Frequently Asked Questions
Tox
Tox is ideal for wrinkle prevention and treatment. QUIKTOX’s process ensures it won’t change your natural appearance.
Tox is one of five FDA-approved drugs designed to relax, or “modulate,” specific muscles responsible for wrinkling in the skin above. Brands include Botox®, Xeomin®, Dysport®, Daxxify® and Jeuveau®.
Tox, Neurotoxins, and Neuromodulators work by relaxing the target muscle without altering its structure. All four wrinkle relaxers we use at QUIKTOX are carefully studied and approved for three of the strongest onset areas for wrinkles:
• Around the eyes
• Between eyebrows
• Along the forehead
In a word, very. There’s no predetermined formula for the number of lines and deep wrinkles botox might prevent over a person’s lifetime. What we do know: A steady cadence of preventative botox assures a finer complexion with far fewer lines in the long run. That’s just how effective treatment is.
Whether you’re measuring for safety, cost, or convenience – botox remains one of the best solutions out there.
Treating wrinkles is skincare with a focus on tomorrow. We say begin when you’re ready!
Our focus at QUIKTOX is about making sure lighter “dynamic” lines that show with your expression don’t turn into the deeper “static” lines that won’t go away. For the best long-term prevention, we recommend treating dynamic lines around the time you start noticing them. This will be between 25 and 30 for most, though everyone’s complexion is different.
If you aren’t sure about timing, you’re always welcome to come in for a wrinkle analysis – on us!
Swelling is a common response for skin, though you may not even notice. Treatment points tend to be very fine – about the size of a freckle – and resolve within 30 minutes.
Exercise – You can safely enjoy any working out prior to treatment. Afterward, though, you’ll want to avoid strenuous exercise for about 24 hours and not lie down for 4 hours. This prevents treatment from migrating where it shouldn’t.
Alcohol – For a quick recovery with less chance of bruising, we advise against alcohol 12 hours prior to your botox treatment and waiting at least 4 hours after treatment as well.
Dosing. Few factors determine the physical effects of Tox than where it’s administered on the face and the amount used. For those getting Tox, the sweet spot for wrinkle prevention – what we call your ideal dose – refines existing lines while leaving room for the expressions that make your look uniquely you.
Dosing is very much a science, and highly individualized. With wrinkles, we see a path to prevention in every face. If you’re looking to learn a bit more about treatment, feel free to book a consult with us. Not only are they complimentary (as in $0.00), consults are for uncovering your greater skincare goals and building the path to make those goals a reality for what’s well worth protecting – your look.
Retinoids
Retinoids are a prescription-strength cream or gel that you put on your face at night and are one of the most effective ways to prevent and treat wrinkles.
There are significant differences!
Prescription retinoids are a vitamin A derivative with decades of research confirming the product’s effectiveness. Beyond fewer and finer lines, they also:
• Balance skin tone
• Smooth texturing
• Reduce acne
Retinol by contrast is a “cosmeceutical” and does not require a prescription. Being 20 times less potent than prescription retinoids, retinol-based products do not come with the same level of clinical rigor when it comes to demonstrating collagen growth. Though retinol is routinely used to improve acne.
Retinoids are something you’ll apply at night. After washing your face, simply incorporate a pea-sized amount to dry skin right before bed then apply lotion once dry. Wash off in the morning and use plenty of lotion. Collagen production does take time, so it can take up to four months before you’d notice the full effects.
You won’t find our prescription retinoids anywhere else. Developed by our in-house clinical team, QUIKTOX’s retinoid formula incorporates several key ingredients to lock in moisture for skin, block UV-induced photodamage, and aid in skin barrier repair – on top of reversing wrinkles. The ingredients we use:
• Tretinoin (active ingredient)
• Vitamin C
• Niacinamide
• Hyaluronic Acid
Prescription retinoids help promote what’s known as “cell turnover,” which effectively means replacing worn out skin cells with fresher ones. This also means skin may feel irritated and dry at times, which is completely normal. It’s a sign the product’s working!
Using moisturizer routinely will help while your skin adjusts to the new regimen. We also begin by prescribing the lowest effective dose to minimize irritation.
Note: As with botox, you won’t be able to use retinoids while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Sunscreen
Photoaging is premature breakdown in skin that stems from prolonged and repeated exposure to UV rays. Clinically, photoaging manifests as new and advancing lines, irregular pigmentation, and loss of skin elasticity.
The best way to prevent the effects of photoaging? Find a sunscreen you’ll love and wear it daily.
Every last one of them. And for good reason! In 2019, a trial published in JAMA examined bloodstream levels for ingredients commonly found in chemical filter sunscreens. There researchers found a number of key ingredients at a higher concentration than previously thought – though they did conclude that sunscreen should still be worn daily.
While follow-up studies are underway to better understand the implications, we prefer to err toward what’s well-understood and proven to work.
Yes! Study after study has shown daily sunscreen minimizes damage and aging in skin. It can even reverse damage! One study in 2016 did a comparative examination of skin where subjects used sunscreen everyday. In one year, subjects showed broad improvement in all aging parameters – including fewer fine lines and changes in pigmentation!