I’m just shy of 29 but I’ve been getting Botox since I was 27. Yes, that’s right 27! After asking women both my age and older about their hesitance to get Botox the answers ranged from not wanting to take a more invasive step in their skin care routine to not wanting to feel old. I’ll be the first one to tell you that getting a few units of Botox here and there does not an older person make. In fact, it’s a really great way to prevent more invasive procedures down the line. If you’ve ever hesitated when it comes to getting Botox I’m going to share a list of five reasons why you shouldn’t be afraid of the painless procedure.
But first, here are a few facts about Botox. Botox is the name brand of an injectable neuromodulator. It’s used to temporarily alter the nerve impulses of targeted muscles in order to reduce or eliminate contraction-induced wrinkles. When injected, Botox paralyzes muscle movements that can cause wrinkles (this is where it comes in handy as a preventative anti-aging procedure). The effects of Botox can last anywhere from three to six months, depending on how quickly your body metabolizes it.
I recently visited Skin Bar to receive Botox in two areas to restrict muscle movement and remove fine horizontal lines in my forehead and the perpendicular area between my brows to reduce the chances of forming wrinkles some people refer to as “11s” down the road. The quick procedure lasted about 15 minutes. First, it started with a consult to determine what my goals were. Then, it was time to get down to business. This procedure is typically done with the smallest needles available so it really is virtually painless. If you’re still nervous about experiencing pain, call up Skin Bar first and let them know. You can come in early to have a topical numbing cream applied. The doctor decides where to place injections by having you make certain facial expressions so he can best access where Botox is needed in order to deliver the results you want. Then after a few quick injections, you’re good to go. That’s it.
Like me, some people may experience minor redness or swelling. This typically goes away after a few hours and can be calmed with an ice pack. So that’s what it’s like to get Botox in a nutshell. Not so scary, right? Once the procedure is done you’ll start to see the full results in three to seven days. And trust me, you’ll be a happy camper once you wake up to a smooth, line-free face. Not convinced yet? Check out my top five reasons why you shouldn’t be afraid of Botox.
1. Botox Requires No Downtime
In NYC people have places to go and people to see. While a series of laser treatments like Fraxel can do an amazing job of removing damage and diminishing the signs of aging, the more invasive the laser, the longer the downtime. With Botox, there is no downtime. Minor swelling for a few hours is the only thing you might have to worry about but that doesn’t even happen to everyone.
2. Nothing Delivers Results Like Botox
Sure, you can soften fine lines and wrinkles with skin care products but no matter what the package tells you, nothing comes close to delivering the same results as Botox. So why waste hundreds of dollars on a slew of products that aren’t giving you the results you want when you can get a simple 15-minute procedure twice a year that’s not only prevents aging but eliminates all your lines and wrinkles all together? This doesn’t mean you should ditch a great skin care routine in lieu of Botox, instead, this allows you to shift your main focus from wrinkle-reduction to other important areas of anti-aging and skin care. With the freedom to be worry-free when it comes to fine lines, you can switch up your routine to include things like powerful antioxidants to protect skin, topical exfoliates to promote healthy cell turnover, and so much more. Bonus: All of these things will help to slow down the aging process while keeping skin healthy and damage-free.
3. It Prevents Deep Wrinkles in the future
As mentioned above, Botox can be used as a preventive aging measure because it prohibits muscles from making movements that cause wrinkles. Unfortunately, once you develop very deep wrinkles there’s only so much Botox can do. This is typically when your doctor will recommend injectable fillers to fill in the more severe creases. I’m a big fan of fillers but they do tend to be more expensive and they don’t last as long. If fillers aren’t your jam, lasers can be used to soften deep wrinkles but to really see results they’ll have to be much more invasive, requiring at least a week or two of downtime. Plus, you’ll need multiple treatments to really see the results and these can be much pricier than Botox. Bottom line: if you get Botox now, your face (and bank account) will thank you later.
4. It’s Not Addictive
I’ve heard time and time again that people are hesitant to get Botox because they’re worried they’ll get addicted to it. That simply isn’t the case. You may love how you look and want to continue to use the treatment but you can stop at any time and take a break from it. Skin care is all about loving the skin you’re in and doing what makes you happy. You may have also heard the false rumor that using Botox will actually lead your muscles to become addicted to it and if you stop using it you’ll see adverse effects. This has never been scientifically proven and leading dermatologists will tell you they’ve never seen this happen to patients.
5. It Doesn’t Mean You’re Getting Old
Using Botox doesn’t mean you’re getting old, in fact, it’s a proactive measure to ensure you’re happy with the way you look year after year. It also doesn’t mean you’re not embracing the aging process or prevent you from “aging gracefully”. You can absolutely do both things while incorporating Botox as a secret weapon in your skin care regimen. You’d be surprised how commonly it’s used amongst adults of all ages so even though most people aren’t willing to readily admit they’re fans of the non-invasive procedure, you’ll be in good company if you decide to give it a try.
If you want great skin, but you’re not sure where to start, let Skin Bar NYC help you. Our Skinticians can customize an at home routine that will help you achieve your beauty goals. At Skin Bar NYC we offer the ultimate skin care program in the form of memberships. Pay a monthly membership fee and chose from any of our services, based on your skin care needs. Our program is designed to ensure that you maintain a consistent skin care program. It’s like having a trainer for your skin. And it’s affordable- memberships start at $99. Best part is- this month’s member benefit is a BOTOX upgrade. Call us to find out more.
