What To Expect After Getting Botox For The First Time .,. If you’re reading this, it’s likely that you’ve been thinking about getting Botox injections. It’s a big decision, but we’re here to help make sure that it’s an informed one. Botox is not a quick fix or an overnight solution. The effects of Botox take time to kick in and last for about three months. Not everyone will see the same results from Botox, but many people do find it helpful for smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles around the eyes.
The first time you get Botox, you may experience some side effects, including swelling under the eyes and bruising around your face. These side effects should subside in one to two days after treatment—and if they don’t go away right away, don’t worry; they should go away soon enough. Botox can make your skin sensitive to sunlight and heat, so make sure to wear sunblock when outside or avoid hot showers or baths for at least 24 hours after getting treatment done!
Botox is the most common type of botulinum toxin. It has many benefits: smoother skin, fewer wrinkles, and prevention against furrowed brow syndrome, among others. Botox was originally developed as a medicine to halt the spread of muscle spasms caused by disorders such as cervical dystonia and blepharospasm (common focal dystonia), but it has since been put to use for cosmetic purposes in reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Read on to learn more Botox Right After Injection/Botox Aftercare Sleeping.
What To Expect After Getting Botox For The First Time
The first and only time I got Botox, I had a stress ball in my hand and I kept my eyes shut as the needle slid into my crow’s feet. Suffice it to say that, despite the fact that Botox injections are among the most common procedures that many cosmetic dermatologists and plastic surgeons regularly do, it’s still nerve-wracking to anticipate what will happen during the procedure and what the results will look like ahead of your first appointment.
To help ease any fears, however, experts are explaining what to expect when you get Botox, so that your first appointment can, quite literally, be smooth sailing.
What exactly *is* Botox?
Botox is an injectable found at the dermatologist’s office that taps a neurotoxic protein called “bacterium clostridium botulinum,” (say that three times fast) and is produced by the parent company called Allergan. Botox has become so synonymous with smoothing out fine lines that it’s used as shorthand amongst many beauty enthusiasts, but there are also other neurotoxins that do the same thing, such as Dysport, Xeomin, and Jeuveau.
Though there are increasing uses for Botox in medical settings (jaw pain, migraines, to stop sweating in the armpits), when used in cosmetic settings, Botox is tapped to soften lines. “Botox works by preventing dynamic wrinkles by temporarily weakening the underlying muscle,” says Dendy Engelman, MD, a board-certified dermatologic surgeon in New York City. Dynamic wrinkles are those caused by the movement of the underlying muscle, and, over time, these turn into a static line even at rest. “With Botox treatment, the muscle contraction is weakened and the overlying dynamic wrinkle is lessened. And with early and effective treatment, it can not only reduce the dynamic lines with movement but soften or eliminate static lines as well,” she says.
When Is the Right Time To Get Botox? Here’s What To Expect…
Botox is commonly used on the frown lines (the area between the eyebrows), sides of the eyes (crow’s feet), and forehead lines, but it can be used around the jaw, neck, and elsewhere, according to Dr. Engelman. Those are the basics about the cosmetic treatment—keep scrolling for intel on some of the most common questions about Botox, as explained by dermatologists.
What to expect when you get Botox
Is it safe?
Absolutely. It’s FDA-approved, even, which is more than what many skin-care creams and serums can say. “Botox is safe and actually used to mitigate certain health issues, such as hyperhidrosis and migraines,” says Dr. Engelman. That said, Botox should not be done on those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. And to really make sure that you’re happy with the results of your treatment, it’s vital to go to a trained professional. Getting Botox is a medical procedure, and it really should be treated as such, so make sure to thoroughly vet your practitioner ahead of seeing them in person.
What are the risks?
The most common risks of getting Botox are bruising or swelling, but Lesley Rabach, MD, a board-certified facial plastic surgeon and co-founder of LM Medical, notes that these don’t happen that often. “The chance of infection in someone who’s healthy is almost zero,” she says. What could happen is that you experience asymmetry after the Botox sets in. “There’s a slight chance of that, which isn’t uncommon because usually, one side of someone’s face is stronger than the other,” she says. Oftentimes, your dermatologist will have you come back in for a check-up to even things out if necessary.
Most of these risks are mitigated if you see the right professional for the treatment. “It’s important to go to a licensed dermatologist for treatment,” says Dr. Engelman, stressing that it’s key to not seek treatments based on cost alone. “There’s an ethical component in the preparation of the product and a skill in the injection which can only be found in high-quality offices and with highly trained and certified injectors.”
Does it hurt?
If needles make you nervous, know that Botox injections are done with a teeny, tiny one that’s roughly the same type used for insulin shots. “Think of the needles that are used to get blood drawn—those are massive compared to the needles used for Botox,” says Dr. Rabach. “These are very minor. If you’re doing this for cosmetic use, it should be comfortable and pleasant.”
I got Botox with Dr. Rabach, who held a very small vibrating tool near the spot that was being injected, which distracted my body from feeling the needle. As I clenched before my first injection, two seconds later, she had already finished putting the Botox into the left side of my face before I could even feel it. It’s also common to get ice packs before and after the procedure to help slightly numb the area, which will again make the experience pretty comfortable (though everyone is different).
