What to Expect from Your First Anti-Wrinkle Treatment

Having a treatment done for the first time can be a very daunting ordeal unless you know what to expect beforehand.

Let’s take a look at what to expect from your first anti-wrinkle treatment appointment.

What happens first?

Before the treatment can go ahead a consultation with a prescriber will need to take place to determine whether anti-wrinkle injections are suitable or not. There are many contraindications that would prevent the treatment from taking place, such as the presence of an autoimmune disease, pregnancy or breastfeeding.

During the consultation, the prescriber will ask which areas are of concern and explain what treatments can be done, they will also manage the client's expectations by explaining how the treatment works and what it is.

Once it has been established whether anti-wrinkle injections are the correct treatment to use, the product will then be ordered with a prescription signed by the prescriber from a reputable pharmacy service. An appointment date will then also be made for the treatment to be administered.

On the appointment day

When the appointment date approaches, the practitioner will go over the consultation once more and check that nothing has changed that may deter the treatment from being given. They will also manage the client’s expectations again and explain the treatment process.

When this is completed, a topical numbing cream might be applied to the areas that will be treated, and then the injection points will be marked up. The client will be asked to make a series of faces; lifting their brows, scrunching their eyes, and frowning are the most commonly asked ones. This is so the practitioner can assess the client’s muscles and make sure that the injection points are in the correct place. The facial anatomy and physiology can vary from client to client so it’s important that the practitioner always checks this.

The skin will then be cleaned with an alcohol wipe and the practitioner will begin injecting the Botox into the marked-up injection points.

Aftercare Advice

When the practitioner has finished injecting they will provide aftercare advice on what to do and what not to do to make sure the treatment works effectively and to ensure the treated areas stay infection-free.

Exposure to saunas, steam rooms and sun can have an effect on the botox and stop it from working as well as it could so will often be advised to be avoided.

A top-up appointment may also be made for two week’s time after the first treatment, this is usually to check how well the anti-wrinkle treatment has worked and to see if any further injections are required to get the desired results. The practitioner may also manage the client’s expectations at this point or recommend other treatments that will help to get the outcome they desire.

If other treatments are recommended and would be more suitable these may also be booked in at that time, or could potentially be offered on the same day if a prior consultation isn’t required and the practitioner has the products in stock already.