Botox 101: Your First Appointment

So, you’ve decided to get Botox! Or, maybe you’re here for more information to help you decide. Botox is without a doubt a hugely misunderstood treatment which is why I’m here to help make sense of it. By the end of this, you’ll be a Botox expert ready to schedule the appointment!

I worked for a Plastic Surgeon that has an entire injectable wing (meaning full of Botox + Filler patients), and I have learned that Botox can be really misunderstood! I have the unique perspective of knowing the clinical side of Botox as well as the patient side of Botox. So, without further ado, let’s get into the ~juicy~ details.

RELATED: BOTOX 101: WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR FIRST APPOINTMENT

RELATED: Filler 101: Your Guide To Facial Fillers

RELATED: Nonsurgical Nose Job: Everything You Need To Know

What Is Botox?

Botox is an FDA-approved injection. The medical definition of Botox is: “a drug prepared from the bacterial toxin botulin, used medically to treat certain muscular conditions and cosmetically to remove wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing the face muscles.”

In laments terms, this means Botox freezes our active facial muscles responsible for most expressions. Think about every time you’re excited, laughing, or showing emotions on your face. These muscles that help us express our emotions begin to leave fine lines and wrinkles over time.

Therefore, less movement = less wrinkles! Additionally, Botox has been known to relieve headaches in many cases! Double win!

Botox Cosmetic also has excellent information to clarify what Botox is!

Who Can Inject Botox?

While each state differs in laws, Botox is considered a medical procedure only to be performed by a licensed medical professional. You can expect to be injected by a Doctor, Physicians Assistant, or Nurse Practitioners.

Many offices use other job titles to assist them during Botox injections such as aestheticians or licensed practical nurses.

What Is The Difference Between Botox And Filler?

This is a common question for patients. Many aren’t sure whether they need Botox or Filler, so let’s break it down. In short, Botox acts as a temporary muscle paralyzer (which sounds really scary, but I promise it’s really not) while filler is injected to add volume and fullness.

Filler is typically injected in lips, tear-troths (under eye area), or cheeks. Filler can also be used to create what’s called a “liquid rhino” or an illusion of rhinoplasty surgery. Filler is also notoriously more painful.

Filler also tends to have a more noticeable physical difference. Botox makes you look like you, only with less noticeable facial lines!

I also want to point out that some fine lines may not be solvable by injections and instead need the attention of an Aesthetician for skincare recommendations, specifically fine lines around your under-eye area. Your injector will let you know if this is the case during your consultation.

(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS AT NO EXTRA CHARGE TO YOU. OUR FULL DISCLOSURE IS REALLY BORING, BUT YOU CAN READ IT HERE).

Where Do You Get Injected?

Botox can be injected in LOTS of different places!

First, and most commonly, it is typically injected to resolve concerns around forehead wrinkles. They will inject a few different sites at the top of your forehead as well as in between your eyebrows (medically known as glabellar injections). These will soften our “angry” faces and “surprised” faces.

Second, you can be injected near your crows feet to soften the smile lines we get on the outer edges of our eyes. This injection site is also incredibly common and is often combined with forehead and glabellar injections.

Additional injection sites and what they solve:

Bunny lines: used to soften wrinkles created when scrunching your nose

Below the eyebrow: used to help hooded eyelids and creates an “eyebrow lift” effect

Right under the eye: used for “banana roll” looking puffiness when smiling

Under the nose: used to improve gummy smiles

Above the lip: used to create a “fuller” looking lip, also commonly known as a “lip flip” injection

Marionettes: injected outside of chin area near the jaw to lessen frown lines

Chin: to soften chin wrinkles

What Do The Injections Feel Like?

To me personally, they weren’t as painful as I thought they would be. It felt like someone would put firm pressure on my face with a wet toothpick, and as soon as the injection was over I didn’t feel any more pain.

Different injection sites feel slightly different. Around the eyes has naturally more delicate skin making the injection slightly more uncomfortable. But overall, it is super tolerable and a good injector will walk you through it before it happens which makes a huge difference.

The actual injection part of the appointment only takes about 10 minutes, and most times you’ll be in and out of the office in 30 minutes.

