Because Botox treatment involves needles and injections into your face, a lot of people have anxiety just thinking about it! If you have been considering Botox/Dysport/Xeomin for quite some time, but can’t make up your mind, we are here to tell you what to expect during and after your treatment.
Once you get Botox, your muscle movement will be restricted. Rather than being a filler (which is what many people mistakenly think), Botox is actually a muscle-relaxer.
To gain back your youthful appearance, Botox will stop your muscles from moving when you frown or are surprised!
The answer is, no! Botox needles are extremely tiny so you will feel no pain when injected at our clinic.
Immediately following your Botox injections, you may feel slight residual stinging from the injection. You may also notice a small bump at the injection site, a bit like a mosquito bite. No worries, these bumps will fade quickly.
Bruising is always a possibility. If you bruise, this will be very minimal and should resolve after a couple of days. You can reduce your risk of bruising by avoiding ibuprofen, aspirin, and any over the counter supplement not prescribed by the physician before your treatment. You can also take Arnica pills to limit the bruising. At the clinic, we also finish every treatment session by wiping the area with Arnica gel ti decrease chances of bruising too.
You may experience a headache (which is rare but temporary) after your Botox treatment. If this happens, you may take Tylenol as directed.
You Shouldn’t Touch or Massage Your Face! Even if you have a headache, don’t touch or massage your face at the treatment site to avoid its spread into unwanted areas.
Always wait 4 hours after your treatment to resume exercising or massaging or manipulating the areas that were treated.
"With Botox, we’re limiting the muscle contractions that lead to wrinkles, it can feel funny in the beginning, as you’re not able to move the injected muscles that would normally contract on command... While it can take some getting used to, it’s totally normal, and over time, those muscles will learn not to make the exaggerated expressions that lead to wrinkles."
Dr Rawan Abu-Zeitoon, Board Certified Internal Medicine
In most cases, Botox begins to work fully within the first week after treatment, so by day four you should be able to see a slightly noticeable difference in the appearance of the areas that were treated. If this is your first treatment, you may experience a “heavy” sensation in the treatment areas. Don’t worry!!! It will subside within 1-2 weeks. You may also experience feelings of tightness, a difference in your range of expressions, and slight changes in how your face responds when you lift your eyebrows.
2 weeks after the treatment, you’re likely to see the results of your treatment. The treated area will appear smoother and look more refreshed.
After 3-5 months, you will start to see a gradual return of movement.
The best recommendation it to be on a schedule. Stopping the wrinkles before they completely develop again is the best way to keep your skin wrinkle-free. Our patients return every 3-4 months and since we are a busy practice, they schedule their next appointment before they leave the office. You’ll be surprised how fast 3-4 months go by!
