In honor of Skin Cancer Awareness Month, we are continuing our #LiveBright campaign to share sun safety tips, positivity and, of course, our original prints. We are collaborating with leaders in the sun safe community throughout the month to bring further awareness to skin cancer beyond sun protective clothing & swimwear.
Cabana Life is passionate about sun protection and skincare. To give you the best information, we reached out to experts in the field, our favorite dermatologists! We are so excited to feature Dr. Jill Feetham. She is a Board Certified Dermatologist at Dallas Center for Dermatology and Aesthetics. See more tips from Dr. Feetham on Instagram @jillfeethammd and check out her practice @dallascosmeticderm on Instagram & Facebook. Read below to learn Dr. Jill Feetham's tips on cosmetic procedures.
What kinds of cosmetic procedures do you perform?
"Neurotoxins (botox/dysport), filler, laser, body contouring, skin tighting, and skin resurfacing."
How do I know if I'm a candidate for cosmetic work?
"It's always best to come in for a cosmetic consultation where we can discuss your concerns and come up with a personalized game plan. I commonly tell people, do not do certain cosmetic procedures, as the risk does not outweigh the benefit, but there are simple cosmetic procedures that can be started early and help one age gracefully and naturally"
What is botox?
"Botox is a neurotoxin that relaxes muscle movement so facial expression wrinkles do not get deeper and more visible over time."
Where can you get botox? (Where is it safest place to get it done?)
"Botox is typically used to treat upper face expression lines, such as between your brows, forehead lines, and crows feet. The safest place to get it is in the glabella, which is the area between your brows. Lower face botox is also common but can cause asymmetric smile if not injected precisely."
What age is it best to get botox or cosmetic work done?
"The best age is when you are starting to see expression line/wrinkles even when the facial muscles are at rest. So in photos or on zoom calls if you notice wrinkles that form with expression but remain "etched" even after you are no longer making that facial expression, then it is best to start botox prior to those lines becoming permanently etched in."
What are things you like to tell or talk to your patients about before starting botox?
"I like to tell my patients that it is always best to start with lower amounts as we can always add more units, but once injected we can't take the units back. I prefer to treat a new patient and always see he or she back in 2 weeks to decide if more Botox is needed or if new areas should be treated."
What are the worst myths about botox? And how do you respond to them?
"Myth: once you do Botox, you have to do it the rest of you life. Not true! You can always stop getting botox. It will wear off in 4- 6 months and will not leave any permanent facial changes. However, most people love how they look once they have Botox so you may personally want to continue with injections 2 or 3 times a year."
Do botox, or similar injections, hurt?
"It is a really tiny needle that can be the slightest bit painful. However, several distraction techniques are used to minimize the pain and topical numbing can be applied for patients that wish for no pain at all."
How often do I need to get it done?
"Most clients get botox every 4-6 months, so two to three times a year."
Who should I consult about getting cosmetic work done?
"A consultation should be completed by a board certified Dermatologist or Plastic Surgeon."
What is something you think everyone should know about botox, or other cosmetic procedures?
"You can have botox and other cosmetic procedures and still look very natural. I always say, we all want to age gracefully and naturally but that requires time and commitment to protecting your skin's health from the sun, maintaining a great skin care routine, and investing in cosmetic procedures to reverse the signs of aging."
Photo via : @jillfeethammd
It's always important to take care of the skin you're in! We all want to look & feel our best. Cosmetic procedures are a personal choice, so we hope being well informed will help you to make the best decision for you.
For more Dermatologist Q&A's look out for our next #LiveBright blog & follow along on our Instagram.
And if you want to add sun protection to your wardrobe check out our new arrivals for all things sun safe & stylish.