Even though cosmetic treatments are more popular than ever (and there is increasingly better education out there than there ever used to be), I still continue to hear treatment myths about cosmetic procedures that amaze me – “my skin won’t tolerate lasers”; “ I’m needle-phobic”. There is so much fear out there, but there doesn’t have to be. In the right hands, and with the right technologies, you can be on your way to results you’ll love – education and the right treatment provider are the keys to banishing fear for good!
On that note, this #mythbustermondays series (from Dr. Heidi’s Instagram), we’re addressing laser myths and injection-phobia once and for all:
Cosmetic Treatment Myth
Patients often assume that their past experience with ‘a laser’ – or that of a friend – tells them how they’ll respond to ALL lasers. They say things like “my skin is too sensitive for lasers”; “my friend had a horrible reaction to laser”; or “I’m afraid of lasers.”
Debunked
REALITY: LASER stands for Light Amplified by Stimulated Emission of Radiation – and different lasers have different wavelengths of light (and a whole bunch of other parameters) which are attracted to different targets in the skin. So saying ‘LASER’ is like saying ‘DOG’. A dog could be a Great Dane or a Chihuahua. Similarly, a ‘baby Fraxel’ treatment like Clear+Brilliant® delivers a very different experience (and mechanism of action) than Fraxel laser resurfacing with less downtime. So before you dismiss an entire segment of technology, get the facts from your cosmetic dermatologist…et voila, #understandingbeatsfear. Consider this one of many treatment myths busted!
This patient was ‘needle-phobic’ but, with time, has become as comfortable as any other injectable patient.
Cosmetic Treatment Myth
“I’m too needle-phobic to ever get injectables…”
Debunked
REALITY: In the right environment with the right tools, anyone can get injectables in physical and emotional comfort. Some of my tricks of the trade:
- Topical anesthetic isn’t a necessity for most injectable patients (other than for the lips), but 15 minutes of high concentration topical anesthetic takes away the anxiety trigger of the needle touch.
- Finger tapping on a patient’s shoulder is a surprisingly effective distraction. But it’s not enough for everyone. Our Dr. Fuji Cyber-Relax Tapping Neck & Shoulder Massager has a variety of strengths and tapping patterns. Its weight reduces shoulder tension and calms patient jitters.
- Squeezing stress balls provides an alternative to crushing the nurse’s hands.
- TSK’s invisible needles make Botox injections almost imperceptible. Injecting fillers with a TSK steriglide cannula reduces the number of needle sticks to just the entry points.
- Finally, we keep sparkling juice, water, and snacks on hands for our patients who have been too busy to eat before their appointment – hypoglycemia and dehydration add to anxiety and increase the risk of a vasovagal reaction (nausea and dizziness).
