Botox: What to Expect
Botox temporarily reduces the excessive muscle activity that creates dynamic wrinkles.
Before
- Muscle strength, expression habit, brow-eyelid position, and prior injection response are assessed.
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding, neuromuscular disease, active infection, or toxin allergy may postpone or exclude treatment.
- Alcohol, intense exercise, aspirin/NSAIDs, and blood thinners may increase bruising risk; do not stop medication without clinician guidance.
- A conservative first dose with a 2-week check-in provides safer expectation management.
- A personalised plan based on anatomy and patient goals is made rather than a standard package.
During
- Treatment takes 10–15 minutes; small doses are placed into target muscle points using a fine needle.
- Forehead, glabella, crow's feet, masseter, or neck bands require different dose and point patterns.
- Anaesthesia is usually not needed; topical cream can be used for sensitive patients.
- Product lot, brand, and dose are recorded in the patient file.
- Syringe is discarded after the procedure; single-use materials are used.
After
- Small bumps, redness, tenderness, or headache can occur in the first hours.
- For 24 hours avoid massage, intense exercise, sauna, and face-down pressure.
- Effect starts days 3–7; at day 14 symmetry and dose need can be reviewed.
- Renewal is planned around the 4–5 month mark; repeating sooner than 3 months may increase antibody risk.
- Uninterrupted long-term renewal can lead to tolerance; follow clinician guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does it work immediately?
- No; onset is 3–7 days and full settling takes about 2 weeks.
- Will I look frozen?
- With appropriate dose and placement, expression is preserved; first treatments are usually conservative.
- Is it addictive?
- It does not cause pharmacological dependence; wrinkles may return after the effect wears off.
- How often should it be repeated?
- Usually every 4–5 months; intervals shorter than 3 months are not recommended due to antibody risk.
Risks
- Temporary bruising or swelling
- Asymmetry (dose imbalance)
- Headache (transient)
- Eyelid or brow drooping (rare)
- Antibody development (very rare, with overly frequent injections)
This guide does not replace a personal examination and treatment plan. Base all medication, surgery, or travel decisions on your clinician's written recommendation.