Why not Groupon Botox?

As mentioned in my previous article, Botox should be lasting between 3-4 months for the average client. I truly believe Botox does not last more than 4 months within the muscle. At 4 months, the product is fully metabolized and the muscle reverts back to its baseline movement. There are few that find that their botox treatments last over 4 months, so they stretch out their treatments. This is not a bad thing, however it’s unlikely that the Botox is still active in the muscle after 4 months. The rationale is that Botox weakens the muscle, so the muscle is less active. This means that your facial expressions may not have the same strength that you were once used to, because your muscle has been physically weakened by the Botox. In time that full range of motion will come back, and that is when you know it is time for injections again. 

For those who find that their Botox treatment is not lasting more than 3 months, this is just not ok! You are spending so much money on Botox and you don’t understand why you metabolize the product so fast. Well I am here to tell you that it is not your fault, it is completely dependent on your injector and the efficacy of the product. 

I may be the first to tell you this, but dose is equivalent and dependent on duration. The best injectors in the country will tell you this, and most of us have a “minimum” dose that we treat with to avoid this problem with patients. The proper amount of units must be placed into the muscle to ensure the full duration of treatment (3-4 months). Anything less than the proper amount will result in a shortened life of the Botox within the muscle. If there was not an appropriate amount of units placed in the targeted area, the Botox weakens faster with time and metabolizes faster by the individual. 

Some people may blame themselves for the Botox metabolizing so fast, because they claim to have a fast metabolism. Whether or not you have a fast metabolism shouldn’t matter when it comes down to your botox treatment; if it’s not lasting you at least 3 months, you need to seek out another injector who will dose you properly. 

There are various factors to why your Botox treatment isn’t lasting you the full duration, or why the treatment may have not been successful at all! I am here to let you in on a few secrets to help you understand why. 

This section is for the science minded: 

Botox needs to be reconstituted. Botox comes to the professional as a solid powder that is then reconstituted by the injector with sterile saline to turn the Botox into a liquid form that can be injected. 

There are various methods to how an injector dilutes their Botox. In school they teach you to dilute the bottle of Botox with 2.5ml of saline, creating a 2.5:1 ratio of solution to units contained within the solution. I find that this concentration dilutes the Botox too much. This 2.5:1 dilution adds a bit more saline to the solution, which allows for more of a spread and less room to make mistakes on the patient. 

I prefer a reconstitution of 2:1, meaning for every 1 unit of Botox there is a smaller volume of liquid contained within that unit. You are still getting 1 unit, just diluted with less liquid. Less liquid contained in the solution means more concentrated Botox units. The more concentrated the solution, the stronger the Botox treatment (my professional opinion). The stronger and more concentrated Botox units will allow for a longer lasting result.

The whole point of explaining the science is that rookie injectors and med spas often over dilute the Botox because they just don’t know any better. They learned this method in school, and this is the simplest “protocol,” so nothing ever changes. In a med spa setting, there are often multiple injectors working out of the same bottles, and they all need to have the same understanding of how the Botox is being diluted. If they don’t communicate and are not on the same page with their reconstitutions, then the patient’s results are all over the place. 

If you choose to go to a full blown med spa, that is great. However, due to the med spa setting being a larger business, there are multiple employees and you could have various providers injecting your face visit after visit (unless you specifically ask to book with the same injector). No two injectors are ever the same, because no two artists are the same! Treating patients with injectables is indeed an artistry.

Another reason why your Botox didn’t last long or didn’t work at all is the efficacy of the product. Botox is meant to be refrigerated at all times, and if the product was left out at room temperature too long, then the product’s effectiveness decreases. A bottle of botox that has been reconstituted and has been sitting in the refrigerator for too long can lose its efficacy. If an owner bought too much product that has been sitting around for months without use, or is reaching its expiration date, then the Botox is also no longer as effective. 

Be aware of cheap Botox. Be very aware. You just simply don’t know what you are getting. Are you getting product that has been stored in the fridge for too long? Are you getting expired product? Are you getting over diluted product? Are you getting a brand new injector who needs experience behind the needle? This is the big question: Are you willing to risk all that money for the cheaper unit? Because in reality you are bargaining to potentially flush your money down the toilet. Then you have not saved yourself a dime. 

I feel like most people know this, but Groupon is a way for businesses to become recognized and gain new customers. Groupon takes 40% of the businesses earnings. Do you think the business is going to take special care of you when nearly half their earnings are being taken? The answer is that most businesses label you as a “grouponer.” If you do like Groupon to discover deals, that is fine. But do the business a huge favor and call them directly to get the deal that Groupon is offering so that the business still gets 100% of the profit. The business will love you and take care of you for that.

Why would a business put Botox (or any injectables) on a Groupon ad? Simply because they don’t have the amount of business they desire and are trying to gain new clientele. They will do anything to get new people through the door even if that means giving up 40% of their earnings. (I would never give that amount of my earnings up...) If you find a business on Groupon, don’t book through Groupon. Call the business directly. I personally do not advise getting Groupon botox, filler, or any treatments that are medical related! 

Now, here’s a reason to support small businesses or independent injectors: you are always getting the same injector who knows the recipe to your face! If you work with the same injector time after time, you are pretty much guaranteed consistent results. It is very important to stick with your injector when you find one that provides you with consistency, because they know how to deliver amazing results while giving you the dose that will last the full duration. Do not be tempted by the cheaper unit when you have a provider that knows your face and delivers time and time again! 

Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I hope you enjoyed my article as much as I enjoyed writing it for you. Please do not plagiarize by copying or pasting any of this article as your own. This content was written by and belongs to Vanessa Volarich, RN. If you share this info, please credit me! 

Feel free to text me or email me with any questions you may have.

970-458-5447 Info@divinefeminineaesthetics.com