With the opportunity for extensive self-education online through blogs (hello!), social media videos, and consultations, we often have patients who are well schooled in injectables. It’s easier than ever to get a sense of what neuromodulators like Botox® or Dysport® do. But we often find there are gaps in knowledge that make a massive difference in the results you can achieve. We thought we’d shed some light on how injectable wisdom can enhance your results and ensure you’re getting your treatments done in the right place, with the right professionals.

Neuromodulators like Botox®, XEOMIN® and Dysport® can do more than most patients realize.

Neuromodulators are celebrated for their timeless ability to smooth and prevent lines, folds, and wrinkles for graceful aging. By relaxing the active muscles that cause and deepen wrinkles, neuromodulators can reliably prevent future wrinkles or soften existing frown lines, crow’s feet and forehead lines. But having a team like ours with a wealth of expertise means that we’re also injectable artists; able to use neuromodulators to sculpt, contour, and shape. Here are a few lesser known procedures that can have beautiful aesthetic results:

• Lip flip: Injections around the upper lip relax the muscles here, causing it to gently roll outward and appear fuller without dermal fillers or actually adding any volume. 
• Masseter injection: The jaw muscles (masseters) tend to clench and grind, causing migraines and creating a bulky jawline for some people. Injections here relax these muscles and weaken them and slim the jawline. This is also an effective non-cosmetic treatment for a painful, tight jaw or intense headaches relating to the masseter muscle.
• Hyperhidrosis: Excessive sweating on palms, thighs and underarms can be effectively treated with neuromodulator injectables at the source of your sweating. 
• Chin sculpting: Neuromodulators can relax the chin’s mentalis muscle to smooth out dimpling, tiny indents, or an “orange peel” texture for a smoother appearance.
• Nose slimming: A subtle lifting effect can be achieved through neuromodulator injections to weaken the depressor septi nasi muscle that pulls down the tip of the nose, creating a subtle lifting effect that can open up the face and make the nose look slimmer.

Should you prioritize long-lasting Botox® results or a more natural look? We consider both for balanced results.

Patients often ask us how long their neuromodulators will last, and what could make them last longer. There’s a lot to discuss here, especially because we prioritize beautiful, subtle results that are never done and always discrete. But how long your neuromodulator injections last is mostly about dose. If you’ve had a higher volume of neuromodulator injected and your targeted area is more still (motionless)  in the first few weeks following Botox treatment, chances are your results will last longer. This is because the muscles stay quiet and don’t start “rehearsing” movement again too soon. That being said, a higher dose means you’ll have to tolerate those first few weeks when your face is moving less than you’d ideally aim for. 

If you prefer a lighter, more natural look even at peak effect (around 2 weeks), that’s totally valid—but just know it may wear off a little faster. Neither approach is wrong. What matters most is having a provider who listens to your goals and helps you strike the right balance between longevity and expression. It’s your face. You get to decide what feels like you.

Any bruising you see is temporary, but results are long-lasting

Our medical injectors at Philosophy MD bring a legacy of experience and expertise to each injectable treatment. We use advanced techniques, tiny needles, and anatomical precision to avoid bruising and swelling and prioritize subtle, natural results that move with you. But here’s the truth: even when everything is done right, bruises can still happen. But that doesn’t mean anything went wrong. As Dr. Bri puts it “A bruise is just a little blood from a tiny vessel that was bumped during treatment—completely normal, especially in areas with lots of blood flow like lips or under eyes.” You can help avoid bruising by avoiding alcohol, Advil, and supplements like fish oil before your Botox®, Dysport® or other injectable treatment. This helps avoid inflammation and support the circulation and regeneration your skin needs to heal. Injectable results and temporary bruising depend on your skin type; it’s just luck of the draw. Here’s another way to think of it: you wouldn’t expect your final result immediately after surgery—you’d expect some swelling, some healing, maybe even some bruising. It’s the same with injectables. Just on a smaller scale.

Remember this:

• Bruising is temporary, not a complication.
• Cool compresses and time help calm inflammation 
• Your full result is still coming, it just takes a little healing.
• Be gentle with yourself. Trust the process. Your glow is on the way.

Top 10 questions to ask your cosmetic injector

One of the most useful tools you can bring to a consultation is your investigator hat. Make sure the person you’re entrusting with your appearance understands your lifestyle, goals, and concerns. Your safety, comfort, and beautiful results are key.

1. How long have you been doing injectable treatments? How long have you been using this specific injectable?
2. Do you have any before and after results I can see? What should I expect from my own results?
3. How will you make sure my results look natural, subtle, and that I still look like “me” when we’re done here?
4. How should I prepare for my appointment? Are there things I should avoid or ways I can prep my skin and body to metabolize the injectable?
5. What will treatment feel like? What measures (pain management, numbing creams, or skilled technique) do you have in place to make sure I’m comfortable and safe?
6. What can you tell me about how my results will play into my social symmetry to make sure that we’re not upsetting the unique balance of my face and features?
7. How long will treatment take? Will I need to take time away from work or is this a no-downtime situation? 
8. How will I look afterwards? Should I expect bruising or swelling, and what can I do to combat this?
9. What is your approach like? What values does your team have?
10. Would you recommend a combination treatment (different fillers and neuromodulators or laser treatment in combination with injectables)? What skincare should I be pairing with my injectables to optimize my results?

Is it your first time trying injectable treatments? You’re in great hands.

Our space is luxurious, our team is kind, and our education, expertise and experience are matched by thoughtful care that puts your goals and concerns first. Your injectable experience begins with a comprehensive consultation with Dr. Bri or Dr. Matt, both skilled providers with a legacy of beautiful results. Your physician will answer your questions, review your aesthetic goals, and design your custom treatment plan so you can choose a strategy that’s specific to you. What you should know:

• Your first visit may be 60-90 minutes to allow for treatment planning and assessment. We want you to feel comfortable, fully heard and briefed on exactly what to expect and the results you can expect.
• Most following neuromodulator appointments take 15-30 minutes after your initial consultation depending on the area treated, if you’re having a combination treatment with other injectable solutions.
• We put your comfort and safety first, and an injectable experience with a skilled, experienced injector here makes a world of difference. Patients describe the sensation like feeling small pinpricks in the treated area, and most patients find the experience quite tolerable. 
• Injectables fit into your everyday life without the need to book time off work. Social downtime is minimal—you might experience slight redness or minor swelling immediately after treatment, but this typically resolves within hours. We recommend avoiding exercise, lying flat, or activities that cause facial flushing for 4 hours post-treatment. 
• You’ll start noticing the smoothing effects around day 3-4, with full results appearing at the 2-week mark–so this is a great treatment to schedule a few weeks before an important event.

Explore new possibilities with expert neuromodulator treatments that enhance your unique beauty.

Request a complimentary consultation to start exploring injectable solutions. Already know what you’re after? Book your treatment online today.

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