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So, you, like millions of other people around the world, have decided that you want to give Botox a go. But you’re not sure where to start or what to be prepared for. To help you on your journey to younger looking skin, here are the top 7 things you should do before booking your first anti-wrinkle treatment...
Book a consultation for the treatment of lines and wrinkles right here on Glowday, the UK's biggest aesthetics treatments website.
The most important thing you can do before going ahead and booking a wrinkle-relaxing appointment is to make sure the practitioner is appropriately qualified. There are tonnes of people out there offering cheap anti-wrinkle treatment, which is a terrifying thought. Don’t let anyone with a needle near your face if they don’t have the qualifications and experience that will enable them to do a great job. On Glowday, we ONLY list medically qualified practitioners, so you can search for a practitioner in your area, knowing you're in safe hands.
Find out more about the importance of selecting a medically qualified practitioner in our handy article. There are too many botched Botox stories out there. Don’t be the next!
As well as checking your practitioner’s credentials, why not also take a look at their before and after pics? This is a great way for you to assess their work and really see the effects of their anti-wrinkle injections. It also gives you the chance to look at the areas of the face that you want to target and make sure this is the treatment for you. When you search for anti-wrinkle treatments in your area on Glowday, we encourage practitioners to upload before and after images as well as before and afters for the other treatments they offer, so you can A) see what kind of results you can expect from the treatment and B) check out the practitioner's skills, so you can decide if they're right for you.
Anti-wrinkle treatments are relatively uncomplicated, but as with any medical aesthetic treatment, there is always the chance of side effects. The most common side effects after Botox injections are mild swelling, a little bit of bleeding in the treated area and a short-lasting headache.
However, some people experience drooping eyelids or drooping eyebrows - AKA ptosis, which are less common and can last up to a couple of weeks.
In the week leading up to your appointment, stop taking blood thinning medication such as ibuprofen and aspirin as these might increase the chance of bruising and bleeding after the anti-wrinkle injections. The same goes for vitamin E and fish oil and vitamin C supplements. Don’t worry though, paracetamol is still on the cards. Of course, if you're taking any prescribed medication that contains aspirin, don't stop taking it - but speak to your GP or practitioner for their advice. Your practitioner will also be able to fill you in on all the pre-treatment dos and don'ts.
Oh, and a toughy, I know, but avoid that glass of wine/ gin and tonic/ any other alcoholic drink 24 hours before your appointment. This should help prevent bruising as much as possible.
The effects of anti-wrinkle injections last about 3-6 months before the botulinum toxin is metabolised in our bodies. After this period, lines and wrinkles will begin to reappear as the muscles will regain movement, so you may decide you want to repeat the treatment when it wears off. This might mean having up to 4 treatments per year.
The great news is that because there’s no need for anaestheic, there is no downtime, so you can go back to work straight away - though maybe with a bit of redness. But, while the prospect of fewer lines is an exciting one, you might experience bruising and bleeding, so you probably don’t want to book any big social events until these have subsided. Give it up to a week and you should be looking your best you. You might also be wondering, "how long does it take for Botox to work?", which is a good question. It varies from person to person but can take between a couple of days and a couple of weeks to kick in and give you the results you're looking for. Which might mean you want to book a wrinkle relaxing consultation a few weeks before any important events.
Many practitioners will want to see you after a couple of weeks to check how you are getting on post-treatment. This is a good opportunity for you to address any concerns and see whether the dose you've been given is appropriate.
For a comprehensive look at anti-wrinkle treatments, take a look at our handy treatment guide.
Don't forget, you can book in to see a practitioner in your area now using the Glowday search tool. We only list medically qualified practitioners, so you'll be in safe hands!
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