Enough with the complexity of making this decision. If it is something you’ve been toying with then toy no further. Read this Botox blog post, and allow me to help you understand your decision without all the medical jargon that encourages us to lose interest in reading so quickly. I’ll do my best to share all you need to know before getting botox.

Random Things To Know About Botox

Botox is a brand name for Botulinum Toxin. “Brand name” is key here, much like how we hand the crying bride a, “Kleenex” or we make our kids some, “Kraft dinner.” The fact of the matter is the bride received a “tissue” which may or may not have been “Kleenex,” and our kids ate macaroni and cheese which may or may not have been “Kraft dinner.”  I’m sure you get the point yes?

There are multiple brands on the market, most have heard of Botox but there are others.   Xeomin (I really think they could’ve chosen a better name here but in case you’re curious it is pronounced zeemin with sort of a soft z) and Dysport (another not so great name in my opinion; is they pronounced like I in hit or like y in style? I’ve heard it pronounced both ways but it is supposed to be with a soft I ) less common names are: Vistabel ( which is incidentally exactly the same as Botox just marketed under a different name in the UK). Bocouture which is your UK version of Xeomin. Finally, Azzalure which is… right you guessed it, Dysport.

This really brings us down to three brand names, three pharmaceutical companies and three different recipes all with the same common day intention. The intention to slow muscle movement.  Relaxed muscle movement leads to softer lines and smoother skin. Kind of a side effect if you will.  The initial use of Botox was not to reduce wrinkles (it was actually to treat individuals with crossed eyes) but Dr. Jean Carruthers of Vancouver BC (Yes that’s right, here at home) pioneered it’s used for wrinkle reduction some 30 years ago and it has become more widely used and universally accepted as a wrinkle preventative ever since.

Okay, that was a fair introduction to a few names and a little history lesson on botox but how does this help you make your decisions and everything you have to know before getting botox? It’s doesn’t; well at least not yet.

Important Things To Know Before You Book A Botox Appointment

I find when I consult with individuals their first concern is always the price of botox.  This is highly interesting to me as it shows they’re already quite comfortable with the concept by the time they sit in my chair.  But what about you my loyal reader (Do I even have loyal readers in a world filled with so much internet fluff?), where does this mean you fit? Chances are you’re looking to gain enough confidence in your decision before sitting in the elusive consultation chair and asking about the botox price, so let’s start there… at the very beginning.

What Are The Side Effects Of Botox?

Where is “there,” you ask? Fear, that’s where. First, there is the fear of botox side effects, then there is the fear of results, then the fear of needles although admittedly the first two are interchangeable at about a rate of 50% and the third is a major concern for our needle-phobic patients.

Side effects and risk is 100% something we have to know before getting botox, let’s assume that’s the worst fear of all.  What are they? Well…there is always a risk of bruising, although I don’t see a ton of this, it does however happen. Redness, swelling, irritation; definitely a consideration.  Typically, though any of these things, should they make an appearance, their disappearance is usually just as quick.

That can’t be it, though right?  I mean this toxin can be deadly in its rawest form and with the right quantity!  Of course, there is more, what pharmaceutical have you ever heard that didn’t have some more serious risks?  It’s like the disclaimer on some of the anti-depressant medication you see on TV commercials, ever notice how suicidal thoughts can be a side effect? Well worry not, wrinkles are not a possible side effect or risk of our lovely anti-wrinkle toxin (unless the injector is unskilled but that’s a talk for another time).

On a more serious note; there is the risk of a temporary droopy eye, some numbness in the forehead, bacterial and fungal infection, flu-like symptoms (I find this one funny and have yet to witness it but it’s out there…or so they say) and perhaps the biggest risk of all Botulism; a rare and yes possibly fatal disease caused by the toxin produced by the bacterium clostridium botulinum.

Okay so perhaps you’ve read enough, you think that you’ve made your decision, Botox has inadvertently been responsible for the loss of life so just stay away and reduce the risk, right? Take no Botox, suffer no consequence. Abstaining from the fountain of youth will prevent the potential loss of life.

