At Nunnally Dermatology in Baton Rouge, LA, we know that your Botox injections are more than just an appointment: it’s a day that you look forward to because, when it’s over, you’ll be on your way to wrinkle-free skin that won’t just make you look better, but we will make you feel better as well. That’s why we want to help you be prepared for your appointment so that not only are you ready for your treatment, but so that you can enjoy yourself and get the best results.
How Do You Prepare for a Botox Injections?
Most people think that preparing for a Botox injections just requires that you make sure you have enough gas in your car to get to and from your appointment, but if you want the best results and to fully enjoy the entire process, there are some ways that you can prepare aside from just filling up your tank. Once you’re prepared for your injections, you can walk into your appointment with complete confidence not only in your injections but in your injector and your results.
Choose the Right Provider
Who you choose as your provider may be the single most important factor in determining your results. Botox is an excellent product, if not the best on the beauty market, but it turns out best when administrated by someone with experience, skill, precision, and a clear understanding of facial anatomy.
When you choose our office, that’s exactly what you’ll get. You will be in the hands of an expert who knows how and where to administer your injections so that you look natural, well-rested, and more youthful.
Schedule a Consultation
Once you find a reputable provider, your first step will be to schedule a consultation. This is one of the most important parts of the entire process because it not only helps us confirm that you are a candidate for Botox, but also allows you to meet with your Botox provider, and discuss your problem areas.
Dr. Nunnally will develop a treatment plan for you that will result in natural-looking results. She focuses on retaining facial expressions while reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles so that your results are subtle, not frozen. She will also explain in detail what is involved in the injection process so that you know exactly what to expect before, during, and after your Botox injections.
Ask Questions
Your consultation is not the time to stay quiet. Communication between you and your injector is critical so that you can make sure all your goals are met post-treatment. Ask any questions that come to mind, even if you think the answers are obvious. The more time you spend asking questions, the more prepared you will feel, and then when your appointment finally comes, you can walk in with confidence and excitement, not fear and uncertainty.
Be Open to Suggestions
You may have already developed your treatment plan in your head walking into your consultation, but you should be open to suggestions. Dr. Nunnally is an expert in the art of facial anatomy. Her job is to analyze your face and help correct wrinkles so that you get beautiful, natural-looking results. Dr. Nunnally takes the approach that the goal of Botox is to create subtle changes, not make you look like a different or unnatural version of yourself.
As a result, she knows exactly where to inject Botox so that you get the best results possible and she might see something that you just don’t. She may make recommendations that you may have not even thought of, but most of our patients find that when they listen to the advice of an expert, they get the kind of results that they may have never dreamed were possible.
Schedule Your Appointment
Once your consultation is finished, and we determine that you are a candidate for treatment, we’ll schedule your appointment. Even though you may want to schedule your injections as soon as possible because you can’t wait for your results, which is perfectly understandable, there are some factors you may want to consider before booking the soonest appointment.
Scheduling Before Special Events
If you have a special event coming up that you want to look good for, you will want to plan your injections accordingly so that you get the best results for your event. Our injectors can help you determine how much time you should plan between your injection appointment and your special event so that you get the kind of results you’re hoping for on that day.
Scheduling During the Day
You should also know that these appointments are quick, so you won’t have to schedule your entire day around them. All you have to do is pick a time in the day that works best for you and once your appointment is over, you can get back to your everyday activities.
You can even schedule your Botox injections during your lunch break, especially if that’s the only free time you have during the workday. You’ll be in and out of your appointment and on your way to beautiful wrinkle-free skin in the time that it takes for you to eat your lunch.
Stop Using Certain Supplements and Medications
Before your actual appointment, you will want to avoid certain supplements and medications. We will advise you to avoid blood-thinning supplements and medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil, and other supplements. During your consultation, we will give you a complete list of which supplements to avoid so that you know exactly how to prepare.
