Humans are not as lucky at moi when it comes to having 9 lives to perfect their assets. The blogosphere is still abuzz with Kylie Jenner’s lip injections and Caitlyn Jenner’s complete transformation. While I’m not putting my maid Madame Françoise under the knife quite yet, I’ve noticed an increase in ladies (and ahem men) everywhere dabbling in the medi-spa pool.
What is a medi-spa exactly? Medical spas, also known by the cool cats as medi-spas, blend the best of both worlds: a relaxing spa experience and procedures and expertise found at a doctor’s office. A doctor oversees the medical spa and is in charge of procedures that fall under the medical realm and estheticians handle the more routine day spa therapies. Between laser treatments and injectables, the most common procedure requested is Botox.
With frown lines, forehead lines, and crow’s feet creasing daily, the Pretty Connected team turned to our skincare expert Elizabeth Kennedy who referred us to Park Avenue’s top plastic sergeant, Dr. Scott Wells, MD to learn a little Botox 101.
{Un} Along with Dysport and Xeomin, Botox is a brand of botulinum toxin (a purified version of a nerve poison produced by the bacteria that causes botulism) that prohibits nerves from delivering their signal to muscles, typically in your face, and glands, usually under your arms (and hands).
{Deux} Botox isn’t just for face. It’s often injected in armpits (and even hands) to help prevent excess sweating.
{Trois} Botox typically wears off in three to four months for face, though it might last a few months longer the first time around. Around 6 months when injected in the body.
{Quatre} Botox should be customized to your individual face, taking into account factors such as which facial muscles you use the most, your facial muscle balance, and the look you’re trying to achieve.
{Cing} There’s all kinds of advice on bruising, which happens if a blood vessel is punctured. It doesn’t mean the job is botched or the doctor isn’t top notch, however Dr. Wells practice uses a an Accuvain machine which is a vein finder. (It’s what doctors use when looking for veins when they draw blood). It makes injecting 99% more accurate and something all doctors should use to give the most quality care.
{Six} Why go to a medspa, when you can go to a doctors office or someone that only does injections? Because Medspas are a team effort and they look at your whole face/body and recommend the best course of care and then have specialists in those area to perform the procedure. If you go to an office that only does one thing, that’s the only option that will be presented to you and may not be the best course of action.
{Sept} Botox is priced by units and while it’s tempting to go for the doctor with the cheapest price per unit — Botox is Botox, right? Wrong. Make sure you see the bottle since anything priced too cheap could be counterfeit. Also one doctor may tell you need 20 units and the next 30. All Botox may be the same but how it’s injected is not. What’s most important is to go to a professional that understands muscle balance and how to get you the results you’re looking for.
{Huit} Post-procedure don’t work out, rub you forehead, or bend down for at least 12 hours. Basically, get someone to wait on you hand and foot until the Botox has settled. Botox takes approximately 5 to 7 days to start working but the full effect of Botox takes two weeks.
Miss Kennedy also recommends getting a chemical peel two weeks before Botox to get rid of dead skin and help with fine lines, age spots and acne scars. For a skincare consultation, Elizabet Kennedy can be reached at [email protected].