Well, how about we talk a little about lightning.  Being struck by lightning is often used in comparison to winning the lottery so let’s use this example here because I truly believe Botox is my own little lottery win each time I use it. Globally there are approximately 240,000 encounters with lightning each year that lead to about 6000 deaths. This means 0.025% of the people struck by lightning die from it. That’s a fairly small percentage but still concerning in my opinion.  I don’t think I will go out chasing lightning bolts anytime soon. Now on to Botox; used globally by more than 7 million people each year and how many deaths? 16…that’s right 16 deaths. Let’s look at the percentage; that’s a percentage of 0.00000229 but wait it gets better, this number of 16 is not an annual tally it’s a forever tally, a since-the-beginning tally, an overall account of total- loss- of- life tally.  So, let’s pretend over the last 30 years only 5 million people per year used Botox, that means out of 150 million uses only 16 people had seen their end.  I don’t make light of death it’s very serious but this percentage is going to have a whole lot more zeroes in it. Let’s do math 16 in 150 million = 0.00000011.  I shouldn’t have to tell you that this number looks awfully close to zero in relation to death by botox.

What Are The Results From Botox?

I think I’ve covered risk, don’t you?  Let’s talk about the fear of botox results.  This is the one that got me shaking in my boots when I first got on board. A person’s face is like a canvas, and much like art, sometimes the artist is great and sometimes he or she is a little “meh”. Let’s say for one reason or another you find you’ve gone and selected yourself a “meh” artist, there are two small bits of good news here still.   The first is that, so long as they just try and follow the basic model for injections they shouldn’t screw it up.  I mean a bad artist in this case maybe raises your brows too much or doesn’t calculate the best dosage for your muscle movement, it’s really not huge the issues here, and the second piece of good news is that it’s temporary.  BOTOX IS NEVER permanent.  I scream this when I say it, I mean it seems to put people at ease to know that their decisions are temporary but for me, I wish nothing more than to achieve Perma-Botox.  I will be first in line for that invention (Of course it will be in the line-up of our very own Doctor here at The Naked Truth Botox)

Now when it comes to a “meh” artist we first must assume he is still a quality doctor and professional with the proper certifications of being an injector. There are also nurse injectors that work under the mandate of a doctor and are well trained.  This is a delicate science and it requires skill that can’t be done by just anybody. I hear a fair bit more people are going to their dentists for their youth shots nowadays as well.  I have opinions on this but they waiver one way, and then the other, so I’m simply not ready to share. Either way make sure you choose someone that has their qualifications before getting botox (No Information I give you can help if you find some bargain-basement fraud to inject you, be aware and take care of your choices).

Does Botox Hurt?

The third fear, does getting botox hurt? Needles jabbing into the face can’t be all that pleasant, can they? This one is easy-peasy in my opinion but I understand there are some people out there that are passing up their opportunities because they are terrified of the needles.  In all the years, I have been getting botox I can honestly say this is one area that continues to improve.  The needles are so small now they aren’t much larger than an acupuncture needle and the treatment takes mere minutes.  I mean truthfully if you were to do all areas of the face with Botox the amount of time that the needle is actually in your face is roughly a minute, maybe a minute and a half.  Truthfully, it’s the anticipation of the needle before getting botox that affects people more than the needle itself.

I think we’ve maxed out on our reasons for fear and the answers, at least in terms of maintaining attention anyhow.  Now on to whether or not you should get a consult and all the things to know prior.

What To Make Sure You Know Before and After Your Consultation

Yes, yes, yes, yes, I simply cannot emphasize this enough.  By getting a consult you get to find out how many units you need, what your botox cost will be and if you feel comfortable with the injector.  I mean if alarm bells go off in the consult then move on to someone else and there is no harm done. Some people will have you meet with someone other than the injector as they are busy simply doing injections.  This is okay too as that person is often an extension of the doctor and if they make you feel comfortable and answer your questions adequately then moving forward with their clinic is probably going to work out okay for you.  I mean worst case scenario you decide, “no way, no how,” then get out!  You should never be locked in; any doctor or injector will understand if you have a sudden fear you’re unwilling to overcome.

This brings me to my end, I mean the end!  I would love to carry on because the fact of the matter is that it is certainly one of my favourite subjects but I was trying my darndest not to bore you with too many semantics along the way and I’m simply hoping with fingers crossed that I haven’t when sharing all these things to know regarding botox!