Botox Before and After: What to Expect

By Philip Frost

21st of December, 2013

Botox is known worldwide as one of the safest cosmetic procedures to improve facial aesthetics. Not only are side effects rare, but they also are temporary. Botox’s quick results, painless procedure and low recovery time have made the drug extremely popular among a range of demographics.

If you’ve decided that Botox is the perfect treatment for your particular needs, you may want to know more about the procedure. First and foremost, your surgeon should communicate all aspects of the treatment before beginning. That way, you have realistic expectations and can decide if Botox is right for you.

This article will explain what you can do to prepare for the procedure, what to expect during treatment and what benefits you can look forward to after Botox.

There are a Few Factors to Consider as You Prepare for a Botox Procedure

Mayo Clinic offers some tips on how to prepare for a Botox injection, such as telling your doctor the medications that you are taking. Mention any allergy drugs, sleeping aids or blood thinners that you use regularly. Also, make sure that your surgeon knows if you’ve received Botox injections before and when they happened.

The most common side effect of Botox is a small amount of bruising that develops shortly after the procedure, but this easily is preventable. Try to avoid any type of medication that contains ibuprofen, Vitamin E or aspirin. If you need to take a painkiller in the days leading up to your procedure, those that contain acetaminophen (Panadol) can be used without causing a risk of bruising.

Everyone’s skin reacts differently to Botox injections, and full results can take between three and 10 days to manifest. Accordingly, make sure to schedule your procedure at least a few weeks before any important life event.

If you plan to exercise on the day of your procedure, consider doing so before heading to the doctor’s office. It is recommended to wait about 4 hours after the procedure before physically exerting yourself. During treatment, the injection site will be cleaned, wiping away any makeup in the area, so you might consider bringing your make-up with you to touch up after.

The makers of Botox also caution that if you have a skin infection, you should wait until it clears up before scheduling a procedure.

You Can Expect a Quick, Painless Cosmetic Surgery With Botox

When people hear the word “injection,” they might become anxious about feeling pain during the procedure. Most Botox patients, however, report that they don’t feel the needle at all, but to ensure that you are comfortable throughout your procedure, you can opt to have a numbing ointment applied to the injection sites.

Procedures are so short and the recovery time so minimal that many people schedule treatments during their lunch breaks. Most procedures take about 10 minutes, after which you are free to return to your day at work or to finish up your errands. Unlike invasive cosmetic procedures, you won’t need to schedule days of bed rest in order to recover. 

Botox Has Many Well-Known Benefits and a Few Lesser-Known Ones

Aftercare is simple, and your doctor will make sure to tell you the specifics. In general, you should avoid lying down for about 4 hours after the procedure.

Also, try not to massage the areas around the injection sites as this could potentially move the fluid around. If it is sunny outside, you should wear sunscreen.

Once the full effects of the injections appear, you will see a significant decrease in fine lines and wrinkles. Depending on the injection site, the areas affected could include crow’s feet, lip lines, frown lines and forehead lines. Botox also is routinely applied to treat excessive underarm sweating, decreasing sweat levels by an average of 83 percent.

If you live in the Christchurch area and are considering a Botox procedure, then keep the Face Value clinic in mind. We offer a free consultation to make sure that you can have all of your questions answered before making a decision.

All injections at Face Value are preformed by Dr. Phillip Frost, who has more than 15 years of experience in cosmetic medicine. To schedule an appointment, Call Us At 03-388-8806 Today!