Botox is booming in Charlotte. Here’s everything you need to know about it.

Botox is pretty popular in Charlotte.

The pros at Criswell & Criswell Plastic Surgery told me it’s one of the most requested treatments at their practice.

It’s so popular that they’ve recently started doing Botox Pop-Ups in South End at Kenna Kunijo. They’ll be hosting a pop-up for fillers on April 16 (follow @criswellplastics for the details).

To get the inside scoop on the popular treatment, I talked to one of Criswell’s Botox regulars, Shannon Mooney, as well as Joye Robinson, one of Criswell’s registered nurses and Botox pros. Here’s everything you need to know.

What exactly is Botox?

According to Robinson, Botox is a simple, nonsurgical treatment that can improve, and in some cases completely erase mild to moderate wrinkles.

“It prevents the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine,” she explains further. “It blocks signals from the nerves to the muscles. The injected muscle can’t contract, which makes wrinkles relax and soften.”

What is it typically used to treat?

“It’s typically used to reduce forehead lines, crow’s feet and frown lines,” says Robinson. She also noted that some people get treated in their armpits to reduce sweating.

Shannon Mooney, who’s 30-years-old, gets botox regularly to prevent wrinkles on her forehead. “Having poor eyesight lends itself to squinting often so Botox has helped tighten that up for me,” she says.

How often do I need to get it done?

Frequency varies depending on the patient but Robinson says getting treatment every 3-5 months is typical for maintaining the effects of Botox.

For reference, Mooney gets Botox every 3 months.

Is it painful?

“It’s not particularly painful,” says Robinson. “Most patients are comfortable and just feel a small pinch. It only takes about 5-10 minutes.”

Mooney agrees. “It all happens so quickly, you don’t even have time to worry about if it hurts…but don’t worry it doesn’t!”

I actually watched Mooney receive Botox treatment at one of Criswell’s South End Pop-ups and I was surprised how quickly it all happened. She didn’t seem uncomfortable and chatted with the RN injector the whole time.

How early do people start getting Botox treatment?

“It varies from person to person,” says Robinson. “We see many patients in their early 20s for prevention. Some people don’t start until their 60s.”

Mooney, who’s now 30, started getting Botox when she was 28. “I started doing it as a preventative thing,” she says.

How much does it cost?

At Criswell, Botox is $10-15/per unit. Robinson says the amount of units depends on the area you’re treating and muscle activity and strength. Some areas, like crow’s feet, can take as little as 10 units.

How early does it take to see results?

“Patients can see results as early as 48 hours but it can take up to a week to see the full results,” says Robinson.

Any advice for first-timers?

“Always make sure you have a knowledgable injector,” says Robinson. “All of our nurse injectors are trained directly by Drs. Kara & Bryan Criswell, which allows for our entire office to have a cohesive injection style.”

“Focus on the areas that draw your attention the most first,” recommends Mooney. “You can always go back for more so test it out and learn how your body reacts.”

Interested in getting Botox? Schedule a consultation with the pros at Criswell & Criswell.

This content was created in partnership with Criswell & Criswell Plastic Surgery.