The remarkable anti-aging effects of botulinum toxin injections have been praised for quite some time now, and Botox is still the number one way for anyone looking for a quick fix to a more youthful appearance. However, there are a few important things you need to consider first since Botox isn’t for everyone.
- Do you have reasonable expectations?
This is the most important question of all to ask yourself. Keep in mind that Botox is meant to improve your face, not change it, and will not give you the same results as a facelift. In reality, Botox injections typically only last three to six months and are only used to treat dynamic wrinkles that are caused by the continual movement of the muscles in the face, such as laugh lines.
- How will getting a Botox procedure affect your life?
While some of the other questions on this list deal with the negative aspects of getting Botox, this particular question is to get you to think about the benefits of the procedure. Simply put, what is the benefit of getting a Botox treatment? Consider how you might feel with a more youthful appearance.
- Is the treatment worth risking the potential side effects?
This question must be asked by any patient prior to undergoing any kind of medical treatment or taking related medications, especially those associated with cosmetic purposes. In truth, the most common side effects are merely superficial and typically only occur around or near the injection site.
- Most likely the patient will experience a bit of temporary pain, swelling, redness, or bleeding.
- It’s been reported in some cases of patients suffering headaches, muscle weakness, and temporary reactions associated with the eyes immediately following the treatment.
Although quite rare, there could potentially be more serious reactions as well.
- Because Botox is made from a toxic protein, it’s possible for the toxin to spread to other areas of the body and trigger a life-threatening reaction.
- Other less likely side effects include allergic reactions, partial paralysis, and infections.
- What if the treatment doesn’t meet your expectations?
Even if you take every precaution in the world and approach the treatment with realistic expectations, it doesn’t mean that the possibility doesn’t exist that the end results won’t be quite what you expected or as drastic as you had hoped they would be.
This situation could result from a number of reasons:
- Human error on the part of the doctor
- The severity of the targeted area
- Your body’s particular response or natural resistance to the treatment itself
Several of these variables can’t be controlled, which is exactly why there’s always the possibility of something not going as planned.
- Can you handle the maintenance of regular Botox injections?
Unfortunately, Botox injections aren’t permanent. If you decide Botox is right for you, you’ll need to make a commitment to receiving new injections once every few months if you want to maintain the results of the treatment.
Ask your doctor about any concerns you have regarding Botox treatments in order to feel comfortable about how it works in general. Also, it’s very important to request references from your doctor along with a portfolio of their before-and-after pictures in order to assess his or her work and get a good sense of what to expect.
