Neurotoxin FAQ
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HOW DOES BOTULINUM TOXIN WORK? Expression lines and wrinkles are brought on by the repetitive contraction of facial muscles. A targeted treatment area is injected with Botox® or Jeuveau®, which are both forms of botulinum toxin type A, using an ultra-fine needle. These products function by blocking the nerve impulses required for the contraction of facial muscles. After injection, the neurotoxin causes the muscles to relax and move less, which lessens the appearance of wrinkles or lines in the area that was treated. After the injections, your results will become apparent over the course of 2 to 6 days. Injections may be repeated after 3 months to maintain results.
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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BOTOX® AND JEUVEAU®? Both of these are botulinum toxin products and are used for the same purpose, to decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Jeuveau® has a slightly quicker onset of action. Both last between 3-6 months for most people.
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HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? Both Botox® and Jeuveau® are $12/unit. The number of units needed depends on the areas treated as well as each patient's individual anatomy. BlueFire Med members get 10% off of their Botox® or Jeuveau® every time!
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WHAT DOES A TREATMENT FEEL LIKE? Tox treatments are quick with minimal discomfort. Injections themselves feel like a skin prick +/- mild stinging, and discomfort subsides after the needle is removed from the skin. The treatment requires no anesthesia or recovery time. Many people get Botox® during their lunch hours and are able to return to work right after their appointment.
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ARE THESE THE SAME AS FILLER? No. Neuromodulators and fillers are different aesthetic treatments. Dr. Reith does not do filler.
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CAN I WALK IN FOR BOTOX® OR JEUVEAU®? No. We require an appointment. Dr. Reith is also a primary care physician and may have other patients scheduled at the time you walk in.
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WHAT DO I NEED TO DO PRIOR TO MY APPOINTMENT? It is recommended that you avoid taking medications that can thin the blood (common examples include Vitamin E, Omega 3/fish oil, and NSAIDs--ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin, etc) two weeks prior to being injected. Please DO NOT stop any prescription blood thinner (such as warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto, etc) without first talking to the physician who prescribed it for you. It is also recommended that you abstain from alcohol for 24 hours prior to injections as this can also thin the blood and lead to increased risk of bruising. Be sure to eat a good meal and drink plenty of water before your appointment to reduce any chance of feeling lightheaded during the procedure.
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WHAT DO I NEED TO DO AFTER MY APPOINTMENT? The biggest thing is to keep your hands off of your face for several hours after receiving injections! Touching the face can move the neurotoxin to adjacent muscles where it can exert its effects in unwanted places. Dr. Reith also recommends against lying down, engaging in strenuous activity, or excessive heat exposure for at least 4 hours after injections. Further aftercare instructions will be discussed in person at your appointment.
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WHEN SHOULD I GET BOTOX® OR JEUVEAU®? Both of these treatments are FDA approved in patients over 18 years of age. Some patients choose to begin in their late twenties as either a preventative measure or when they first begin to notice fine lines. It is recommended that you have injections performed at least 2 weeks prior to a big event (think wedding, family photos, vacation, etc) as this will allow your full results to be visible. This will also give any possible bruising or swelling plenty of time to subside.
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WOULD THERE BE ANY REASON I WOULDN'T BE ELIGIBLE TO HAVE INJECTIONS DONE? Patients with neurological diseases such as Parkinson's Disease, Myasthenia Gravis, Lambert-Eaton Syndrome, Multiple Sclerosis, or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) should not receive neurotoxin injections. Patients that are pregnant or breastfeeding are not eligible to receive injections. If you have a rash or other skin issue in the area that will be injected, you should wait until this resolves prior to scheduling. You must be at least 18 years of age to receive Botox® or Jeuveau®.
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WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF BOTOX® OR JEUVEAU®? Risks of any injection include mild pain or stinging, bruising, swelling, or other localized site reaction. A small proportion of patients experience a headache or mild flu-like symptoms after injections, but overall the majority of patients tolerate the procedure without any issues. If the neurotoxin spreads to an unintended area, this can lead an eyebrow or eyelid droop (called "ptosis"). This risk is very small if you follow the recommended aftercare instructions carefully. Of course there is a very small possibility that a patient may be allergic to the product itself, but fortunately this is quite rare.
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IS THERE ANY FOLLOW UP NEEDED AFTERWARD? Dr. Reith likes to see patients back about 2 weeks after receiving Botox® or Jeuveau® for reassessment and repeat photos. By this time, your full results should be apparent. Should you need any touch ups (additional Botox® or Jeuveau® in any treated areas that did not fully respond to the initial round of injections), Dr. Reith can take care of that during this time. Please note that if you do need touch ups, you will be responsible for the cost of the additional product at the time of service.