How long does it take to work?
The first thing you’ll notice immediately after Botox injections are little bumps and dots of blood that look just like mosquito bites. These go away in 20 minutes to half an hour. But you won’t notice the skin-smoothing effects between three to five days (and up to two weeks). “Cosmetic effects are not immediate, and it’s not one and done,” says Dr. Engelman.
Does it make you look really different?
Botox smooths your skin, but it’s not going to fundamentally change your face and make you look like an Instagram filter (especially if you’re going to a responsible injector, who’s giving you a small dose). “Your skin is going to look smoother, but you’re going to look like yourself, just more refreshed,” says Dr. Rabach. In my experience, I simply looked more awake, and my skin looked much smoother all over.
Is it permanent?
Ugh, no. Over time, Botox is metabolized by the body, and one treatment really only lasts between three to five months on average; however, there are a number of factors that can cause that to vary. “It depends on the individual, and how many units are injected, how the person’s metabolism is, and how often you’re vigorously exercising,” says Dr. Rabach.
What happens after a Botox treatment?
There’s no downtime after Botox. Dermatologists advise you to avoid excessive sweating or exercise for at least 24 hours post-treatment (the boost in circulation can spread the toxin to unwanted areas within the body), but you can continue your regular skin-care routine. It’s also key to avoid touching your face where you had the injections so that the Botox can properly settle, and avoid too much sun exposure, as it can encourage bruising. Other than that, you’re good to go.
Botox Right After Injection
You may have minor side effects after Botox, including headaches, neck pain, or flu-like symptoms. You may have redness, swelling, or bruising at an injection site. You may also get indigestion. If you notice eye drooping, call your doctor right away.
“Beauty is pain,” as the saying goes — but modern cosmetics experts are proving that beauty can relieve pain rather than causing it. Surgeons have found that brow lifts can alleviate migraines, thanks to a few key elements of the surgery. Migraine headaches affect millions of Americans each year, according to the Migraine Research Foundation, and up to 90% of migraine sufferers experience pain severe enough to affect normal functions like driving, working or conversing. In addition, migraines are a chronic illness; that is, they don’t simply strike once fleetingly, but those who struggle with migraines experience them on a recurring basis and even for days at a time. There is also no known cure for migraine headaches. While there are some preventive measures as well as medications that can help manage the pain of a migraine flare-up, many people struggle to find a solution to keep their headaches at bay.
WHAT IS BROW LIFT SURGERY?
Brow lifts, sometimes called forehead lifts or upper facelifts, focus on diminishing the appearance of wrinkles on the forehead and around the eyes. These surgeries can address horizontal forehead lines, worry lines between the brows and crow’s feet. They are also commonly combined with eyelid surgery, or blepharoplasty, to correct sagging or drooping eyelids. Depending on the extent of your lines and wrinkles, your surgeon can perform brow lift surgery using one of three techniques: an endoscopic brow lift, a temporal brow lift or a coronal brow lift.
Endoscopic brow lifts have become increasingly popular in recent years because they are the least invasive option. Your surgeon uses small incisions through which they insert a thin, flexible tool with a small camera attached — they can view and manipulate the tissues underlying the skin of your brow without lifting the skin completely.
Temporal brow lifts involve slightly larger incisions than endoscopic lifts, positioned at the edges of the temples. This type of lift is the current industry standard for clients who require more work than an endoscopic lift can accomplish, and is usually the type of brow lift performed when a client is interested in an eyelid surgery as well.
Coronal brow lifts are the most invasive, using an incision that spans the full length of the brow from temple to temple along the hairline. This technique is somewhat outmoded and is currently only used in special cases.
No matter which type of brow lift is right for you, there is one distinguishing factor — unlike full facelifts, which often focus on removing stretched or excess skin causing an aged appearance, brow lifts focus on facial muscles. The main cause of forehead wrinkles is overworked facial muscles; when you make a certain facial expression particularly often, your muscles will become somewhat stuck in their tensed position, leaving behind the furrows or crinkles of a worried look or squint. During a brow lift, your surgeon removes and repositions some of your brow muscles to release this tension and smooth your brow to a more youthful, relaxed position.
UNDERSTANDING MIGRAINES
Migraines aren’t like the headaches you get when you’re tired or dehydrated. They are characterized by intense, throbbing pain that often results in nausea; sensitivity to sounds, smells and light; dizziness and even temporary sight impairment. While the pulsing pain initially led doctors to believe that migraines were caused by dysfunctional blood vessels, today’s understanding is that migraines are primarily neurological. The sensory effects of migraine attacks suggest that the headaches stem from the brain and nerves, and indeed, the most common and often effective medications for migraines treat the headaches using this principle.
Brain scans of patients experiencing migraines show a burst of activity in parts of the brainstem, an area known for processing mood and pain. In addition, a network of neurons responsible for transmitting pain around the eyes, teeth, forehead and sinuses are particularly active during a migraine. Scientists also believe that this particular network of nerves releases inflammatory chemicals as a response to specific stimuli, which contributes to the throbbing and puts even more sensory pressure around areas already sensitive from a migraine.
