Did you hear? Superdrug’s just launched a Botox and fillers service.
That’s right. Next time you pop into a high street store, you can get a Botox treatment together with that new cute lipstick and your fave body wash. The best part? It’ll cost you just £99.
I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, it’s great that fillers and Botox treatments are becoming more accessible to everyone. Let’s face it, it was just a matter of time, wasn’t it?
On the other, I’m not comfortable with the idea of getting Botox at the drugstore. I want to know that whoever’s injecting Botox into my face knows what she’s doing. Can I really trust someone at Superdrug to know what she’s doing?!
Ok, they probably won’t hire just anyone but… We’ve all heard those horror stories from women who went to cheap Botox clinics and came out with their faces frozen in a weird pose for three months or, worse, without expression.
How the heck do you know who’s good at wielding the needle? Here are 5 tips to find a qualified practitioner you can trust for your Botox treatment:
1. Know What You Want
Before you even start looking for a practitioner for your filler or Botox treatment, do some research on what’s available.
Different fillers and Botox work in different ways and are best suitable for different areas of the face. A good practitioner will recommend you what you need. An unscrupulous one won’t hesitate to sell you what you don’t.
If you don’t know anything about these treatments, how will you be able to tell who’s trying to take advantage of you? Read about various treatments so you already have a good idea of what you want when you approach the clinic.
Struggling to put together a skincare routine that minimises wrinkles, prevents premature aging, and gives your complexion a youthful glow? Download your FREE “Best Anti-Aging Skincare Routine” to get started (it features product recommendations + right application order):
2. Do Your Homework
Once you know you want Botox, Restylane or whatever other filler, you can start searching for a practitioner qualified in it. Here are a few things to look out for:
- Qualifications: Is the practitioner registered with the state’s regulatory authority (in the UK, that’s the General Medical Council)?
- Insurance: Does the practitioner has proper insurance cover to protect you in case something goes wrong?
- Good aesthetic: Does the practitioners understands the complexity of facial anatomy and how to work with it to achieve a natural look?
- Hygiene: Does the clinic meets basic hygienic standards?
- Other treatments:Â Are Botox/fillers the main focus of the clinic?
- Reviews: does the clinic/practitioner has good reviews (bonus points if you can get a referral from a friend)?
If the answer to even one of these questions is no, you may want to look somewhere else for your filler or Botox treatment.
3. Don’t Be A Cheapskate
I like a good deal as much as everyone else. But if price’s your only criteria to choose a practitioner for your filler or Botox treatment, you’re in trouble.
If the price is too low, ask yourself, “where’s the catch?” Some clinics dilute the Botox or give you an inferior quality product. Others may have poor hygiene standards or hire newbies with little to no experience on how to inject Botox properly.
Qualified practitioners with years of expertise rarely discount their prices – for a reason: you’re paying for all the years they studied their craft, the skills they’ve perfected, and the experience they’ve accumulated.
By all means, shop around for the best price. But if a deal sounds too good to be true, don’t risk it.
4. Book A Free Consultation
By now, you’ve probably narrowed down the field to a few clinics/practitioners that seem qualified to perform a Botox treatment. Now it’s time to check out the places in person.
Don’t worry about the costs. Lots of clinics offer a free consultation to clear up patients’ doubts and make sure they understand what they’re looking for.
This is a great opportunity to ask as many questions as you want. It’s also a great excuse to snoop around and see how well the clinic is maintained, if it meets basic hygienic standards, if the staff is friendly…
And nope, there’s no pressure to have your treatment at a clinic just because you’re having a consultation there. If your practitioner bombards you with sell pitches, is encouraging you to sign up straight away or does anything that makes you comfortable, get out of there, pronto.
You don’t want to have your Botox treatment at a place that cares more about getting your money than about you.
5. Follow It Up
Did you know a Botox treatment takes up to 2 weeks to work?
That’s why it’s a good idea to see your practitioner again after two weeks for a review. Don’t be shy. If you’re not satisfied with the results, tell her straight so she can fix it now.
Even if you’re happy, it’s still a good idea to go for a review, just to check Botox if settling in just fine. Just in case.
