Botox and neuromodulators with Sally Tax, RN in Allentown

What it's used for

• Frown lines between the brows, the ones people call elevens
• Horizontal forehead lines
• Crow's feet at the outer corners of the eyes
• Bunny lines across the bridge of the nose
• A chin that dimples or looks pebbled when you speak
• Some jaw clenching and a heavy lower face, in the right candidate

How I approach it

The first thing I ask is how much movement you want to keep, and I want a real answer rather than a polite one. Some people want their brows to move fully. Others only care about the line between them and are happy for the forehead to go quiet. Those are genuinely different plans.

Then I watch you talk. Not just at rest and not just at full expression, because neither of those is how anyone actually sees you. Where your brows sit, which muscles are doing the most work, whether one side is stronger. Most of the decisions get made while you're telling me what bothers you.

I dose conservatively the first time, always. I don't yet know how your muscles respond, and adding a little at two weeks is a five-minute conversation. Waiting out too much is three months of your life. There's no version where starting cautiously was the wrong call.

What to expect

The appointment

We talk, I assess, then a series of very fine injections. The injecting itself takes a few minutes.

First hour

Small raised bumps at the injection points settle. You can go straight back to work.

Days 3 to 5

The first softening. Movement starts to ease before the lines change.

Day 14

Full effect. This is when to judge it, and when I want to see you if we haven't worked together before.

Month 3 to 4

Gradual return of movement for most people. Lines come back to where they were, never worse.

Appointment and cost

About 30 minutes, booked through Meesha Aesthetics. A $75 deposit holds the appointment and comes off the cost of your visit, so it isn't an extra charge.

Neuromodulators are priced by how much product your muscles actually need, which is why nobody can quote you honestly before seeing your face. Strong muscles need more. Tell me your budget in the room and I'll build a plan around it, including which single area to treat if that's the right call this time.

When I'd tell you not to

• If your lines are etched in and visible when your face is completely still, I'll tell you a neuromodulator will soften them slowly over rounds rather than erase them now. Some people want to know that before they spend.
• If your brows are already sitting low and heavy, treating the forehead can make that worse. Sometimes the answer is to treat less of it, or a different area entirely.
• If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, we wait.
• If you came in two weeks before a wedding having never had tox, I'll usually suggest we don't. Not because it would go wrong, but because there's no room to adjust and that's an awful position to be in.

Common questions

Which product will you use?

Whichever suits your goals and timeline. They behave slightly differently in onset and duration. Booking the Uncertain appointment is completely normal and it's what most first-timers should choose.

How long does it last?

Usually three to four months, though the range is wide. Your first round is often the shortest, and many people find later rounds hold longer.

Will I look frozen?

Not unless we plan for it, and we won't. A frozen look comes from treating too many muscles too heavily, not from the product.

Can I have it before an event?

Yes, with at least two to four weeks' notice. If it's your first time, aim for three months out so there's room for a second appointment.

Does it prevent lines from forming?

Consistent treatment does seem to slow the etching of lines over time, because the skin gets a break from folding. That's a long game, not an overnight result.

Worth reading first

• Will Botox make me look frozen?
• Can I keep movement with Botox?
• What should I expect from my first Botox appointment?
• How long does Botox last?
• What is the aftercare for Botox?