Five Things to Do Before You Get Botox
“Mirror mirror, on the wall. Who’s the fairest of them all?” If you no longer feel “fair” because you’re seeing more fine lines and wrinkles popping up, then welcome to the club. Women of all ages, especially those with dry skin, can expect to see wrinkles at some point in their lives. Some wrinkles can actually complement a woman’s appearance. Others, however, just lower their self esteem. In cases like that latter, there is, thankfully, a solution that has been making women breathe a sigh of relief since the 1960s.
Botox is the magic word. Botox is a neurotoxin that temporarily paralyzes specific muscles to decrease the appearance of wrinkles or to prevent them from occurring. It is considered the most popular cosmetic treatment that doesn’t involve surgical procedures. If you’re afraid of scalpels, then this is the solution for you. Once you finally decide that you want to look younger, make sure to take the following ten steps before booking your appointment:
1. Avoid Blood-Thinning Medication
You wouldn’t want to look like you were in a fight, would you? In order to avoid bruising at the injection site, it is a good idea to hold off on taking blood-thinning meds a few days before the procedure. This means no prescription medications or pain relief meds such as Tylenol, Advil, ibuprofen, etc. Also, being a smoker increases your chances of bruising.
2. Bring Your Makeup Bag with You
The injection site will have to be cleaned and sterilized for the procedure so make sure to bring some makeup with you. This may also come in handy in case your skin is overly sensitive and bruising still occurs.
3. Take Your Spinning Class Before You Come In
After the procedure, you will be instructed to avoid physical exertion for at least 3-5 hours. So, for those who exercise on a daily basis, it’s recommended that you perform any vigorous exercises before getting the injections.
4. Prepare to be Patient
Rome wasn’t built in a day. Your wrinkles will not fully disappear in one day, either. It is perfectly normal for the Botox to take full effect after a few days. Once the Botox has filled all your lines and you look five years younger, you’ll be so happy that you will forget the results were delayed!
5. Understand That You’re Making an Investment into Your Future
Smile or frown in the mirror. Those lines that appear will one day permanently set up shop on your face. To avoid spending large sums of money to have them filled, it’s better to start early. As Benjamin Franklin used to say, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
Hopefully, this list has mentally prepared you for when you’re ready to become wrinkle-free. Keep in mind that Botox does not have to be used only to ward off wrinkles. It can also be used to decrease sweat production, reduce the visibility of gums during smiling, and can even help with migraines. Make sure to do your research beforehand because you may be surprised at what you find. There is scientific evidence showing that Botox can even boost your mood. Now that’s an investment worth making.