What to Expect: Your First Botox Treatment

As most people know, Botox is a popular non-surgical cosmetic procedure that has been FDA approved and available since the early 2000s.  This safe and effective treatment is used to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles caused by muscle movement.

If you are considering your first Botox treatment, it is very natural to feel a combination of curiosity and apprehension.  However, understanding what you can expect before, during and after receiving Botox can help ease any anxiety and ensure that you have an optimal experience.

Consult + Prep

The Botox experience always begins with an aesthetic consultation.  In this appointment, your provider will assess your medical history including your current medications as well as discussion of your aesthetic goals.  You will asked to make various facial expressions to assess the strength of your facial muscles and their impact on your skin.

In the week prior to your appointment, you will be advised to avoid blood thinning medications including aspirin, ibuprofen and naprosyn as well as certain supplements such as fish oil and vitamin E to minimize the prospect of bruising.  Any time a needle is used for any medical procedure, bruising is a possibility although minimal.

Your Appointment

The actual Botox procedure is actually relatively quick and often lasts only 10-20 minutes.  The provider will clean the area to be treated after discussing where the Botox injections are to be made.  Using a very fine needle, the Botox will be injected into the specific target muscles.  You will feel a slight pinch or sting which is very transient and minimal.

The number of injections and the amount of Botox used will depend on the areas to be treated.  The most common areas treated include the scowl lines between the eyebrows, crow’s feet around the eyes and forehead lines.  Several areas in the lower face can also be treated for specific conditions such as TMJ.

Recovery

Following the procedure, recovery is minimal.  You can return to work and regular activities immediately after the treatment.  This is why it is frequently referred to as a “lunchtime” treatment.  Post-care instructions include avoiding strenuous activity for 24 hours, avoiding rubbing the treated areas and staying upright for at least 4 hours after the injections.  These instructions are primarily to help prevent the Botox from migrating to other areas.

Right after the Botox injections, you may have some mild swelling and redness at the injection site which usually resolves within a few hours.  Bruising may occur but is usually minimal and only visible at some of the injection locations.

Results Timeline

Following the Botox injections, you will not see immediate results.  Typically and especially when a person is treated for the first time, smoothing of the fine lines will develop slowly over the first 3-5 days with full effects seen in 1-2 weeks.  This is why it is generally recommended that the post-injection evaluation appointment is at least 2 weeks after treatment.  Botox effects on muscle movement will generally last at least 3 months after which fine lines and wrinkles will gradually reappear.  Consistent use of Botox every 3-4 months or as soon as muscle movement restarts will generally result in long term smoothing of the affected skin.

Based on this information, you will find that your first Botox procedure is relatively simple and low risk.  The most common comment we receive after a person’s first Botox treatment is: “That was a lot easier than I thought it would be.”  By knowing what to expect at each stage of the process, you can be confident in the changes and enhancements you will receive to achieve your aesthetic goals.