No matter where one falls on the topic of Botox — a drug prepared from the bacterial botulinum toxin and used to prevent a muscle from moving for a limited time — it’s nearly impossible to avoid the buzz surrounding the subject. While some swear by regular doses to help them look and feel more youthful, others are deterred by fears that have been exacerbated by recent headlines of counterfeit Botox injections (and their adverse effects). Many medical professionals, like experts at Seattle’s Glow Medispa, are now working even harder to clear up misinformation and to assuage common hesitancies.
Dr. Kate Dee of Glow Medispa came into the industry 10 years ago from the breast imaging and breast cancer medical world. She describes herself as not your typical beauty consumer, landing more on the science side of things. “I really care about feeling great in your skin,” she says. She acknowledges the reality of the world she’s plunged into. “The industry I’m in is chaotic at best,” she says, adding that there’s “a lot of great and a lot of terrible.” Negative news stories about fake and illegal Botox situations haven’t helped the situation as of late, and Dee hopes to help clear the air.
Dee finds that after most clients have tried one type of Botox, they’ll say, “Now can we try this area?” Not only do folks tend to feel better and look good (“relaxed, less stressed and friendlier”), but headaches tend to go away as well. “The net positive is huge,” she says. On that note, the process is very easy to do, causes surprisingly minimal discomfort (one can barely feel it, she promises), and the amount of toxins actually inserted to help certain muscles relax are “teeny tiny.”
It’s also important to know it’s temporary, Dee adds. If you don’t like the results, they’ll go away soon. “No harm, no foul,” she says. Of the five different toxins approved in the U.S., they use two — Botox, whose results last about three months, and Dysport, which lasts about four months. Since the process needs refreshing, one can decide over time what they’d like to do and how often. (Nothing bad happens if you choose to stop.)
The most common reservation heard by Glow Medispa’s Desiree Otto, MD, who’s been in the industry for about six years, is clients wanting to look natural — rather than “frozen or fake.” “Fortunately, we customize our treatments to accommodate age, desired outcome and each patient’s unique facial anatomy,” she says. “We see a lot of young patients for just a sprinkle of Botox.” Often the people who appear unnatural have had too many filler injections and too much Botox, she explains.
Recently the use of Botox has become mainstream, Otto says, and more refined techniques have led to more precise and natural-looking results. “Also, Botox is being used by younger individuals as a preventive measure against aging,” says, “Lastly, there has been an increase in use of Botox to effectively treat other medical conditions beyond aesthetics, such as TMJ treatments, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) and migraines.”
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Dee shares that the “angry 11” area between the eyebrows is especially popular among teachers, therapists and moms who desire looking “kinder and less angry.” She also notices interest in certain industries where looks factor more; in Seattle, for example, the tech industry tends to lean young and can feel ageist for older employees. One potential client came in wanting to blend in with younger colleagues so they won’t “discount what she’s saying or doing.”
Both experts agree Botox works great to treat the forehead lines, frown lines and crow’s feet. “It can also be life changing for those who use it for medical reasons,” Otto says. “I have helped many patients with TMJ pain and excessive grinding who have had no relief from traditional treatments, such as mouth guards.”
Otto recommends starting treatments when fine lines and wrinkles first begin to appear when your face is at rest. “It is much easier to prevent deep wrinkles from forming than it is to reverse them,” she says. “However, Botox can help those who have deep wrinkles as well, it just takes longer and often requires other complementary treatments to help stimulate collagen and elastin recovery in the skin.”
The average clients seem to be in their 30s, yet even getting Botox in one’s 60s or 70s will lessen lines; it depends on an individual’s skin. “It’s never really too late,” says Dee, who herself began in her late 40s.
Dee acknowledges potential negatives like bruising, although businesses like Glow Medispa use a vein finder which reduces this risk. Another worry can be a drooping eyebrow or eyelid after the treatment, though Dee says this is very rare (and another reason to always visit an experienced doctor or provider).
Dee emphasizes the importance of seeing an expert, experienced person and making sure the venue is legal and legit. “If you can only see nurses or aestheticians, it’s not legal,” she warns. One must be able to consult with a doctor, NP or PA, and the experience should feel professional and supportive. If a place is not operating legally, they may be using counterfeit Botox, which is what has sent so many people into the hospital.
Her number one piece of advice: Avoid places that cut corners. This also happens to be the message of Dee’s new memoir and exposé, “Medspa Mayhem: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, Secrets of the Aesthetics Industry,” coming out in June.
Dee reiterates merely wanting patients to feel good in their skin — not changing or making them different. She mentions there are other simple steps folks can take to prevent collagen loss, too. “There’s no shaming people into doing it,” she says. “If you could keep your skin for the next 20 years … wouldn’t you want to do that?”
AtGlow Medispa, we are driven by science, and everything we do is informed by the latest information and data available. We make a personalized assessment for each patient and strive to bring out your naturalbeauty.
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