for you.
- It is important to mention any past procedures that might interfere with a Botox or filler treatment. For example, if someone has a face lift scheduled in the next few months then their results may be compromised by lip enhancement due to localized swelling. Knowing these things ahead of time will make it easier for the facility to suggest other types of treatments instead.
- On average, patients can expect three areas to be treated at once. So realistically you could expect your physician to inject anywhere between 10 and 15 syringes of filler into the face, some of these injections may be Botox treatments. Some physicians will never use more than five syringes, while others may use over 20 depending on the areas being treated and the extent of corrections needed.
It is vital that before getting these procedures done on yourself you should seek medical care to ensure that you are healthy enough for them to go through with it without risk to their own health or yours. If a physician decides against going forward with a procedure because they feel it would not be safe for either party involved, then there’s no reason why you can’t find a different one who might consider your case.
People who should abstain from Botox and filler treatments are those who have allergies, those who take blood thinners, those with a history of collagen disease, autoimmune disease such as multiple sclerosis or lupus. It is also not advisable for women who are pregnant or planning on getting pregnant since there isn’t enough research done to prove that these treatments would be safe during this time.
For best results continue to take care of yourself the way you normally do before and after having either Botox or filler treatment done. You can schedule an appointment at any time without rushing around preparing for your procedure since it takes only about 10 to 15 minutes out of your day if not less depending on what type of injection you choose and how many areas will be treated.
Individuals should remember that they may experience some bruising during or after their session, but it typically goes away within a week’s time. People should expect results that last anywhere from three months to six months depending on the concentration of particles used with how much of the solution was injected into the skin. Remember that Botox injections have a higher concentration of particles than filler injections.
If you’re considering a Botox or filler treatment, it’s important to start preparing before the appointment.