To avoid bruising and swelling, I take these homeopathic tabs that reduce pain and bruising that I purchased from my clinic! They help a ton and I recommend them to anyone who is getting injections.

I also suggest purchasing a few ice packs to help with bruising, swelling, and headaches. These are my favorite, I have a bunch at home.

How Does It Work?

Your injector will administer the injections at various points throughout the area(s) you’ve chosen to treat. You may bleed a little! This is totally normal, so don’t let that freak you out. If blood makes you woozy or light-headed, definitely let your injector know beforehand so she can be ready for it!

They will inject “units” of Botox. Each person’s units will be different, which is why you can’t call and get an exact price. Your expert injector will assess your face with you while discussing your goals to determine how many units are appropriate for you. Your unit amount may even change each time you go back.

Because of this, it’s crucial to schedule a consultation with your chosen injector before treatment to ensure you’re both on the same page. Most clinics offer same-day treatment which gives you the opportunity to discuss what you’re looking for and proceed with treatment if you like what you hear.

RELATED: Botox 101: What To Expect At Your First Appointment

How Long Do Results Last?

Results typically last anywhere from 3-6 months, but most people go routinely every 3-4 months.

Additionally, it’s important to note that you won’t see the full effects of the injections until 2 weeks after being injected. Keep this in mind! If parts of your face look uneven, make a note of it, but your injector won’t reinject to correct or be any help until it’s been two weeks.

Most practices will automatically ask you to schedule a two-week follow-up appointment after your initial injection. I highly suggest doing this, even if you don’t think you’ll need it! It is much easier to call and cancel because you love your results than it is to get on the schedule of a busy office when you’re unhappy.

It’s also worth noting that most injectors will do free corrections at your two-week follow up to fix any imbalances. At the very least, it’s worth getting the expert opinion that it looks the way it’s supposed to and getting it fixed for free if it doesn’t.

How Much Does It Cost For Treatment?

Treatment costs vary place by place, but one HUGE takeaway is if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Botox with a good injector typically runs about $11-$13 per unit. I would be very suspicious of anyone charging under $10/unit. And again, you won’t be able to call and ask how many units you’ll need over the phone.

It isn’t worth it to go for the cheaper price, because chances are you’ll end up paying more for someone else to fix it.

Ask your clinic if they offer complimentary consultations or consultations with same-day treatment. This way, if you don’t like the price discussed in your consultation, you don’t go to check out and receive a huge bill unknowingly!

Additionally, some clinics may discuss Dysport as a “cheaper” option. This also isn’t true, even though they may sell you on it being only $4-$5/unit. Dysport has a much smaller molecule than Botox, which means it takes four times as much to get the same effect. Aka you end up spending the same amount of money.

With all of that being said, the national average cost for an entire Botox treatment is $550, but that range can go from a $50 lip flip to $1,150 worth of injections. Keep these prices in mind, and know that because there is no “generic” Botox, it is worth it to pay an extra hundred dollars for an expert injector.

Are There Ever Discounts on Botox?

Some clinics will do a Patient Appreciation Day or different specials throughout the year where they lower the price of Botox per unit. For example, the practice I work for regularly charges $13/unit but is running a limited time offer of $11/unit. They definitely exist, but you may need to put down a deposit to reserve the promotional pricing. Ask your clinic if they have any specials going on!

A company called Allergan serves as a Botox provider for most clinics, and they have a free loyalty program that earns you coupons after treatments. This program is called Brilliant Distinctions, so make sure to ask your clinic if they participate for extra savings!

How Long Is The Recovery Time?

There is essentially no downtime with Botox, and you can return to your regular routine. I always take a couple of Tylenol after my treatment because it tends to give me headaches afterward, which is completely normal after treatment.

To avoid bruising and swelling, I take these homeopathic tabs that reduce pain and bruising that I purchased from my clinic! They help a ton and I recommend them to anyone who is getting injections.

You may also want to purchase some small ice packs to help with bruising, swelling, and headaches. These are my favorite, I have a bunch at home.

Consult with your licensed medical professional with specific restrictions and guidelines following your treatment!

And That’s Everything You Need To Know Before Your First Botox Appointment!