HOW A BROW LIFT CAN HELP
The nerves associated with migraines are located in the same areas as the muscles that cause forehead wrinkles. The added tension in the forehead not only makes migraine pressure worse but can even start to pinch some of the facial nerves and trigger migraines more frequently. When your surgeon uses a brow lift to release or remove these tensed muscles and open up more space in the tissues of the forehead, the nerves in the area are also freed from constriction and are less likely to cause shooting migraine pain.
Research also shows that minor muscle tension in the brow can cause non-migraine headaches or generalized forehead and temple pain, only serving to worsen the symptoms of migraines. Restoring relaxation to your upper face with a brow lift can go a long way toward relieving that daily dull ache as well as the debilitating discomfort of a migraine. The brow lift’s effectiveness at smoothing unwanted lines and wrinkles combined with its tension-relief benefits gives this cosmetic surgery the ability to improve your life in more ways than one — the confidence of a reflection you love and the relief of reduced head pain and tension.
Despite the apparent benefits, opinions are mixed amongst plastic surgeons, as well as The American Board of Plastic Surgery. For those reasons, we do not perform brow lifts to help treat migraines, but your primary physician can provide you with more comprehensive information about if this procedure has the potential to help you.
Botox Aftercare Sleeping
A brow lift is an aesthetic surgical procedure to correct the loss of soft tissue elasticity in the upper third of the face. Excess sagging skin around the forehead causing drooping (ptosis) of the brows and wrinkling of the forehead is removed by repositioning the underlying muscle and tissue. It creates a more refreshed, youthful appearance in the upper third area of the face. It can also be combined with a facelift. A brow lift is usually performed by a plastic surgeon.
Endoscopy is the insertion through a surgical incision of a flexible tube with a lighted camera and surgical instruments. The endoscope is now used in a variety of reconstructive and cosmetic surgical procedures. Endoscopic brow lift surgery has gained widespread acceptance, is minimally invasive, and heals faster than traditional brow lift surgery.
Why do people seek endoscopic brow lift surgery?
Aesthetically, the face is divided into three equal parts, of which the forehead (from the top of the eyebrow to the anterior hairline) occupies the upper third. In males this area averages 7 cm and in females it averages 5 cm.
The male eyebrow is less arched than the female eyebrow. The top of the eyebrow lies approximately 2.5 cm from the mid pupil. With aging, these parameters may shift. A lesser distance denotes eyebrow drooping (ptosis).
Loss of forehead skin elasticity from genetics, sun damage, and gravity causes eyebrow drooping, with resultant upper eyelid drooping and dissatisfaction with the appearance.
Aging causes depletion of the subcutaneous fat. This leads to forehead wrinkling, the direction of which depends upon the underlying muscle.
Why is endoscopic brow lift surgery done?
- Aged appearance: Patients may worry they have a tired, surprised, worried, or an annoyed look, appearing older than their actual age
- Eyebrow drooping: Patients may feel an uncomfortable weight of tissue on their eyes
- Forehead wrinkling
- Eyebrow elevation
- Improve eyebrow symmetry
- Change eyebrow shape
- Decrease the function of muscles causing brow wrinkling
When should endoscopic brow lift surgery be avoided?
Endoscopic brow lift surgery should be avoided with:
- Conditions causing dry eyes
- Excessive brow elevation after upper eyelid surgery
- A tendency for keloids or thick scarring
- Psychological instability
- Unrealistic cosmetic expectations
- Poor general health and systemic conditions
What happens during the endoscopic brow lift procedure?
Before the procedure
- Routine blood and radiological investigations will be done.
- Patients may be advised to shampoo their hair with antibacterial soap/shampoo the night before or morning of surgery.
- Hair does not need to be shaved.
During the procedure
- An endoscopic brow lift is performed under general anesthesia or with intravenous (IV) sedation and local anesthesia.
- Multiple small incisions are made just behind the hairline (most surgeons make 3- to 5-cm incisions), through which the endoscope and instruments are inserted.
- Brow tissue is gently released and elevated.
- Excess tissue is removed.
- The muscles are elevated, pulled up and anchored to the bone using anchors made of titanium which look like small screws of 2 mm width. They may be temporary or permanent and do not cause permanent damage.
- The incisions are sutured and dressed.
- A small surgical drain may be inserted — a clear tube is inserted through a small incision below the main incision.
After the procedure
- Post-operative pain can be managed with painkillers.
- Antibiotics may be necessary.
- Patients are advised to rest with their head elevated for two weeks.
- Patients are usually discharged the same day or 24 hours after surgery.
- The drain may be removed after 24 hours.
- The dressing may be removed after 48 hours.
- Patients can shower and wash their hair after 48 hours, using mild shampoos prescribed by the surgeon.
- The surgeon may prescribe medicated ointments to apply to the wounds.
- Patients should not use any hair products for at least seven days.
- Depending on the type of suture used, the surg