What to Expect
Botulinum toxin injections are non-surgical and typically completed during an office visit. Your initial treatment will begin with a
consultation, during which you will meet with your cosmetic surgeon to discuss your concerns and goals.
Pre-treatment consultation
During your consultation, your cosmetic surgeon will evaluate your area of concern and go over your medical history. Even though there
is little risk of major complications for most patients, it is still imperative that you share your medical history fully and openly with your
provider before treatment, as certain allergies, skin and neurological conditions, or medications can make treatment unsuitable for a
patient. For instance, you need to tell your cosmetic surgeon if you have been taking NSAIDs (e.g., aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen) or blood
thinners.
During treatment
Just before the actual treatment, you may be given a topical anesthetic to numb the area prior to injection, though many patients find
this unnecessary, as the needles used to inject botulinum toxins are very thin and the injections are not very deep. Your provider will
reconstitute the botulinum toxin into a solution, and inject this solution into the muscle at strategic points. Most patients describe a
pinching feeling during the injection, though not much pain.
You will be able to go back to your normal activities right after treatment, but your cosmetic surgeon may ask you to take the day off
from exercise or other strenuous activity, and to keep your head upright for the rest of the day. Mild redness, swelling at the injection site,
and bruising are the most common side effects.
Following treatment, you will not see results immediately. This is expected, so do not worry that treatment hasn’t worked. Depending on
the patient, product used, and area treated, final results are typically reached 3 to 7 days after initial treatments. If this is your first
botulinum toxin treatment, your cosmetic surgeon may initially inject a more conservative amount and touch up the results during a
follow up treatment. This helps to ensure natural, optimal results without the risk of over-treating an area.
After Treatment
The wrinkle-reducing effects from botulinum treatments will vary depending on the patient, the area treated, and the product used, but
results will typically last anywhere from 3 to 6 months for most brands. Daxxify is formulated to be longer-lasting and may last up to 6 to
9 months for some patients. To maintain your results, your cosmetic surgeon will simply repeat treatment, adjusting dosage and
techniques as necessary to ensure optimal results.