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WHAT ARE DR. REITH'S QUALIFICATIONS TO INJECT BOTOX®? This is an important question to ask! Her anatomy training started during undergrad with the Human Body course at KSU. Dr. Reith then had 2 years of hands on cadaver dissection experience (including in depth dissection and structure/function identification of head and neck muscles) during medical school. Her residency training included an aesthetics rotation where she gained first hand experience. After graduating residency, she completed hands on training with the American Academy of Facial Esthetics as well as additional training to perform Botox® injections for migraine prophylaxis. She continues to further her aesthetics training with continuing education on a regular basis. Ask Dr. Reith to show you her skull model!
Medical Ear Piercing FAQ
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WHAT DOES MEDICAL EAR PIERCING MEAN? The term "medical ear piercing" just refers to ear piercing done by a medical professional in a healthcare setting. This doesn't imply that there's a medical reason that the piercing needs to be done, rather it just explains the circumstances under which the piercing is performed.
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WHAT KIND OF EQUIPMENT AND EARRINGS ARE USED? Dr. Reith uses the Blomdahl Medical Ear Piercing system, which is only available to healthcare providers. Earrings are made of either medical grade plastic or titanium with multiple styles of each available. Everything comes in a sterile package, individually wrapped for each patient. Nothing that comes in contact with the ear is ever reused. For a listing of our current earring inventory, please see the Services page.
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WHICH PARTS OF THE EAR DO YOU PIERCE? We only pierce ear lobes in this office. We do not pierce any other body parts--nose, belly button, etc.
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WHAT IS THE AGE REQUIREMENT FOR EAR PIERCING? WHAT AGE IS BEST? We can pierce individuals age 3 months and above as long as they have had their 2 month immunizations (including DTaP). Anyone under 18 must have a parent or guardian present. If you choose to have your child's ears pierced as an infant, be aware that after 10 months of age they are often more apt to pick/pull at their earrings, which can increase the risk of infection. After age 5-6, most children are able to sit more still for the procedure and can begin to take a more active role in assisting with aftercare as well.
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HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? The cost to pierce both ears is $100. This includes earrings and all the aftercare supplies you'll need. Numbing cream is available if desired for an additional $10. BlueFire Med members get $10 off the price of ear piercing! We accept cash or credit/debit card.
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HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE? The procedure itself only takes a few seconds. However, there will be some paperwork to fill out that Dr. Reith will review prior to piercing. If you choose to have numbing cream applied, it is best to let it sit for at least 20 minutes to provide the most comfort for the procedure so take this into consideration as well. Often times the part that takes the longest is choosing the correct location and marking it. We want you to love your piercing so Dr. Reith will never rush this crucial step!
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CAN WE WALK IN FOR EAR PIERCING? No. We require an appointment. Dr. Reith is also a primary care physician and may have other patients scheduled at the time you walk in.
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WHY DO YOU USE PLASTIC OR TITANIUM EARRINGS? It's all in an effort to decrease the risk of nickel allergy! If you have sensitive ears, you know how annoying this can be. Nickel is often mixed with other metals to form alloys with differing properties than the original metal alone. However, a significant portion of the population can develop an allergy to nickel, and piercing is the leading cause of nickel allergy. With medical plastic earrings, there is a ZERO percent chance of developing a nickel allergy (because there isn't any metal present to begin with). Titanium earrings are also a great choice--titanium is often used for medical implants that remain in the body for decades. The amount of nickel present in titanium is very low and the amount that is present is bound very tightly within the metal, making nickel allergy extremely unlikely.
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HOW DO WE CARE FOR THE PIERCING AFTER WE LEAVE THE CLINIC? The earrings placed at the time of the piercing will need to remain in place 24/7 for 6 weeks. After this time, they may be changed to an earring of your choice. It's recommended to keep an earring in most of the time during the first year until the piercing is totally healed to help prevent holes from closing up. Dr. Reith will provide you with aftercare cleaning supplies (included in the cost of piercing) and will explain how to care for the new piercing as it heals. You'll also be provided a handout with additional aftercare instructions and some other FAQs that relate to ear piercing.
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WHAT IF WE'RE WORRIED THERE'S AN INFECTION? Signs of infection include redness, pain, and pus formation. You can reduce the risk of infection by always washing your hands well before touching the new piercing and by following the aftercare instructions to keep the piercing clean. If you're worried your piercing may be infected, see your doctor within 24 hours for evaluation.