‘I want my Botox’: Miami yearns to be beautiful again. Here’s how it can happen
Is it safe?
The chilling phrase reminds us of that classic 1970s flick, “Marathon Man,” but this is real life.
If you didn’t have genuine concerns about society returning to normal after the pandemic lockdown, then you aren’t on your phone enough.
But besides our hair being a mess, and nails bitten to the quick, man, are we wrinkly. Sometimes we don’t mind wearing a mask just to cover up all the, um, laugh lines.
As self-care businesses begin to gradually open, you can now do some of the things you pined to for weeks on end.
As of May 18, South Floridians should be able to inch back to a bit of normalcy, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said Friday. For many people, this translates to getting a haircut, manicure, and yes, even a Botox injection or two as restrictions begin to ease.
But the landscape will be different from pre-coronavirus days.
Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank, a cosmetic dermatologist based part time Coral Gables, is already seeing some changes in not only how his industry operates, but what patients want.
“I think there’s going to be a trend toward bang-for-your-buck procedures and things that have a little more downtime than what people typically look for,” said Frank, who works at Skin Associates of South Florida. “People will have more time on their hands to recover and want something that will give you a more drastic result without having to go in the office multiple times.”
Follow-up appointments will likely continue to be done virtually. As for how you will be seen in the office for removal of stitches or to get fillers and other cosmetic procedures, expect a different experience.
Medspa professionals and cosmetic dermatologists will follow similar guidelines as doctors.
That means practicing social distancing and avoiding having patients come into contact with other patients in the waiting room. You may wait in your car, or outside and get texted when it is your time.
When you enter, patients, who will be required to wear masks, will have their temperature taken. All staff will also be outfitted in proper PPE and have their temperature and overall health checked constantly.
Gone are the days of early arrivals or walk-in appointments, Dr. Frank said.
“Patients must come alone, unless accompanied by an aide,” he said. “Every patient will complete a questionnaire beforehand [with sterilized pens] for a simple screening of whether they have traveled or been sick recently.”
Many places are still figuring things out as they go along.
Like at Dr. Flor Mayoral’s in South Miami, which has been conducting virtual appointments since the lockdown began weeks ago. Emergencies, such as lesions or skin cancer, have been the only exception.
“We have had a skeleton crew in the office the whole time, composed of two to three people maximum, answering phones, triaging Telemedicine consults, calling in prescriptions,” Mayoral said. “They all keep apart from each other and wear masks the entire time. We have a staff of 30, so we feel confident that for now, we are safe.”
Melanie Fields, who owns Flawless Icon medspa in Midtown, says her customers can’t wait to get back into their beauty routine. Call it quarantine makeover.
“We’re getting a lot of calls,” she said. “They say they’re overdue for things. They say, ‘I want my Botox!’ or are in desperate need of laser hair removal. Many have gained weight while staying at home.”
Flawless Icon was deemed an essential business, due to such treatments as hormonal injections of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hGC) that reportedly help you lose weight and immune boosting IV therapy.
But the aesthetic, nonessential, side of business, that had to come to a dead stop.
Fields predicts things will get busy once again, but the facility will take things slowly, and adhere to state, federal and local guidelines, as well as those from the CDC.
“People are gradually coming outside, and they want to feel human again.”
If you need to brush up the basics of your doctor or facility’s protocol, call directly or check their websites because many places have drafted their new policies amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
