The Top 10 FAQ’s for Tox Newbies
“I’m thinking about getting Botox, but I’m freaking out!”
One of my favorite before and after results!
So you are interested in treatment with Botox, but not sure where to start. Lucky for you, the best place to start is this blog! I’m answering the top 10 frequently asked questions I get from newbies. Bottom line- you are going to love it!
Before I launch into the FAQ’s, I want to talk about what neuromodulator is. Neuromodulator is a prescription drug that is made from the toxin produced by the bacteria clostridium botulinum. It is used to weaken or paralyze the muscle treated, and in turn smooth the wrinkles from dynamic facial expressions.
Botox is one brand of neuromodulator, it’s like the Kleenex of facial tissue- everyone recognizes the name and it becomes synonymous with the type of product. But there are other brands of neuromodulator out there and they are just as good. At Even Esthetics™, I carry both Botox and Xeomin. If Botox is the Kleenex of neuromodulators, then Xeomin is like Puffs. Both are great brands, both get the job done, and some people just prefer one over the other. There are certain reasons why I might choose one brand over the other, but I often leave it to patient preference. To minimize confusion, I will refer to neuromodulator (Botox, Xeomin) as tox in this blog.
When you are first considering treatment with tox, many people are nervous or unsure about it. For a lot of my clients, it may be the first aesthetic treatment they have ever had. It is totally normal to feel nervous, but that is why you should seek out an experienced injector who can walk you through the process. In the United States, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physician’s assistants, physicians, and dentists can inject neuromodulator. While it is not required, most injectors take a short 1 or 2 day course to become certified to inject neuromodulator.
At Even Esthetics™, my philosophy is safety first. This means that in order to ensure the safest and best results, I have taken numerous training courses and continue to do so. This keeps my skills current and allows me to offer the latest and most advanced techniques to my clients.
OK, you know I’m long winded and could keep going, but let’s get to the top 10 FAQ’s for newbies!
Top 10 FAQs for Tox Newbies
1. Is it right for me?
Neuromodulator is safe for most people. It is used to treat expression lines, also known as dynamic wrinkles. Vertical lines on your forehead from raising your eyebrows and horizontal “11” lines between your eyebrows from frowning are examples of dynamic expression lines that can be softened or eliminated with tox.
You are not a candidate for tox if you are pregnant or nursing (I know… sorry!), have myasthenia gravis, or Eaton Lambert Syndrome. You should discuss with your injector first if you have any neurological conditions or take blood thinners.
It is never too early to start getting tox to prevent deep etched in lines! Prevention goes a long way in minimizing the aging process. It is also never too late!
2. What areas can I have treated?
Tox can have benefits for so many different areas! Some of the most common areas I treat are:
-Forehead
-Glabella (aka 11 lines)
-Brow lift
-Crow’s feet (“smile lines” around the eyes)
-Bunny lines (lines at the bridge of the nose)
-Masseters to improve TMJ/clenching/grinding and slim the face
- Lip flip
-Pebbled chin
-Downturned corners of the mouth
- “bar codes”/smoker’s lines (vertical lines around the mouth)
-Vertical bands in the neck/platysma bands
-Underarms to reduce sweating
3. Will it hurt and will I bruise?
While some areas are more sensitive than others, tox is not a painful experience. I use the tiniest needles on the market which are made specifically for a comfortable tox experience. The actual injecting part of the appointment is so quick, that it will be over before you know it. Almost every single one of my tox newbies says, “That’s it?!” when I’m finished!
As far as bruising- I always tell my clients that any time I break the skin with a needle, bruising is possible. Of course, I try my best to avoid large and obvious vessels, but it’s always a possibility that you could bruise. Bruising is most common around the eyes. These are easily covered with a small amount of make up though!
4. How much does it cost?
The total cost will vary from person to person because the cost is based on the amount of product it takes to treat each area. This is a prescription medication, and the dosing is determined by your experienced injector. Tox is typically referred to in “units” and at Even Esthetics™ is priced per unit. The number of units you require depends on the result you want to achieve, your anatomy, and your baseline muscle strength. These are all things your injector will take into account when deciding on your starting dose.
