What You Need to Know Before Your First BOTOX® Treatment
Are you considering your first BOTOX Cosmetic treatment and wondering what to expect? It’s normal to be a little anxious! Knowing what awaits you is a great way to feel prepared and ease your nerves as you head into your appointment. Here’s an overview of what you can expect:
How does BOTOX work?
Repeated muscle contractions from frowning, squinting, or raising eyebrows cause the skin to furrow and fold, gradually resulting in the formation of facial lines. Your board-certified dermatologist will inject these muscles with BOTOX to temporarily reduce the underlying muscle activity that causes frown lines, crow’s feet, and forehead lines. It delivers predictable, subtle results, so you look like you, only with less noticeable facial lines.
Whom should you trust to provide your BOTOX treatment?
BOTOX is a technique-specific treatment, and while any medical professional, including physicians, non-MD nurses, and dentists, can legally administer BOTOX, we highly recommend that you see a board-certified dermatologist for your injection.
A board-certified dermatologist has extensive education and experience focused on the skin, is trained from residency in cosmetic injectables, and is immersed in continuing medical education regarding BOTOX and other neuromodulators. If you’re seeking a natural result, a dermatologist has the keen eye for detail and expertise necessary to ensure you’ll look like yourself—only with less noticeable lines.
What will my initial visit be like?
Treatment with BOTOX is customized to your goals and needs. When you meet with your doctor, you will discuss your treatment goals, and he or she will perform a facial analysis to determine your appropriate treatment areas. If your doctor deems you an appropriate candidate, the injection typically occurs on that same day.
What do the injections feel like?
Some patients receiving BOTOX say the injections feel like a pinch or a bug bite. Most people easily tolerate the injections, but you can request ice or a topical numbing cream if you are worried about discomfort.
How long do BOTOX treatments take?
Your appointment will typically be very quick, taking about 15 to 30 minutes. All it takes after the consultation is a brief series of injections using a very thin needle.
When do I see results?
You will begin to notice a visible smoothing of frown lines, crow’s feet, and forehead lines within 24 to 48 hours. Your results will start to take shape in about a week, with full results in 30 days.
Is it permanent?
BOTOX is not a permanent treatment but typically lasts up to 4 months for moderate to severe frown lines. If you discontinue treatment, the moderate to severe frown lines, crow's feet, and forehead lines will gradually return.
Will I experience any downtime post-treatment?
Most people are able to get right back into their daily routines immediately after their treatment. We typically recommend avoiding exercise for 24 hours to prevent “thinning out” the product and minimizing its effects.
You may have some redness or bruising around your injection sites, but this should resolve within a few days.
How long will my results last?
BOTOX results typically last between 3 and 4 months. However, we recommend scheduling a touch-up just before the results wear off, which usually means about 4 months. Remember that results vary from patient to patient, so your board-certified dermatologist will plan your next appointment based on your results and aesthetic goals.