A first Botox visit is short, and you get your total before anything starts. The treatment itself takes 10 to 20 minutes, and you can go back to work or errands right away. Results start to show in 1 to 2 days, and the full effect settles in by about 30 days.
What happens at the consultation?
I watch your face move, ask about your health history and any past treatments, and map the areas worth treating.
Botox works on lines that come from movement. If a line shows when you frown and fades when your face is still, Botox is the right tool. Lines that stay at rest soften more slowly, over a few treatments, once the crease stops being folded all day.
Botox Cosmetic is FDA-approved for four areas: forehead lines, frown lines, crow's feet and neck bands. The lip flip, brow lift and jawline are common off-label uses, and I tell you at your consultation which is which.
When is Botox the wrong treatment?
The consultation is also where I tell you when Botox won't get you what you want. It doesn't fill hollows or add volume. Thin lips, flat cheeks and deep smile lines need dermal fillers. It doesn't tighten loose skin along the jaw and neck, either.
Texture, sun spots and deep etched lines are resurfacing jobs, from the LaseMD Ultra laser up to CO2 laser resurfacing.
Some people should wait or skip Botox altogether. It is not for you if you have an infection where you would be injected, or an allergy to any botulinum toxin product. Tell me if you have a nerve or muscle condition such as myasthenia gravis, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you take blood thinners.
Does Botox hurt?
Botox feels like a few quick pinches, and the discomfort is brief. I clean the skin and place small injections with a very fine needle. Some patients feel slight pressure or see mild redness where each injection went in.
How much Botox will I get the first time?
I start conservative on a first visit, since a few more units at your follow-up is a quick fix and too much means waiting months for it to wear off.
The goal is a face that still moves. I dose so your frown softens and your brows still lift when you laugh.
Will Botox make me look frozen?
Botox makes you look frozen only when the dose is too high for your face. I check your result and add a few units if an area needs them. You should still be able to smile, frown slightly and raise your brows.
What should I do after Botox?
You can go back to work or errands right away. Skip hard workouts for 24 hours. Mild redness or a small mark at an injection point fades quickly.
When will I see results, and how long do they last?
Botox results start to show in 1 to 2 days, and the full effect settles in by about 30 days. Lines soften gradually as the treated muscle relaxes. If you are planning around a wedding or a photo, book at least 2 to 3 weeks before the date.
Botox lasts up to 4 months for most people, according to its manufacturer. How long your own result holds depends on your muscle strength, your metabolism, the area treated and your lifestyle. The muscle wakes up gradually, so most patients book a repeat visit every 3 to 4 months to keep lines soft.
Does it matter if I get Botox, Jeuveau or Xeomin?
All three are FDA-approved botulinum toxin type A products that soften frown lines, and I use all three. They differ in maker, formula and approved areas.
- Botox Cosmetic, made by Allergan Aesthetics, has the longest track record and the most approved areas: forehead lines, frown lines, crow's feet and neck bands.
- Jeuveau, made by Evolus, is approved for cosmetic use only, for frown lines.
- Xeomin, made by Merz Aesthetics, is purified to the core neurotoxin, with no accessory proteins. It is approved for forehead lines, frown lines and crow's feet.
A unit of one brand is not a unit of another, and each label says so. Comparing unit counts between brands tells you very little.
How is Botox priced?
Botox is priced per unit, so your total depends on how many units your treatment areas need. Stronger muscles take more units, which is why two people treating the same area can pay different amounts. I map your areas at the consultation and give you the total before treatment starts.
If you get Botox every few months, a membership pays for itself fastest. The Tox membership is $50 a month with a 12-month commitment. It takes $1 off per unit and 10% off skincare, with member pricing on collagen treatments, and your monthly credits build up in your account, ready to use at the end of the year. You can compare memberships or look at payment plans.
How do I book my first visit?
Tell us which lines bother you most, and I will map a Botox plan for them. Request a consultation or call (707) 361-9421. You will find us at 701 Southampton Rd, Suite 104, Benicia, CA 94510. The Botox page covers every area in more detail.