Botox Injections – What to expect from treatment

If you’ve never had a Botox injection before, you may be anxious about the procedure. Knowing what to expect from the procedure will often make your first injection a less scary proposition, and leave you walking away from the procedure wondering why you were so worried in the first place.

Botox injections should always be performed under the care of a physician, and the entire procedure takes no more than minutes. Prior to your treatment, you should avoid alcohol, drugs, or aspirin for a week. If you are not in good health, it may be advisable to reschedule your treatment, as illness can intensify the usual discomforts of the procedure. If you are on any antibiotics, it is important to let your doctor know this. Certain antibiotics can cause an interaction with Botox, so the two should not be mixed.

The procedure is performed by injecting small, diluted amounts of Botox directly into the muscle that is to be corrected. The purpose of Botox is to keep the muscle from contracting, reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles that result from regular muscle contractions. Your physician will use a small, thin needle that assures you of the most accurate placement of the injection, and reduces the pain of the injection. It is normal to feel a mild discomfort upon injection; most patients describe a slight stinging or burning feeling that quickly subsides after injection.

After treatment, many patients prefer to take it easy for the rest of the day. Common side effects of the procedure are minor swelling, headaches, and rarely, bruising around the injected area. Taking an over-the-counter medication like Aleve will reduce any discomfort. Most patients find that by the next morning, there are no visible side effects.

You should not expect to see results straight away after your procedure. You will start to notice the cosmetic effect of the Botox within 5 days, with the most noticeable results approximately two weeks after the procedure.

Botox injections are most often quick, easy, and relatively painless. While it’s normal to have anxiety before the procedure, the entire process is much less intimidating than you might imagine.