Note to Self- What to Ask Yourself Before Botox or Fillers

The placement of Botox and fillers in the face are meant to give a person a look that is more youthful and rejuvenated. The reasons a person wants to have Botox or fillers might range from wanting to turn back the clock a bit with a subtle change to being so dissatisfied with their features that they want to try and alter their look in order to actually be happy with the appearance of their face. Do you fall into either of these categories or are you somewhere in the middle? Before you make the decision to undergo either treatment, here are some of the common questions you need to ask yourself before having Botox or fillers.

Botox and Fillers – Questions to Ask Yourself in Advance

The issue of body image dissatisfaction is one that impacts many people, and they turn to cosmetic treatments such as Botox and fillers to alter their appearance. You do need to know that both treatments do not provide permanent results so repeat treatments will be necessary to maintain the results.

Now that you know the length of the results that can be expected, here are some questions you need to ask yourself before having a procedure:

• Why do you want to change your appearance? The first thing to keep in mind before making any alterations to your look is determining the reason you want to make a change (that goes beyond the desire to look refreshed and rejuvenated or gain a fuller and younger look). While you might want to feel better about yourself and your appearance, it is important to think of Botox and fillers as temporary enhancements that make small or subtle changes as opposed to long-lasting alterations. The changes made by these cosmetic treatments will not make a permanent change to your life. You need to decide if you want to try Botox or fillers to see the changes that can be accomplished or if you want to have a more invasive procedure such as a facelift that gives results that are long-lasting and more dramatic in appearance. Consider your current appearance and decide if enhancing it will make you happy or if you want to try and make a radical change in your appearance.
• Do you think Botox or fillers will instantly improve your self-esteem or self-image? It is rather easy to think your life would be better if you could only change “this or that” when it comes to your appearance. However, this is not always the case because the performance of cosmetic treatments such as Botox or fillers could actually just be a way to hide a lack of confidence that you might be feeling on a regular basis. It is also not the best idea to ask a friend or family member their opinion on having either treatment because they might decide to “tell you what you want to hear” as opposed to giving their actual opinion. It also helps to think about what you would say to someone who asked you the same question. Your answer in that situation can help you build on your positive thoughts about having a procedure or make you think twice if you have doubts that you would give a positive answer to another person.
• Are you trying to copy someone else? Many people want to make a change in their appearance once they view the current look of celebrities on the red carpet or social media influencers on Instagram. If you want to achieve the fuller lips or smooth facial features without wrinkles or fine lines that are part of the daily look of celebrities, you might be experiencing the mindset of “compare and despair.” This mental state is best described as “the impact of constantly comparing yourself to others and feeling as though you aren’t good enough.” It is often the result of viewing others on social media, and it can have a large negative impact on the self-esteem of a person. There are ways to avoid this mental state and it starts with understanding what make you different and unique. Your personal life and social situation are likely quite different from those you want to emulate so be sure and determine what makes your life stand out from others. You also need to be clear about what you want when it comes to making a change to your appearance. In other words, do not be vague and simply say you want to look like someone you follow on Instagram. Instead, have a clear reason for the desired changes and even give detailed examples of what you would like to see after the treatment.

Now that you know the questions you should ask yourself before having Botox or fillers, you can take the necessary time to think about your answers and decide if either of these treatments is the right option for your physical appearance and overall self-esteem.

-MA