FAQ
Botox FAQ
What is BOTOX® Cosmetic?
BOTOX® Cosmetic is the only approved treatment to temporarily improve the appearance of both moderate to severe frown lines between the brows and crow’s feet lines in adults.
BOTOX® Cosmetic is one of the most extensively studied medical aesthetic treatments and is approved for cosmetic use in 78 countries.* BOTOX® Cosmetic has a record of experience that aesthetic specialists know and trust. And, the safety and efficacy of BOTOX® Cosmetic have been evaluated in both Allergan sponsored clinical trials as well as in 417 peer-reviewed articles in scientific and medical journals.
BOTOX® Cosmetic contains tiny amounts of a highly purified botulinum toxin protein refined from the bacterium, Clostridium botulinum. Formulations, potency, and approved doses vary among botulinum toxin products, which means that one product cannot take the place of another. Those are a few reasons why there is no such thing as a “generic” form of BOTOX® Cosmetic. There have been no studies to support that other products are Unit-to-Unit equivalent to BOTOX® Cosmetic.
Approximately 10.9 million vials of BOTOX® Cosmetic have been sold in the United States since 2002, and millions of people have already made BOTOX® Cosmetic a part of what they do for themselves. Today, BOTOX® Cosmetic is the #1 selling product of its kind in the world.†
*VISTABEL® outside of North America.
†Data collected through June 2014.
How does BOTOX® Cosmetic work?
BOTOX® Cosmetic targets one of the underlying causes of frown lines and crow’s feet—the repeated muscle contractions from frowning and squinting over the years. Your specialist will inject these muscles with BOTOX® Cosmetic to temporarily reduce muscle activity. You will begin to notice a visible smoothing of your crow’s feet lines and frown lines between your brows.
Will BOTOX® Cosmetic make me look like I’ve had work done?
BOTOX® Cosmetic is a technique-sensitive treatment. You should not lose the ability to show expression when you are treated by someone who is licensed, trained, and a medical expert in facial anatomy. It is important to talk to your specialist about the results you want from treatment.
Does BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment hurt?
Some patients report that being injected with BOTOX® Cosmetic feels like a pinch. Your specialist may use ice to numb the treatment area. If you are concerned about discomfort, your specialist may apply a topical numbing cream before administering your treatment.
What were common side effects seen in clinical studies?
Three percent of patients experienced eyelid drooping in the frown lines studies and 1% of patients experienced eyelid swelling in the crow’s feet studies. Other possible side effects include: dry mouth; discomfort or pain at the injection site; tiredness; headache; neck pain; eye problems: double vision, blurred vision, decreased eyesight and dry eyes; and allergic reactions. These are not all of the possible serious side effects of BOTOX® Cosmetic. Please see the Important Safety Information including Boxed Warning and Medication Guide, and talk to your specialist.
How long does the treatment take?
Your specialist will discuss your treatment goals and perform a facial analysis to determine the appropriate treatments for you. The actual injection process takes about 10 minutes.
What is the average treatment cost?
Your cost not only includes the price of the product, but more importantly, the skill and expertise of the specialist or healthcare professional who is administering your treatment. BOTOX® Cosmetic is a technique-sensitive treatment—look for someone who is licensed and trained and has experience treating patients with BOTOX® Cosmetic. Be wary of discount products or “cheap” BOTOX® Cosmetic—if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
It is more important to find an experienced specialist who will take the time to understand your treatment goals and develop a treatment plan that is right for you.
When will I see results?
You may begin to notice results within 24 to 48 hours for moderate to severe frown lines, with results lasting up to 4 months.
How many injections will I receive?
For the crow’s feet area, your specialist will inject 3 areas of the orbicularis oculi, the muscle that frames the side of the eye. This will be repeated on the orbicularis oculi muscle on the other eye.
For the frown lines area, your specialist will administer 5 injections into muscles in your forehead—1 in the procerus muscle and 4 in the corrugator muscles.
How long is the recovery time after treatment?
After your treatment, you can resume your day. There is minimal downtime and your specialist may give you specific aftercare instructions.
Do men receive BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment?
Yes. BOTOX® Cosmetic has also been clinically evaluated in male patients. In clinical studies for moderate to severe frown lines, 17.5% of patients treated with BOTOX® Cosmetic were men. In the clinical studies for moderate to severe crow’s feet, male patients comprised approximately 10% of patients treated with BOTOX® Cosmetic.
According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 10% of all cosmetic procedures performed in the United States in 2014 were on men—that is more than 1 million cosmetic procedures. The number of cosmetic procedures for men increased by 273% from 1997 to 2014.
Laser Hair Treatment FAQ
Is Laser Hair Removal Permanent?
The technology is capable of giving up to 90-95% long-lasting hair reduction for most skin types, male and female, and for most parts of the body except around the eyes. The number of sessions needed to achieve these results can vary from person to person depending on many of the following factors: age, skin type, the amount of hair, hair color, hair texture, genetics, and hormonal balance. The FDA approves all lasers for permanent hair reduction and not permanent hair removal.
How many sessions do I need to achieve hair reduction?
Most people need six (6) to eight (8) treatments but some need more. In some areas faster results will be achieved. You can expect similar results for the bikini line, legs, underarms, arms, and thick female facial hair. The middle front bikini area, fine lip hairs, and men’s beards and backs are usually more challenging and may take extra treatments. However, results vary from person to person and you can get faster or slower results then someone else. Some individuals may have hormonal fluctuations that cause recurrent hair growth but at a slower rate and new hairs may be finer.
How long do I wait between each session? How do I know when to come for my next treatment?