Don’t Irritate Your Skin
During the week before your treatment, focus on maintaining a balanced pH level in your skin. Try to avoid harsh exfoliating treatments, facial waxing appointments, chemical peels, or anything that could irritate your skin in the days before your treatment. You want your skin to be balanced, not irritated on the day of your appointment so that you get the best results.
Drink Plenty of Water
As your mother probably told you, there’s nothing that a glass of water can’t fix. This is vaguely true; hydration makes everything better. Be sure to drink plenty of water before and after your appointment. Water hydrates your skin, flushes out toxins, and will make your results look that much better.
Work Out Before Your Appointment
If you plan on working out the day of your appointment, that’s completely ok. Just make sure that you do it before your appointment. Once you get your injections, you’ll need to avoid heavy workouts at the gym for at least 24 hours. Schedule your appointment after your workout so that you will be prepared for your treatment.
Don’t Go to Happy Hour
Another way to prepare for your appointment is to avoid drinking alcohol, at least 24 before your appointment. If you have an event or happy hour that you just can’t miss, plan accordingly and don’t schedule your treatment for the next day.
Have Realistic Expectations
Once you understand how to prepare physically, you can begin to prepare mentally. Few things are more disappointing than when your expectations aren’t met, regardless of the situation. To avoid this happening with your Botox appointments, there are some things you should know about what this treatment can and can’t do.
Your Results Aren’t Immediate
Patience is a virtue, and you’ll need it as you wait for your results to show up. Unlike dermal fillers which provide instant results, your Botox results will take a little longer to appear. Don’t worry: you won’t have to wait forever. You’ll begin to notice results two to three days following your injections and those results will continue to improve in the weeks following your injections.
Your Results Won’t Last Forever
Your results will not last forever. Botox only provides a temporary improvement in the appearance of your wrinkles and as your body metabolizes the ingredients, the effects will slowly wear off. While your appearance won’t change altogether, your effects will wear off, typically anywhere from three to six months post-treatment. To maintain your appearance, all you have to do is schedule follow-up appointments.
You’ll Need Follow-up Treatments
To schedule follow-up treatments, simply contact our office and set up an appointment that works best with your schedule. If you want to pre-schedule your treatments, we can do that as well so that all you have to do is show up and we will take care of the rest.
It Won’t Give You Better Skin, But It Will Make Good Skin Look Even Better
Botox injections won’t give you better skin, but they will make good skin look better. You will still want to maintain your skincare routine because Botox looks the best on healthy, clear skin. If you haven’t begun a skincare routine, invest in some professional-grade skincare products.
A well-rounded skincare collection includes an anti-aging moisturizer, a ph-balanced face wash, a vitamin C serum, some form of retinol, and a sunscreen that can be worn daily.
Schedule Your Appointments With a Friend
Everything is better with a friend, so if you don’t want to experience your injections alone, bring a friend, or better yet, schedule your botox injections on the same day. A Botox appointment isn’t strictly a medical appointment; it’s a cosmetic one that you can enjoy together.
You can make a whole experience out of it and get lunch or go shopping after your appointment is over. You can also enjoy your results together and keep each other accountable for following the aftercare instructions.
Know What to Expect Post-Treatment
Although you can get back to your normal daily routine once your appointment is over, there are some aftercare instructions that you need to follow to get the best results. We will give you all of the necessary details before your appointment so that you know how to care for your skin post-treatment. Generally, you’ll be asked to avoid excessive sun exposure and excess heat like hot tubs, saunas, hot showers, and steam rooms.
We’ll also ask you to avoid strenuous exercise or lying flat on your back within the first few hours of your appointment to make sure that your results turn out perfectly.
Schedule Your Injectable Consultation Today
If you’re ready to experience the freedom that comes from a wrinkle-free face and schedule an appointment that will change how you look and how you feel about your image, don’t wait another day. Contact the experts at Nunnally Dermatology in Baton Rouge, LA, and schedule your initial consultation to see if Botox is right for you.
