How and when to get Botox — Botox Expert Brooke and Her Fashioned Life at Saving Grace in ATX

When you read a blog post on Her Fashioned Life, I want you to feel comfortable that I’m being transparent and honest with you in all things. That said, let me start by saying, I am not in any way an expert or doctor and all information and opinions below are from my past experiences. I’m also very excited to have the owner of Saving Face, Brooke Nichol RN, agree to answer a couple of questions at the end of this post and get her expert opinions.

I started my journey with Botox at age 35. The middle of the brows, the 11’s, as they are called, were my first target. At this time, I only needed to go every 6 months or so to keep the wrinkles at bay. As I aged more I added my forehead and then finally around the eyes, (crows feet) a touch. Now in my late 40’s, I have a regularly scheduled appointment, just like I do with my hair or nails, every 3-4 months. At each appointment, my chosen expert, Brooke from Saving Face, skillfully assess my face with her trained eye and treats me accordingly to what I would benefit from.

When Should You Start Injections

“Aging is out of your control how you handle it though is in your hands. “-Diane Von Furstenberg

I’m happy to say injectables are becoming more acceptable in our society! Woman have access to cutting-edge products and techniques that are helping them age gracefully. When and if you decide to take advantage of Botox is ultimately up to you, and your comfort level of what you think of your reflection in the mirror. One thing to remember about Botox is that it’s not permanent. Usually 4-5 months and then it’s gone. So it’s not a major commitment.

It’s a bit of a trend now for 20 somethings to start injections before they see the wrinkles. I do not have experience with this so I cannot attest to being an early bird. I waited until I had the wrinkles and knew I would feel better about my appearance without them.

What You Need To Know and Do Before You Go

Research

Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find a qualified and good doctor, however, unless you know the women very well, you’re not going to want to ask people where they are getting their botox. The next best way to find a reputable doctor is to start with an internet search of “Best Botox Doctors in Austin” – or your city. Make a list of 10 or so, Google each doctor to look for red flags in reviews. When you have your list down to 3 or 4, call the offices and ask about the training and experience of the doctor administering the botulinum toxin injections.

Also, ask about pricing per unit in your phone call. Most reputable doctors will run around the same, but they can give you a rough estimate of how much the treatment will be for each area.

Please stay away from all pop-up shops, botox parties and Groupon discounts, these can lead to very bad experiences you do not want to have.

Once you feel confident in your choice, you can either schedule a consult to get to know the doctor better, answer any questions and get a firmer cost for the procedure or go ahead and schedule to receive treatment.

The treatment is very quick, 15 to 30 min. A numbing cream will not be used. Saving Face gives you an ice pack right before they inject which is very appreciated!

Pre Injections

Skip the fish oil, vitamin E, aspirin or anything that thins your blood for 2-3 days prior. This will lessen any bruising.
Take arnica or bromelain (pineapple) supplements the day of.
Plan the timing of your appt. There is a chance of bruising, usually, you can cover with makeup, but if you have an event planned just know that it is possible.

Post Appointment

I love to rub in arnica oil at the injection spots for 24 hours or so, it helps with swelling and bruising. You can also continue the bromelain supplements after until your bruise, if any, goes away.
Stay upright for 3-4 hours.

Side Effects

You may have bumps at the injection sites for up to 15 min or so. Most likely, they will be gone by the time you get to your car.
Slight Bruising

It will take 3-5 days to see the full results. When it takes effect your skin should be visibly smooth. Not artificial looking, just youthful. Most doctors want to see you two weeks after to see if any touch up is needed.

Saving Face Q & A

Saving Face is a boutique injectable lounge, in Austin, Texas. They specialize in anti-aging injectables, including dermal fillers, neuromuscular modulators, and skin care. The owner, Brooke Nichol and her nurse practitioner, Victoria Hunter pride themselves in knowing the latest techniques and procedures with the safest, FDA regulated products. They only do injections all day long and are experts in their field. Brooke and Victoria are dedicated to excellent services and client relationships. First, they will assist you in a custom treatment plan to collaborate on what the next few steps may be in your process. After clearing an aesthetic assessment, you will be on your way to feeling great with a rejuvenated, fresh face.

I have been going to Saving Face now for a year, and couldn’t be happier! Their knowledge of the facial muscles and how to give, in Brooke’s words, “a new natural appearance” is truly like no other I’ve experienced through the years! I’m so happy I have found this little gem in Austin and couldn’t recommend them more if you live in Austin TX!

Brooke has kindly agreed to answer some questions I had for her below!

I would love to hear your thoughts on what botox can add to the modern woman’s life.

Thank you so much for including me in this blog and for entrusting me with your beautiful face. At Saving Face, our motto is, Look Good, to feel Good, to Do Good and for today’s modern woman, Botox is one of the most efficient ways to do just that. It is a quick and painless approach to anti-aging where results can take you further than lotions and potions.

There is alot of confusion between the products, Botox and Dysport. Can you tell us the difference?

There are three FDA approved Neuro-modulators in the US currently. We often time misuse the brand Botox for the treatment similar to the Kleenex brand for tissue. Without getting too detailed, Botox takes a little longer to take effect (5-7 days) where Dysport can take effect immediately (1-3 days). Xeomin is the other brand on the market where in some cases can be the saving grace when Botox or Dysport doesn’t work and it is what I use when I travel because it doesn’t need to be refrigerated. The results are completely personalized to each individual. I would suggest trying them all and seeing which one works best for you.

Besides the facial muscles, what other areas of the body can benefit from using Botox?

Botox is used for many medical issues but the most common that we see, hyperhidrosis (excess sweating either in underarms, palms, or feet), migraines, and TMJ.

How common and what is the dreaded droopy eye?

There is a common misinterpretation of “droopy eye” versus “droopy brow”. A true lid ptosis (“lazy eye”) is not common at all and in the recent Botox study for treating the forehead lines was less than 1%. A more common side effect is a heavy brow or asymmetry in the brows. This can usually be corrected easily and should be addressed in the follow-up appointment. If you hold your brows up subconsciously you are likely not a candidate to treat the forehead lines because we would all rather see than have a smooth forehead.

How long does this procedure usually last in a patient?

This procedure takes 15 minutes to perform with individualized results lasting between 3 and 4 months. We tend to treat very conservatively and therefore we see our patient back closer to every 3 months. It gives a more natural result and clients seem to not mind one extra treatment a year versus looking a bit odd or “frozen”.

Thank you for reading! I hope this answers your questions and if not please feel free to leave a comment below or email me at Tammy@HerFashionedLife.com.

xx Tammy

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How and When To Start Getting Botox

When Should You Start Injections