Laying the Foundation for Aesthetic Treatments
So now that you know what questions to ask during your first aesthetic consultation (Aesthetic Medicine 101: Where Should I Start?), it’s time to decide what your first (or second!) aesthetic treatment will be.
Of course the elephant in any medical spa treatment room is the tried and tested: “Botox”. Throughout your visits with me you’ll hear me refer to any and all of the injectable Neurotoxins as “Tox” because they all work essentially the same and have the same treatment goal: stop movement.
‘Tox has quickly become a mainstream beauty treatment helping to lessen the movement associated with fine (and sometimes deep) lines of our face. It helps create a visually smooth forehead, raise eyebrows, eliminate smile lines around our eyes or even turn a downward smile upwards. It also helps with the things you may not see: tension or migraine headaches, pain with chewing or issues with grinding or clenching teeth, excessive sweating, or even painful sex related to pelvic floor dysfunction.
The use of ‘Tox is a great start on your medical aesthetics journey - helping to soften those expression lines, improve skin quality and texture over time and give you a more fresh and rested face! As with anything in life there is often more than just one tool in our toolbox of life - and ‘Tox may only be part of your journey. Foundational support with fillers or a curated skin care routine may also be needed to give you the best results.
While ‘Tox helps shut down movement - we often need to provide additional support around these areas of concern - this is where the use of fillers come into play. There are two main types of fillers in the market: collagen stimulating or Hyaluronic acid based. I almost always use a combination of both to achieve the best results.
The collagen stimulating fillers have recently become more well known - and thankfully, as they provide the best long term support to your face. Sculptra ™ manufactured by Galderma and Radiesse ™ manufactured by Merz are frequently used in my office. Their active ingredients help to strengthen and tighten the skin while also providing volume. Results often last two to three years with continued benefits beyond the three-year mark.
Examples of my clients using Regular ‘Tox, Sculptra ™ & Radiesse ™:
The HA fillers contain Hyaluronic acid which is a natural substance in our body created within our connective tissue. It is a soft gel like material that is also injected into our face to add volume and support. Depending on the area injected results can last 6-18 months.
Ultimately what aesthetic treatment you decide to start with is best decided by a formal in person consultation so the movement of your face with expressions and potential associated volume loss can be best assessed.
My consults are always complimentary, and allow for time to start treatment. If you decide you’re ready to start your aesthetic journey with me— I look forward to meeting you!