Usually after the first treatment, hair roots may shed within 10-20 days, depending on the area. The best way to estimate your next treatment date is to observe the new hair growth. The subsequent treatment is usually four to eight (4 to 8) weeks after the previous treatment; 6 weeks is a common interval. When you start to see new stubble (new hair growth), and there are enough new hairs, you can make an appointment within a week or two. As more treatments are done, the interval between treatments may be as much as 8 to 10 weeks. Do not wait too long between cycles of hair growth (more than 2 to 3 months) because you may “miss” a period of hair growth. The laser only works on growing hairs (anagen phase). Not all hairs are growing at the same time (telogen and catogen phases) and so not all hair falls out during a given treatment. Hairs do not fall out instantly from the root, however some surface hairs may appear singed and some of these surface hairs fall off almost instantly. Please shave off surface hair as close to the skin as possible to reduce the discomfort and smell of burnt hairs.
How soon do I expect to see results? How do I know it is working for me?
You will typically see results starting with your first session. For most people hair growth will be less and the hairs finer; your skin will become smoother; and the hair pores on your skin may become less visible after each session. The results will usually become more apparent with each following session. If you wait too long between sessions, it may appear that the hairs “all came back.” These are likely new hairs from a different cycle or weakened hairs from the last treatment. People who do over 15 to 20 treatments are usually non responders for permanent hair reduction, but continue with laser because they like having less of a “5 o’clock shadow” and/or they react better to laser than waxing.
What are the risks or possible side effects?
With the right machine, minimal sun exposure, and licensed, trained clinicians, you will not experience damage to your skin. Possible short-term reactions include redness, swelling, and follicular edema (similar to goose bumps). These may take from a few minutes to several hours to fade away. Most people can get treated during their lunchtime and there are minimal or no visible indications of treatment when they return to work. Burns occur rarely and are usually in people with recent prolonged sun exposure or people with darker skin, even if wearing sunscreen. Burns are painful and may result in lightening or darkening of the affected skin for months to years or permanently. Please inform the clinician of any effects immediately and seek medical treatment. Use of outside consultants and products are not the financial responsibility our office. Please read and sign the consent form before receiving any treatment and ask questions. Long-term side effects do not include cancer.
Does Laser Hair Removal hurt?
The laser emits light energy. You may feel heat and a tingling or snapping sensation like a rubber band. There is no bleeding and no open wound is created. While some areas of the body, like the upper lip and pubic hair area are more sensitive than others, many patients report a tolerable sensation. If there is unusual discomfort, please let us know so that we can adjust the laser treatment accordingly. We can use ice or numbing creams for sensitive areas. Those who have had waxing, threading, and/or electrolysis, or treatment with other lasers, usually report that our laser causes less discomfort. Always shave off unwanted hairs at home before your treatment. Shaving makes for more comfortable treatments because the long hairs on the surface will not press on your skin. Remember, we want to treat the roots of the hairs, not the hair above the skin. Laser energy treats the roots of hairs so do not wax, pluck, or pull the roots out for at least 3 weeks prior to treatment of the desired area for better results. It’s okay to shave your face or use a trimmer. Shaving does not cause hair to grow back more coarse or numerous, but will reflect your natural hair growth had you not done anything to it.
What if the hair never goes away?
Infrequently, individuals have stubborn hairs that are minimally affected by the laser and/or need ongoing treatments to keep hairs away. There Is no way of knowing who these individuals may be, however genetic inheritance and hormonal issues including polycystic ovaries, thyroid problems, steroid use, pregnancy, menopause, and changing birth control pills may predispose some people to less than optimal results. There are no refunds for treatments already rendered and no free treatments for people who do not get desired results.
What if I can no longer continue receiving treatments?
Treatments may stretch as long as a year or two, especially if multiple body parts are started at different times. During that time individuals may move, decide that they don’t want treatments, have financial difficulties, be a non-responder, or even change providers for treatment. There is no refund or credit for purchases already made, nor for procedures that are already done.
Is Laser Hair Removal for everyone?
Laser hair removal has no success on white, gray, light red or light blond hair follicles. Also, people with Skin Type VI (darkest) may experience less than optimal results, i.e. need more treatments at lower settings, and have higher risks of side effects including burns and blistering and skin discoloration. People who tan easily, have too much unintentional sun exposure, intentionally tan, or who don’t wear sun screen may also experience similar adverse effects. Some freckles or moles may darken or lighten during treatment.
Can I choose to achieve finer and less hair in some areas rather than a full removal?
Yes. We can somewhat customize your treatment by doing less treatments in an area or treating at lower settings. We can weaken and reduce your hair in an area while still leaving a certain amount. This is especially true in the bikini area where some people want to reduce the thickness and coarseness of bikini hair. Two or three treatments in the whole bikini to remove all the hair followed by shaving to the desired final shape in the last few treatments is common among patients. By experience, most people start with a large triangle shape and with each treatment, they shave smaller and smaller as they enjoy having less hair.
I have ingrown hairs on my face, legs, bikini and back. Would laser help?
Definitely. Even after one treatment most people will notice that the incidence of ingrown hairs lessen. Within a few months, the area is smoother and the color of your skin improves. Remember that some skin types, especially darker skin tones, will retain the same dark skin color despite removal of the hair. This darker area of skin is normal in colored individuals around areas that flex often (underarms, groin, behind knees, neck).
How are the treatments priced?
Prices are usually given per area per session. This is for the convenience of the clients so you, as a consumer, will always have the option to stop after the amount of sessions you believe are sufficient. However, multiple area and multiple treatment discounts are intermittently available and can be displayed as specials during any given day. Prices may change without notice and specials changes periodically. Our prices are competitive and no price matching is accepted.
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