Generally speaking, we’re obsessed with youth and we’re afraid of wrinkles. Some people internalise this anxiety and (a rapidly growing amount of) individuals start to make changes to their outward appearance.
It’s a very personal choice to try to eradicate the laugh lines, crows feet and forehead creases of a life well lived. We would never tell you what to do, what not to do, or cast any judgement on your decisions. But what we can do is arm you with a routine that will maintain the smooth, plump, just-injected look, should you choose to go down that route. (Is there anything worse than investing in a skin treatment to have the results diminish quickly, ugh.)
Whether it’s filler, botox, or baby botox, any act of prejuvenation - which means, to initiate a series of skincare steps or treatments that will delay the changes associated with ‘ageing’ skin - is going to sensitise the skin for a period of time post treatment.
For at least four hours you want to remain upright and avoid lying down while the protein settles into place, also cancel that pilates class to help minimise swelling and ensure the treatment areas don’t get irritated by heat and sweat for another 12 hours. Despite the nerves (pre treatment) and pain or headaches (post treatment) steer clear of panadol because this is only going to thin your blood and make the skin more prone to bruising. And lastly, as counterintuitive as it may feel, don’t be afraid to move your face - smile, laugh, frown - as you would normally because it’s actually going to ensure the product is absorbed quicker into the muscle*.
Now if botox and fillers are like exercise, then your skincare routine is the healthy diet. You can get a good result just focusing on one, but combining the both will make your treatment really go the distance. To really supercharge your glow in the weeks and months following your appointment, opt for products packed with hydration heavyweights like ceramides, glycerin and hyaluronic acid. It’s not uncommon to notice your skin looking and feeling drier than normal after botox or filler, so ensuring these ingredients are incorporated in your daily serums and/or moisturisers is going to help really rejuvenate and restore the skin.
Another popular skincare ingredient that’s going to compound the collagen-boosting (or, freezing?) benefits of botox and fillers over time, is retinol (vitamin a). Working to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by stimulating the production of collagen, retinol also helps to fade age spots and pigmentation, and soften rough patches of the skin. If your skin does sit on the sensitive side, start with a small concentration, 1-2 times a week to gauge how your skin responds to the (stronger) active.
Next you’re gonna want to invest in a facial tool for maximum at-home sculpting sessions, a gua sha or similar that is going to help tone and firm facial muscles, and train them to remain lifted as though you just walked out of your appointment. Once you’ve familiarised yourself with the method, and created a nourishing routine, know that daily use of your gua sha or roller is how you’ll achieve the best and tightest results.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, you need to get serious about sunscreen. Broad spectrum SPF 50+ is non-negotiable. We already know that UV damage is the number one cause of premature ageing, so if this isn’t the final step in your morning skincare routine (no matter the season), you’ll find yourself quickly trying to troubleshoot a whole host of issues including: loss of elasticity, increased pigmentation, and the development of fine lines.
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