Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer a financing plan?
Yes! We offer a financing plan through Cherry Payment Plans.
Neurotoxins • What can I do to get ready for my tox appointment? Avoid alcohol, and NSAIDs (i.e. Motrin & Asprin) for 24-48 hours before injection. Schedule when you will be able to remain standing or sitting for 4 hours after the appointment. • What excludes me from getting tox/filler? People who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have certain neurological diseases or autoimmune disorders are excluded. • How much tox do I need? This varies depending on what areas you are concerned about and your muscle strength. Everyone is unique and everyone has facial asymmetries. Each "area" is approximately 15-20 units. • Can I just get $150 worth of tox? It is better to budget for full dosing in each desired area instead of trying to spread out (or under dose) tox. If you don't receive full dosing, you will not get your desired effect, and/or it will not last as long. • I want to have my 11 lines, forehead, and crows feet done, how many units will that be? A rough number is 50-60 units. 20 units for 11 lines (standard), 12-20 for forehead (highly variable depending on your wrinkle pattern and severity), and 12-30 for crows feet (varies on wrinkle pattern). •When can I see results? Depending on the patient, product used, and area treated, final results are typically reached 3 to 7 days after initial treatment. • I asked for light dosing or I didn't have enough money for full dosing and I have some areas that need more. What do I do? At the 2-week mark we can certainly add more to get a full effect or address areas that need a bit more. The charge will be the same per-unit pricing. This is referred to as a touch-up or refinement. Refinements are charged by the unit. • What about an eyebrow lift? Add 7 units per eye for a lift for full effect. 4 units per side is a possible option. • Can you relax my chin so I don't have so much dimpling? Or can you relax my horizontal chin line? Absolutely, add 6-12 units tox. • What is a lip flip and can you do a lip flip? If when you smile your lip curls down or in, absolutely. The top lip is 4-8 units as an add-on procedure. • I hate my smoker's lines, can you help? Yes, small amounts of tox can be injected just above the upper lip line and just below the lower lip line to relax the muscle and soften those lines. Similar to a lip flip. In addition, lip filler can be used to add a bit of volume or hydration to the lips and also fill in some wrinkles around the mouth. • I heard you shouldn't get your forehead injected with tox without injecting the 11 lines (between the eyes). Why? If you relax the forehead muscles (the frontalis, your lifting muscles) and don't address the 11 lines (the glabella area, you're pulling down muscles), you will look angry and your 11 lines area will look swollen. You will be unhappy with your results and I do not recommend getting your forehead injected without injecting the 11 lines. You can, however, have your 11 lines injected without having your forehead injected. Some people with saggy upper eyelids (hooded eyes) may not want to have their forehead injected as they rely on their frontalis muscle to prevent the upper lid from hanging over their eye. You may be a good candidate for an upper lid blepharoplasty to remove the excess skin if you have this situation, • What do I do after my tox injections? Avoid rubbing or massaging the injected area for 4 hours after treatment, including facials. Avoid strenuous exercise, saunas, or hot tubs for 24 hours after treatment. Keep upright for 4 hours — no lying on your face, no makeup, and no showers for 4 hours. Avoid headwear that is tightly fitted across the forehead. Avoid any other face treatments for 10 days after tox. •How long do the results last? The wrinkle-reducing effects from botulinum treatments will vary depending on the patient, the area treated, and the product used, but results will typically last anywhere from 3 to 6 months. To maintain your results, your cosmetic provider will simply repeat treatment, adjusting dosage and techniques as necessary to ensure optimal results. • What can prolong my tox injections? Wear sunscreen daily with SPF 30 or greater. Use anti-aging skin care to hydrate and stimulate collagen and elastin production. Keep stress (cortisol) levels low. Keep HIIT workouts to a minimum. Zinc supplement and probiotic. Regularly scheduled tox injections will help the muscles of expression weaken and therefore soften wrinkles. • Why is my tox wearing off so fast? f you asked to go light or start slow, you received an under-dose and will require full dosing for full effect. If you work out a LOT, you will burn through your tox much faster than the average person, unfortunately. If you have been receiving tox for many years, you may have developed tolerance and will require larger doses or more frequent injections. You may need to take a tox holiday. •What is the Difference Between Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, and Jeuveau? Each of these products contain the same active ingredient: botulinum toxin type A, and are designed to address the same types of wrinkles and other cosmetic concerns. The main distinction lies in their formulation, which influences the dosage used, how much the product spreads, and how quickly a patient might see the results. For example, Botox Cosmetic is formulated with an accompanying protein. Dysport and Jeuveau contain similar proteins, while Xeomin doesn’t contain an accompanying protein at all. All four products are FDA approved and have been used safely and effectively for some time. Which of these products is best for you will depend on your unique anatomy, your goals, and your cosmetic injector's recommendations.
Fillers • What can I do to get ready for my filler appointment? Do not take any aspirin, ibuprofen, or similar products (Advil, Motrin, Aleve) for 1 week prior to filler. Avoid fish oil, Vitamin E, and ginkgo biloba for 1 week prior to filler. You must not have dental procedures for 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after filler injections Know that you will likely bruise with filler injections. If you don't, consider yourself very lucky :) Do not have your filler injections within 2 weeks of an important event. • What excludes me from getting filler? People who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have certain neurological diseases or autoimmune disorders are excluded.
