Have you been considering a Botox procedure? If so, perhaps you’re hesitating because you aren’t sure of exactly what happens during the treatment.
In this article, we will break down the process of Botox injections so that you can feel more comfortable going into your first treatment session.
Before Your Botox Treatment
Prior to officially scheduling your Botox treatment, you may want to consider a consultation with your dermatologist. This will involve a quick meeting to determine your past medical history and your goals for the Botox procedure. After she has gathered all of the pertinent information, your dermatologist will then provide you with pre-procedure instructions and have you schedule your appointment.
Generally, the pre-procedure instructions for Botox will be fairly similar regardless of who is performing the injections or the specific goal of the treatment. These instructions include:
- Don’t drink alcohol for 3 days or more leading up to your treatment.
- Avoid consuming any supplements that may increase the chances of you developing side effects such as Vitamin E and Omega 3.
- Do not take Aspirin or NSAIDS for 3 days prior to the treatment.
While the side effects of Botox are generally mild, such as bruising, swelling, redness, etc., it is still a good idea to take all possible steps to lessen the chances of having side effects from the treatment.
During Your Botox Treatment
Once the day of your treatment arrives, you’ll be led back to the treatment room by a staff member. After you have been prepped for the procedure, the dermatologist or an assistant will generally apply a numbing balm to the area of treatment to lessen any discomfort during the injections.
The injections themselves are relatively painless, and the entire process takes less than 20 minutes to complete. This makes it easy for those with busy schedules to book an appointment at a convenient time throughout the day.
After Your Botox Treatment
Once you’ve received your injections and any specific post-treatment instructions from the dermatologist, you are ready to resume your normal daily activities. However, it is generally advisable to “take it easy” for the rest of the day following the treatment. Heavy lifting and rigorous activities may cause slight headaches or other side effects to be more severe.
After a few days, you’ll begin to see the marvelous effect of Botox treatment. Your skin will appear smoother and you’ll notice a significant decrease in wrinkles. Roughly two weeks after treatment, you should have achieved the maximum effect of the injections, which will continue to last for up to 6 months or longer.
Conclusion
As you can see, the process of receiving Botox injections is easy from start to finish. There are generally few complications with the treatment and those side effects that develop after treatment are extremely mild.
If you’re still unsure of whether Botox is the right treatment for you, call your dermatologist’s office to schedule a consultation. You will be able to ask questions and develop a plan for achieving your goals and your dermatologist will answer any questions you may have.
