{"id":13494,"date":"2020-02-17T11:09:35","date_gmt":"2020-02-17T19:09:35","guid":{"rendered":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/?p=13494"},"modified":"2023-08-16T14:27:03","modified_gmt":"2023-08-16T21:27:03","slug":"get-over-fear-of-needles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https://www.realself.com\/news\/get-over-fear-of-needles","title":{"rendered":"9 Ways to Get Over Your Fear of Needles"},"content":{"rendered":"

If the thought of a needle approaching your face causes you to break out in a cold sweat, well, that’s not surprising—some estimates<\/a> say a fear of needles impacts more than 20% of people in the U.S. But as the injectables<\/a> market continues to grow, so too does the number of people finding ways to push their anxiety aside in the pursuit of smooth, plump, youthful skin. What works? According to doctors who have developed more comforting injection strategies and patients who have overcome their phobia, there is hope. (It’s also worth noting that the needles used for cosmetic injections<\/a> are significantly smaller—30 and 32 gauge is standard<\/a>, according to doctors in a RealSelf Q&A—than the 22–25 gauge<\/a> needles used for intramuscular vaccine injections.)<\/p>

Here, nine methods that medical professionals and patients say can ease the needle-related stress standing between you and the benefits of neurotoxins, fillers, and more.<\/p>

Interested in Botox?<\/small><\/div>Find Doctors Near You<\/a><\/div>

Ask what to expect<\/strong><\/h2>

It may seem too simple to ask your practitioner what exactly is to come, but from her perspective, Dr. Jessica Krant<\/a>, a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City, says that act can have a big impact on how the visit goes. “I think letting a patient know what steps you’re doing helps to alleviate the fear of the unknown or feeling like they’re going to be surprised by a sudden painful action. [There’s] less mystery.”<\/p>

Related: 7 New Fillers and Neurotoxins Expected to Launch Soon<\/a><\/em><\/p>

Squeeze through it<\/strong><\/h2>

“Many— if not most— patients who present for injectables aren’t exactly thrilled with someone coming at their face with needles,” says Dr. Charles Galanis<\/a>, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California. One of the more colorful methods he uses: “I like to give them silicone breast implants<\/a> as ‘stress balls,’ which they all find entertaining, not to mention an effective distraction.” He jokes, “Modern-day breast implants are extremely durable—I tell them, if they can break [the implant], their treatment is half off.” If your doctor doesn’t have the sense of humor for this trick, a regular stress ball, tucked in your bag, will work.<\/p>

\n