Botox is one of the most common cosmetic treatments performed in the world. And although Botox has become a household name, it is important to take a Botox treatment seriously to ensure that you get the best results. Here we provide a list of mistakes to avoid when getting a Botox treatment.
Do not tell your injector how to administer the Botox
An experienced Botox injector like Dr. Alex knows exactly how Botox works, where Botox works, where Botox doesn’t work, where to place the Botox, and how much Botox to use. It is important to listen to your injector and follow their recommendations. For example, many people want Botox in their upper forehead to provide a brow lift. In fact, placing Botox in this area will have the opposite effect. This is because when Botox is placed in the upper forehead, the muscle that raises the eyebrows will be relaxed. This makes it more difficult to raise the eyebrows and could lead to heaviness of the eyebrows. Although Botox works on some wrinkles, Botox doesn’t work on all wrinkles. For example, the laugh lines or what are called nasolabial folds are wrinkles that go from the sides of the nose to the corners of the mouth. Sometimes these wrinkles continue all the way to the jawline. These wrinkles are treated using fillers such as Voluma and Vollure; Botox will not work to treat these wrinkles.
Do not receive a dose of Botox that is not recommended
An experienced injector such as Dr. Alex will make specific recommendations on the dose of Botox to be used in each area. This is based on years of experience in treating thousands of patients with Botox and a lot of scientific data. The dose of Botox is in units. The standard starting dose for treating frown lines, sometimes called elevens, between your eyebrows with Botox is 20 units. This is divided into five Botox injection points in a V-shapes pattern with four units of Botox at each point. Many people will say that this sounds like a lot of Botox and choose to start with four or even two units of Botox. This is the equivalent to going to the gas station with an empty fuel tank and pumping a quarter of a gallon of gas; you won’t be going far before you have to return to the gas station.
Do not focus on a single wrinkle
Many people come for Botox treatments to address specific wrinkles such as horizontal wrinkles on the forehead. These are seen when you raise your eyebrows. When treating these wrinkles with Botox, it is important to also treat the areas between the eyebrows and around the eyes. Otherwise your forehead and eyebrows may feel heavy. Dr. Alex always recommends taking a global approach when getting Botox treatments by treating the entire area. This will provide a harmonious balance to the upper face and provide a beautiful eyebrow shape and position.
Do not lie down flat or bend forward for four hours after a Botox treatment
Botox will bind to the specific areas on the nerves within a few hours, but it can take a few days to start seeing the results. During the first four hours after a Botox treatment it is important to maintain an upright posture to avoid moving the Botox. If Botox moves from the place it is placed, it can relax unintended muscles. This can lead to heavy eyebrows, droopy eyelids, blurred vision, and/or a crooked smile.
Do not expose yourself to heat, do not drink alcohol, and do not exercise vigorously for 24 hours after a Botox treatment
Heat exposure, alcohol consumption, and strenuous exercise all bring blood to the skin. This can also cause movement of the Botox and lead to the unintended side effects discussed above. Heat exposure refers to going outside in the hot sun and staying there for prolonged periods. It also refers to other hot environments like a hot bath, steam room, or sauna. Additionally, strenuous exercise refers to anything that significantly increases your heart rate, makes you short of breath, and/or makes you sweat.
Make sure to avoid these mistakes when getting a Botox treatment so that you get great results.
Dr. Alex has performed over 10,000 cosmetic treatments with many satisfied patients. Contact us to schedule an appointment for a free consultation with Dr. Alex in our Encino, CA office.