A Beginner’s Guide to Botox: Saying Goodbye to Wrinkles!



Have you been making the ‘scrunchy face’ in the mirror lately? Wondering when those frown lines and crows feet got there? I know I do it. And yes I know, it’s part of getting older. But if you aren’t satisfied with that, there is a solution: Botox!

If you’ve never had Botox, you may have some questions or concerns. We have compiled a list of FAQ’s to help you decide whether Botox is the right procedure for you. Here is your Beginner’s Guide to Botox!

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• Does it hurt? You should expect to feel a small sting. The needle used for the injection is so small that the procedure is almost painless but we do provide ice cubies to help numb the area before an injection.
• Is it safe? The FDA approved Botox for use in reducing glabellar lines after clinical trials demonstrated that it is both safe and effective in its use for up to 120 days. A risk associated with Botox is if Botox is injected into the wrong facial area, it could cause ptosis or “droopy eyelids.” This not a permanent complication, as it goes away with time. A small percentage of patients also experience headaches, flu-like symptoms or become nauseous following the procedure.
• Will my face look like I have had plastic surgery? For people who have never had Botox, sometimes the preconceived notion is that you will have a frozen, expressionless face. That is not the case. Media images of scarred or deformed celebrities are usually the result of a plastic surgical procedure (such as a face lift) gone wrong. Botox is not surgery and scarring or deformity would be nearly impossible. A properly administered Botox treatment by a qualified professional should never leave you expressionless. Insider’s tip: Check out real results from Botox clients! You can visit the Botox website for Before & After photos.
  

  Uh-oh! When did I get those?

• When will I see results? Don’t be surprised if you glance in the mirror without noticing an immediate difference. It may take up to 48 hours to see results and up to 14 days to see the full effect. So give the Botox time to work its magic – the wait will be worth it. Insider’s Tip: if you are planning on attending a special event and want to look ‘refreshed’, make sure to schedule your Botox 2 weeks prior to the date to make sure your Botox has had a chance to take effect.
• Who will be doing the injections and how do I verify their certification? Do your research! Make sure that you are seeing someone who is certified as well as qualified to administer Botox. To find a certified administrator in your area, you can visit www.botox.com and search under “find a doctor”. Anna Stephens, NP performs Botox procedures at Seasons – The Spa in Ruston and Seasons Medical Aesthetics in Monroe. She has had advanced training in injecting Botox and receives regular education on injecting.
• What’s the difference between dermal fillers and Botox? It is important to keep in mind that Botox is not a wrinkle filler – in other words, it will not plump the skin or erase deep wrinkles and permanent lines. It works on expression lines that eventually turn into deep creases and permanent wrinkles.
• Where can Botox be injected? The most common place Botox is injected is in the face (between the eyebrows, above the eyebrows, around the eyes, in the forehead, and around the mouth). For cosmetic reasons, Botox can also be injected in the neck. To treat excessive sweating, Botox can be injected in the feet, palms, underarms, and forehead.
• How long does the procedure take? The procedure will take about 30 minutes and patients can return to work immediately after. There may be the appearance of a small bump at the injection site that lasts 10-15 minutes. The makers of Botox do recommend that users not lay flat for four hours after the injection so the Botox doesn’t migrate.
• I want to get Botox but I don’t want anyone to know. Are my procedures confidential? They are absolutely confidential! We have lots of clients that love their results but don’t want to share with their co-workers (or even their spouse) that they have had Botox injections. We understand and comply with HIPPA to ensure that your medical records are confidential. Insider’s tip: Let the spa concierge know that you would prefer the utmost privacy at your appointment. We will make sure not to call for a reminder appointment. At Seasons, you also have the option of going directly to the treatment room and leaving through our privacy door. The concierge will take your payment in the treatment room so you will not have to check out in the spa lobby.
• How long will my results last? Botox isn’t permanent. Results vary but typically last three to six months.
• What is the cost? At Seasons, the cost for Botox is $250 per area. To determine what an area is, we recommend a consultation with our expert Botox injector (consultations are always complementary). Insider’s tip: Be sure to check out our website and Facebook page for specials on services such as Botox. Seasons also offers the Brilliant Distinctions Program for patients who wish to earn discounts on their Botox procedure.
• Does Botox work best in conjunction with other services or products? By itself, Botox is a great cosmetic procedure. However, there are ways to optimize your Botox results. The best way to optimize results is to use sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection to prevent future wrinkles and sundamage. Seasons carries skin care products that help reverse wrinkling by brands such as Obagi and Guinot and has a menu of corrective facials to help you look healthy and youthful.

So you have decided to get Botox. Now what?

Schedule a complementary consultation to meet with our Nurse Practitioner, Anna Stephens to discuss your desired results, cost, and to answer any other questions you may have. Make an appointment to treat your mild to moderate wrinkles at our Ruston location 255-1155 or in Monroe 340-1778. Appointments in Ruston can be scheduled on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Appointments in Monroe are available on Tuesday only.

Still unsure if this is the right procedure for you?

Come in and visit with our Nurse Practitioner, Anna Stephens. Consultations are complementary and confidential. She will help determine the best cosmetic regimen for you. If you aren’t ready for Botox, we have other skin rejuventation services and products to help you look your best!

Spa Treatments Can Restore Confidence

A lot of my patients want to look better. So naturally, I want to help them with that. At our spas, Seasons Medical Aesthetics and It’s Permanent, we help restore a woman’s youthful appearance and so restore her confidence.

We are a full service medical spa with a wide range of offerings: facials, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, acne treatment, hair treatment, hair removal, treatments for hyper-pigmented areas of the face, even a natural lift of the face without any kind of surgery. We address wrinkles with botox and dermal fillers.

We’re a visual society. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to change elements of your physical appearance. For many women, looking better means having more self-confidence.

A visit to a spa can also be a kind of a spiritual renewal for many women. They walk away with confidence. They’re able to say, “I feel good about who I am.”

Let me tell you about Botox

First of all, I don’t give Botox injections myself, and I don’t plan to. It’s not that I have anything against Botox.

When it comes to giving injections, you want the nurses and nurse practitioners. They are the hands on people. In fact, one of my nurse practitioners went to Austin recently for Botox training. At Seasons, our nurses and nurse practitioners are the ones who give injections—and they do it well.

Of course, no one leaves our office thinking about how good an injection was.

Botox is for wrinkles. On your forehead, wrinkles between your eyebrows just above the bridge of your nose. On the outside of your eyes, the crow’s feet. And underneath the eyes. Those are the places that Botox will have an effect.

Why use Botox at all? It is simple. Botox gives some confidence to individuals who place a high value on their physical appearance. If she looks in the mirror and sees wrinkles, she may not feel as confident. That means something as simple as wrinkles can have ramifications in a person’s relationships at work, at home, even in the bedroom.

Whether it’s right or wrong, it’s a simple fact. For some women, something as simple as Botox can make a difference in giving them confidence.

That’s what we do. We’re here to help people feel confident about who they are.