of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives It has all the elements of an addictive and compelling reality show. others: Salacious sex scandals, swinging mom influencers, and of course, plenty of salacious gossip. And while Hulu’s buzzy new series is packed with plenty of wild drama, there’s one scene in particular that has some viewers (us) raising their eyebrows.
In the third episode, some of the cast members decide to get Botox injections, which is not groundbreaking today. Was Surprisingly, they all inhaled laughing gas (also known as nitrous oxide) before their injections. “It’s a party,” one of the wives, Whitney Leavitt, said with a chuckle, and when a producer asked her if the group was “for Botox or for laughing gas,” Leavitt replied, “both.”
If you’ve tried Botox, this option probably wouldn’t have been offered to you (I have), because it’s so unusual. Lorne E. Bosley, MD“I’ve been giving injections for over 10 years and have never used or heard of any of my dermatology or facial plastic surgery colleagues regularly recommending laughing gas as an alternative to Botox,” Dr. Bosley, a board-certified dermatologist and supervising physician at Ever/Body in Dallas, tells SELF. “I’ve never used or heard of any of my dermatology or facial plastic surgery colleagues regularly recommending laughing gas as an alternative to Botox,” Dr. Bosley says.
Now, a little bit of nitrous oxide (not enough to make you pass out) Done It helps to relax, Joshua Zeichner, MDThis may be especially appealing for people who have a fear of needles, Dr. Zeichner, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, tells SELF. “Laughing gas puts patients in a short-term altered mental state that prevents them from processing discomfort and stress in the normal way,” Dr. Zeichner explains.
But he typically reserves this light anesthesia for more painful procedures like laser or microneedling, rather than Botox, which both experts consider to be fairly tolerable. “The procedure is quick, taking less than two minutes in most cases,” Dr. Bosley adds. “Plus, it takes a few minutes for the nitrous oxide to start working,” meaning the treatment will likely be over before you start to feel the euphoric effects of the sedative.
Besides being a waste of time (and maybe extra money), laughing gas also carries significant safety risks. Some people experience headaches and nausea, says Dr. Bosley. Not to mention, while the brain fog may make the experience more “fun,” it can also lead to unexpected movements, adds Dr. Zeichner. Not ideal when you have a needle so close to your face! (If you saw the episode in question, you saw the women giggling and squirming in their seats.)
For this reason, both dermatologists recommend asking your injector for more conventional, safer methods, like topical anesthetic creams or vibrating devices (which can distract you from the sharp sting) to ease pain and anxiety. “In my opinion, the benefits of laughing gas don’t outweigh the risks, which is why most facilities don’t offer it for Botox,” says Dr. Bosley. So, as with any reality TV show, you might as well just take what you see on TV as a given. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Don’t take it too seriously, and don’t expect your next injection appointment to be a giggly, nitrous oxide-filled party.
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