5 Things You Need to Know Before Your First BOTOX® Appointment

There is little doubt that BOTOX is a household name and that most people recognize it as a way to reduce facial wrinkles. But you may know little beyond that, even after scheduling your first appointment for BOTOX injections at our Gilbert, AZ, plastic surgery practice.

Knowing more about the treatment, however, will help make your experience positive and ensure that you get the best possible results. In this blog post, I’ll explain 5 of the most important things you should know before arriving for your first appointment.

Choosing an Injector

Some people assume BOTOX injections are rather simple treatments that can be performed by just about any aesthetician with minimal training. That’s not true. BOTOX has an excellent track record for safety—when the injector is licensed and supervised by a board-certified specialist working in a medical clinic environment. You should research the background and credentials of the injector you choose and avoid BOTOX “parties” at private homes.

BOTOX vs. Fillers

BOTOX and dermal fillers, such as JUVÉDERM®, RADIESSE®, or Sculptra® Aesthetic, both have the same goal—creating a more youthful appearance that looks natural. But these injectable treatments achieve that goal in very different ways. Fillers are gels designed to treat age-related volume loss in areas such as nasolabial folds, cheeks, and under the eyes. BOTOX, on the other hand, is a neuromodulator that minimizes “dynamic wrinkles”—lines that develop over time from our changing facial expressions. BOTOX temporarily relaxes muscles used when you squint, frown, or look surprised. These lines and wrinkles include crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes, vertical worry lines between the eyes, and horizontal forehead wrinkles.

What Happens During a BOTOX Treatment?

The injection procedure is relatively brief, taking only a few minutes in most cases. The appointment begins with a discussion of your concerns and the aesthetic goals you have. Injectors use that information to determine the amount of BOTOX to use and to target muscles with pinpoint precision. We may apply an ice pack or topical anesthetic to numb the area before the injections, but you may still feel brief discomfort. Normal side effects are fairly minor—some redness or swelling that resolves within 24 hours.

Don’t Plan on Immediate Results

You won’t see smoother skin in the first few days after getting BOTOX injections. It takes time for the ingredients to fully relax the muscles that cause “expression lines,” but you can expect to see initial results after 4 or 5 days. It may be 2 weeks before the full effect of BOTOX injections is noticeable. The results typically last about 4 months, so you’ll want to schedule maintenance treatments a few times a year.

What’s the Difference Between BOTOX and Dysport®?

We also offer patients the option of Dysport injections. Dysport, like BOTOX, is a neuromodulator that also temporarily immobilizes facial muscles whose contractions cause wrinkles and lines. Dysport may take effect a day or so earlier than BOTOX.

If you’re considering get BOTOX injections for the first time, contact us using the online form to request a consultation or call our office at (480) 466-7355 (Gilbert, AZ) to schedule an appointment.