Speaking of starting doses, I am a conservative injector. This means that I like to start with a lower dosing for people who are new to tox, and bring them back in 2 weeks to assess how the tox effected their muscles. Many clients will receive additional tox at their 2 week follow up. Once we get to know how your muscles react over time, we can usually get this down to 1 appointment each time. I can always add more units, but I cannot take them away once they have been injected!
Hopefully this helps you understand some of the pricing, but you are probably wondering what the bottom line is- and of course that varies from person to person, but here are a couple ball park examples based on averages:
$375 for your forehead and glabella (“11 lines”)
$288 for your crow’s feet
5. What can I expect during my first appointment?
When you arrive, I will take a series of photographs for your medical record. I’ll have you make a few goofy faces too! This is not to get a giggle (although it usually causes one) but to show the different dynamic lines that you can make.
Then we will sit down and go over your medical history, any medications you take, and your specific concerns. This ensures you are a good candidate and that receiving a tox treatment will be safe for you.
Next, we go over consent. This is something that I go over in detail, line-by-line with every single client. This is where I discuss the risks, benefits, possible side effects, alternatives, and expectations. You have the opportunity to ask any questions you can think of too!
Once consent is signed, I will prep your skin with an antiseptic. We will then discuss your goals, desired treatment areas, and which treatment areas you would be a candidate for. Sometimes clients don’t really know what they want treated and ask for my recommendations. I’m always happy to provide those, but at the end of the day it is most important for me to understand what YOU want to improve. I will mark out the areas with a white pencil so we know exactly what the plan is, and I can make note of any special anatomical considerations.
Finally, it’s show time!! I will take a few minutes to prepare the doses in the proper syringes. Then I can finally administer the tox! Once the administration is complete, you may have small dots of blood on your skin, or little “bubbles” from the fluid in the product. These will go away within 30 minutes or so but it is very important to avoid touching your face during this time!
We will get you checked out and scheduled for your 2 week follow up visit, and you will be on your way!
6. What kind of side effects are possible?
Overall, neuromodulators are very safe, but as with any medication side effects are possible. Most commonly seen are redness, tenderness, and swelling at the injection site. Headache is also a common side effect and is usually mild.
If the forehead or 11 lines are treated, it is possible to cause drooping or heaviness of the eyelid or eyebrow. These are temporary side effects which improve over time. I take many precautions to prevent this, but it is still possible.
Asymmetry is another common side effect. Everyone is asymmetrical and relaxing the muscles can accentuate these asymmetries. Muscles can also uptake the toxin unpredictably causing asymmetry. Sometimes asymmetry can be corrected by adding more tox, but sometimes time is the only cure.
This is not an exhaustive list of side effects, but are the most common ones.
7. How long will it take until I see results?
Now that you have made it through your appointment, you are probably verry eager to see results and I don’t blame you. Because of the mechanism of action, neuromodulator will take 14 days for full results. Many start to feel the tox kick in around days 3-5 but the full effect will not be present until day 14. This is why we do not schedule follow ups until it has been 14 days since treatment!
8. What does it feel like when the tox kicks in?
The first time you have tox injected, you will be very aware of the feeling. It is a strange heaviness and you will not be able to make the same expressions as you did before. Sometimes other muscles “recruit” and try to make up for the sleepy tox muscle.
While the feeling is definitely weird, you get used to it very quickly. Most of the times, on subsequent treatments, you will not even notice it.
9. How long will it last?
This varies on a number of factors including the dosing used and your lifestyle/metabolism. On average, neuromodulator will last about 3-4 months. This means it will be strongest about the 6 week mark and gradually wear off until you return to your baseline.
10. What happens when the tox wears off?
Nothing crazy happens! You just slowly return to your normal amount of movement. I hear many clients tell me they are afraid of being committed to the upkeep, and I completely understand that! Luckily, you will just slowly drift back to what your normal facial movement was like and there is nothing wrong with that! For prevention, I recommend treatment every six months at a minimum. If you are wanting to treat dynamic expression lines, or have lines at rest, you will need to be treated every 3-4 months.
I hope this has given you some insight into neuromodulators and shown that they are not scary at all! If you have questions that weren’t answered in this blog, feel free to reach out using the Contact form here.
And if you are ready to hop on the tox train, grab an appointment here!
XOXO,
Katie
