THE Secret Lives of Mormon Wives has everything an addictive and juicy reality show needs and more: A salacious sex scandal, swinging momfluencers, and of course, a healthy dose of malicious gossip. And while there’s plenty of wild drama packed into Hulu’s buzzy new series, there’s one scene, in particular, that had some viewers (us) raising their eyebrows.
In the third episode, several cast members decided to Botox—which isn’t exactly groundbreaking these days. But what was What’s surprising? They all inhaled laughing gas (also known as nitrous oxide) before the injections. “It’s a party,” one of the wives, Whitney Leavitt, said with a laugh. And when producers asked her if the group “comes for the Botox or the laughing gas,” Leavitt replied, “Both.”
If you’ve ever tried Botox, chances are this option hasn’t been offered to you. (I know I haven’t.) That’s because it’s super uncommon, Rawn E. Bosley, MDboard-certified dermatologist and supervising physician at Ever/Body in Dallas, tells SELF. “I’ve been injecting for over a decade and have never used or heard of other dermatology or facial plastics colleagues regularly offering laughing gas for Botox,” Dr. Bosley says.
Now a small amount of nitrous oxide (so not enough to make you pass out) it could help you relax, Dr. Joshua Zeichnera board-certified dermatologist in New York City, tells SELF — which can be especially appealing if you deal with a fear of needles. “Laughing gas can put patients into a short-term altered mental state, so they don’t process discomfort and stress as they normally would,” explains Dr. Zeichner.
However, he usually saves this mild anesthesia for more painful procedures, such as lasers and microneedling instead of Botox, which both experts find quite tolerable. “The process is quick—less than two minutes in most cases,” Dr. Bosley adds. “And it takes several minutes for the nitrous oxide to kick in anyway,” meaning the treatment would likely be over before you even start to feel the euphoric effects of the sedative.
In addition to being a waste of time (and in some cases, extra money), laughing gas also causes serious problems. security risks to consider. Some people, according to Dr. Bosley, may deal with headaches or nausea. Not to mention, getting freaked out can make the experience more “fun,” sure, but it can also make you move unpredictably, Dr. Zeichner adds—not ideal when there’s a needle so close to your face! (If you watched the episode in question, you saw the women laughing and squirming in their seats.)
For all these reasons, both dermatologists recommend asking your injector for more common (and safer) methods of relieving pain or anxiety, like topical numbing creams or vibrating devices (which can distract you from the sharp pricks). “In my opinion, the benefits of laughing gas don’t outweigh the risks, which is why most places don’t even offer it for Botox,” says Dr. Bosley. So, as with any reality show, take what you see for what you get. The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives with a grain of salt — and don’t expect your next injection appointment to be a party filled with laughter and nitrous oxide.
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