Chemical Peels • What can I do to get ready for my VI PEEL facial? Avoid sun exposure, tanning beds, and spray tans for a minimum of 24 hours prior to treatment. Cleanse your skin and do not apply lotion or makeup. Wearing a headband and scoop neck shirt is ideal. No Accutane or photosensitizing medications for 6 months prior to treatment. No chemical peel for 2 weeks prior and 2 weeks after. Retin-A, Renova, and Tazorac must not be used for 1 week prior to treatment. No waxing or use of chemical depilatories for 2 weeks prior to and after treatment. You may not be pregnant. If you have a history of cold sores, consider prophylactic antiviral therapy such as Valtrex. • Why do I have to wait 3 days to exercise after a VI Peel? First, you won't want to increase your body heat because it will make your face feel very hot. Second, you could cause your skin to blister or worsen hyperpigmentation. • Why can't I peel off this peeling skin? Please let the natural process occur and let the skin fall off when it is ready. You don't want to cause scarring or hyperpigmentation. If it is really bothering you, you can take little cosmetic scissors and trim the areas that are not adhered to the skin. But do not pull off any skin still attached. • Why am I so thirsty with this chemical peel? Your body is working to break down the acids applied and drinking plenty of water helps with this process. Add some lemon or lime to a jug of water and sip throughout the day. • The corners of my lips and next to my nose are extra dry, what can I do? Apply Aquaphor, I can give you a small sample if you don't have any. I have a VI Peel Tips sheet for you as well.
Lasers • How does laser skin resurfacing work? Ablative lasers, such as a CO2 laser, work by traumatizing the skin. It removes the thin outer layer of skin (epidermis) and heats the underlying skin (dermis). This stimulates the growth of new collagen fibers. As the epidermis heals and regrows, the treated skin appears clearer, smoother, and tighter. Non-ablative lasers, such as pulsed light (IPL) devices, do not traumatize the skin, instead, they stimulate collagen growth and improve skin tone and texture. This is less invasive and requires less recovery time, but is less effective. The provider chooses the laser type based on the condition being treated and the patient’s cosmetic goals. • What should I do to prepare for my Laser Hair Removal treatment? Avoid sun for 2 weeks before and after in the areas treated. Make sure to shave the area to be treated the morning of your appointment and do not pluck, wax, or thread for 4 weeks prior to treatment. Shaving the hair is fine. • What should I do to prepare for my CO2 Laser Resurfacing Treatment? Avoid sun for 2 weeks prior to treatment. If possible have Aquaphor, 1% Hydrocortisone, sterile water, and gauze pads at home for post-care. This can be purchased on Amazon. • Is CO2 laser skin resurfacing painful? CO2 laser skin resurfacing is usually done with topical anesthesia, so there is minimal discomfort during the procedure. • How long does a CO2 laser skin resurfacing take to heal? Recovery from CO2 laser resurfacing of the entire face is seven to 14 days, depending on the depth. Post-resurfacing swelling is expected. It peaks at day two or three, and then usually subsides by days five or seven. • When is CO2 laser skin resurfacing not recommended? CO2 laser skin resurfacing is not recommended with: Active bacterial, viral, or fungal infections Unrealistic expectations Poor general health Oral isotretinoin (Accutane) use within the previous six months Fitzpatrick skin phototypes 5-6 (very dark skin) Other resurfacing procedures within the preceding two to three months Unwillingness to accept the possibility of complications Eyelid laxity Excessively thick or thin skin Collagen vascular disease Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or systemic infections Tendency for keloid or thick scar formation • What should I do to prepare for my IPL treatment? Avoiding the sun for 2 weeks prior to treatment is the most important thing to do. Be prepared to stay out of the sun for 2 weeks after the treatment as well to avoid sunburn as your skin will be more susceptible to burning. Come in with a clean face. You can wear makeup and sunscreen right after treatment. • Who Should Get IPL Treatment? IPL works best if you have pale or light brown skin. Talk to your provider if you want to lessen or get rid of: Acne Birthmarks Stretch marks Broken blood vessels Brown spots, also called liver or age spots Dark spots from hormonal changes Discolored skin Fine wrinkles Freckles Redness from rosacea Scars Spider veins Unwanted hair • When is IPL not recommended? IPL is not recommended if you: Are sensitive to light Have recently tanned your skin using sunlight, tanning beds, or tanning creams Might have skin cancer Are very dark-skinned Have a skin resurfacing disorder Have severe scarring Have keloid scar tissue IPL is safe when done by a trained technician. However the treatment could cause hormonal brown spots to flare up. You could have other unwanted side effects. This is not a treatment suitable for melasma.
Microneedling •How Does Radiofrequency Microneedling Work? RF microneedling utilizes ultrafine needles, along with LED lights emitting radiofrequency waves, to produce thermal energy. The process involves irritating the skin and stimulating its repair response, while encouraging the body’s ability to naturally produce collagen. •What excludes me from getting microneedling treatment? People who suffer from skin infections, have a moderate to severe skin disease, or have an active breakout of cold sores should avoid the treatment. Additionally, those who are pregnant, taking anticoagulants, receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy, have a history of keloids, hypertrophic scarring, or poor wound healing should also refrain. • What should I do to prepare for my Radiofrequency Microneedling treatment? Come with a clean face. Avoid Retinol for 7 days before and after treatment. You can wear make-up the next day following treatment.
If you're happy with your results and want to share them,
let me know and I would be happy to share it on social media!
What if I still have questions?
Contact Jill @ 941-769-7826