Recommending a Botox treatment for your client

Botox and dermal fillers are injectable, non-invasive, medical treatments that are now widely available both in medical facilities and in spas. Are skin care therapists comfortable in recommending a Botox treatment for their client? Likely they are asked about Botox and dermal fillers regularly. Do they realize that their opinion is one of the most important factors in a client’s decision making? The skin care therapist’s personal and professional exposure will largely influence their recommendation so it is important for them to be well informed and to be able to provide accurate information to their clients. It is also important for the aesthetician to be aware of how injectable treatments may benefit their clients and enhance their ongoing therapeutic relationship.

How does an aesthetician or spa owner best learn about injectable treatments?

There is an abundance of information available on cosmetic injectable treatments on the internet but it is best to get the information in a more personalized way from a trusted source. There are many qualified physicians who would be happy to meet with spa owners and aestheticians who would like more information. They may be a great referral source as well. Find someone you trust and ask him/her to do an in-service for you and your spa. Or you may ask to visit their facility to find out more about their treatments and how you can work collaboratively. The most important step in answering your client’s questions about Botox and fillers is to become well-informed yourself. You want to know what conditions they treat, who are appropriate candidates, and how do they benefit your clients. Here is a quick summary. Botox relaxes facial muscles to achieve a well-rested, bright appearance. Common areas to treat are the frown lines between the brows (the # 11s), forehead lines, and crow’s feet. Dermal fillers fill lost volume and can lift sagging tissue as well as soften deep lines and grooves. Common areas to treat are the cheeks, nasolabial lines, and lips. There are many other areas that can be treated with Botox and dermal fillers by advanced injectors. Great candidates for treatment are those who want to look less tired, less saggy, less stressed, or less angry. Botox is commonly done every three to six months and dermal fillers every year or year and a half. 

What are the benefits of injectable treatments?

There are also many “anti-aging” benefits of Botox. Preventative measures are as equally important as therapeutic treatments to target existing skin concerns. The term “anti-aging” has become taboo yet there is value in the descriptive nature of this term. We are all aging and we can either combat the effects by being proactive or we can accept it and “age gracefully”. Many of us want to fight the visible signs of aging. Botox is known to “stop the clock” and is one of the best anti-aging tools available. When a client has lines at rest (when they are not animating or expressing but visible lines can be seen from previous repetitive motion), then that is a good time to start Botox or fillers. Injectable treatments can prevent those lines at rest from developing or at least from getting worse.

My suggestion to aestheticians and spa owners is to have a treatment yourself and experience first hand the positive benefits of injectable treatments. If that is not a favourable option, talk to your clients who have had treatments and find out from as many as you can about their experience. Remember not to be turned off completely if you have seen or heard of a bad result. We all have seen frozen or stiff faces, peaking or spocked brows, or overly full lips or cheeks. “Bad Botox” can occur when an injector has not respected the » harmony of the existing balance of the facial muscles. “Bad fillers” can occur if the injector has not respected the client’s pre-existing facial structure and balance and has created unnatural angles or proportions. Choosing a well qualified injector who has excellent knowledge of the facial anatomy and experience in achieving the desired natural appearance is crucial. 

What are the secondary benefits of a Botox treatment to a spa?

The benefits are happy clients who look and feel more vibrant and are motivated to enhance and maintain their appearance. When clients see the improvements after injectable treatments, they tend to pay more attention to their skin, hair, and body and they have more confidence. They become more concerned about maintaining their skin health and protecting their investment. They want to look good and feel good. They become more receptive to other treatment suggestions such as facials, microdermabrasion, IPL, skin tightening, skin care products, body treatments, and other means to further improve their appearance and self confidence.

Recommending or being supportive of Botox or dermal fillers for your clients will not steer your client away from their regular skin care treatments and products. On the contrary, Botox and dermal fillers augment a good skin care regime and they go hand in hand. Injectable and non-injectable treatments work synergistically to target facial aesthetic concerns. By combining approaches we can achieve a better and more natural result. The key is for the client to be well informed on the value of the synergistic approach.

What prevents an aesthetician or spa owner from recommending Botox?

There may be reluctance to suggest Botox for various reasons. Here are some possible worries:
“I didn’t want to insult my client to tell her she should consider Botox.”
“I didn’t think she could afford it.”
“She told me she was scared of Botox so I didn’t feel comfortable suggesting it.”
“I have seen some scary Botox results so I am afraid to suggest it for anyone.”
“I wasn’t sure she needed Botox.”
“I thought she was too young for Botox.”
“I thought she was too old for Botox.”
“If she does Botox, she won’t want or need her other skin treatments and skin care products” or “she may not be able to afford both.” “I will lose my client”, “she may not want to return” or “the physician may tell her not to waste her time or money on non-injectable treatments and products.”
“I didn’t tell her I had done Botox since I wanted her to believe my skin treatments and products are my only beauty secrets.”

If any of these points sound familiar, it may be time to find out more about Botox and dermal fillers from your local cosmetic physician.