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10 QUESTIONS ABOUT BOTOX ANSWERED

QUESTIONS ABOUT BOTOX ANSWERED

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Today I am partnering with Petro Facial Plastic Surgery and MedSpa to kick off my BEAUTY vertical with a post about the elephant in the room: BOTOX. As a 29-ish (ok 35 year old) woman, I am constantly being asked about this procedure. “Do you get Botox?” “What are your thoughts on Botox?” “Will my face freeze up?” I will be honest with you, my first experience with Botox was HORRIBLE. Seriously awful, because the person did not know what they were doing. I chased a Groupon deal or something crazy like that. I ended up with a droopy eye on my way to emcee my company meeting in front of over 1000 people. Serves me right for acting so hastily without doing my research. Since then, I am the research queen about ev-er-y-thing. #neverforget

10 QUESTIONS ABOUT BOTOX ANSWERED

WHY AM I POSTING ABOUT THIS TOPIC?

After experiencing both the negatives and positives of Botox, I thought I would dedicate a post to answer some of the most common questions to help you avoid a bad experience. There really is an art to injecting, and it takes a lot of experience to inject well. This is not the time nor the place to go cheap. I have finally found a physician that I trust, that listens to exactly what I want, and is an expert injector. I urge you to do the same. Do your research, ask questions, and make sure you feel 100% comfortable.

In a world where women are constantly being shamed for doing too much or not doing enough, I hope this helps you make a decision about what you want to do for yourself. As women, we are always supporting, motivating, and inspiring others, but a lot of times we neglect ourselves and don’t support each other. Confidence is the most beautiful thing a woman can wear. I am not trying to sell you on Botox. I am simply trying to encourage you to make your own decision, free of judgement, shame, or fear. Hopefully, this post addresses some of your questions/concerns/curiosities. I am obviously not a physician, but I sat down with Dr. Melanie Petro to answer some of the most common questions she gets from her patients. I am also adding a few that I hear a lot as well. Do your research and ask questions. That’s my advice.

LET’S TALK ABOUT IT: 10 Questions about Botox

1. What is Botox?

From the Botox website: BOTOX® Cosmetic is a prescription medicine that is injected into muscles and used to temporarily improve the look of both moderate to severe crow’s feet lines and frown lines between the eyebrows in adults.

2. Does it hurt?

Dr. Petro: I don’t think so. Of course there are times, where like anything else, it is more painful…around the time of your period, for example. Of course, this is when I always want to do it, because I am already feeling bad about myself. The needles are tiny. I use a 31 gauge needle, which is very small. For you, I drew up 3 needles, because the small needles tend to dull out more quickly. Some studies have shown that ice and numbing cream decrease the effectiveness, and we don’t want that to happen.

Lindsey: Personally, it’s not that bad. My eyes usually water but that’s about it. I agree that I feel it more during that time of month, but this is nothing like getting a bikini wax. Small needles and a very quick procedure lead to very little discomfort.

3. Is it really botulism?!? Wtf.

Dr. Petro: It is. But it’s very very small amounts. You think about people, especially kids, who have spasticity…they are using thousands of units of Botox on them. The amounts that are used in medicine are really high…in this case, we are talking about very low doses.

4. What are the side effects?

Dr. Petro: There really aren’t any. If it is done well, very few people have side effects, such a eye droop or other problems. A lot of it depends on how it is mixed up. The tighter it is, the more specific you can be.

5. How long does it take to take effect?

Dr. Petro: Up to two weeks.

Lindsey: For me, it’s 7 days on the dot. I’ll see my eye brows lift after 3 or 4 days, but at 7 days, I wake up, and my wrinkles are gone.

6. How long will it last?

Dr. Petro: It usually lasts about 3 months.

Lindsey: I typically get 2-3 months out of mine.

7. Can Botox prevent wrinkles?

Dr. Petro: During those 3 months in between treatments, it doesn’t make anything worse. If you aren’t squeezing, you aren’t making those deep lines. You are actually giving your tissue a break, prolonging your time without deep lines. When the lines get really deep, it’s because you have been squeezing so much that the tissue underneath is atrophied. So, you lose the fatty tissue, which is something that can’t be put back. Even if you only do it once, before a big event, you are still preventing. It’s called “Preventative Botox,” which is sort of a new catch term.

8. Will my face look frozen?!?

Dr. Petro: Have you seen Nicole Kidman and the bunny lines? This happened, because they froze everything. You want to make sure you mix it up really specifically, so you put it right where you want it. This way you are not freezing anything entirely. You just want to soften it. I have been doing Botox for 12 years. It is an art and something you learn by experience. It takes awhile to learn how to make the face look natural, and it takes loving it and knowing the anatomy of the face to make it look natural and make the brows raise. You can have Botox that makes you look really weird, but it takes experience to do it well.

Lindsey: You rarely notice good Botox.

9. How do I find a doctor that I trust?

Lindsey: Please do your research and set up a consultation before the actual injection. This is not the time nor the place to seek out Groupon offers. Find a physician that is experienced in Botox injections and someone you trust. Dr. Petro is an injection expert. She has spent years getting certified, learning through experience, and perfecting her craft. I hear about dentists, OBGYN’s, etc doing these injections. Personally, I would leave it up to someone who specializes in facial anatomy. Real Self is a great resource to read reviews about procedures and physicians.

10. How much does it cost?

Lindsey: It really just depends on the physician. I would say on average, it costs around $400. Now if you have the face of one of those wrinkly pups, it may cost more. Some doctors charge per unit, and some charge per area. I would tread lightly if you are finding $100 Botox deals.

I would love to hear from you guys. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me. That is what I am here for! I want to keep things real and to be a resource for all my ladies out there.

NEVER SETTLE, SPARKLE

If you are local to Birmingham, please join me at Dr. Petro’s Holiday Open House [RSVP via Facebook using this link or just show up] tomorrow, Thursday, December 8th from 5:30-7:30. She will be there to answer any questions you may have about Botox or other procedures she performs. This party is a BLAST, and she gives away some AMAZING door prizes. Also, if you spend $250, you get $50 off, and if you spend $500, you get $100 off. She is also offering 25% off products, such as Obagi. I hope to see you all there for my first holiday party of the season! And now onto what I am wearing…