Botox is an aesthetic treatment that constitutes the administration of botulinum toxin injections to the muscles. It is often used to treat facial blemishes like frown lines, crow’s feet, wrinkles, and fine lines by relaxing the facial muscles. Sometimes, the San Antonio aesthetics med spa administers Botox injections to treat other conditions like lazy eye, an overactive bladder, hyperhidrosis or excessive sweating, migraines, and neck spasms. Whatever your reason for getting Botox, the treatment often involves the same steps and lasts about 10 minutes. Here is a breakdown of what you can expect from start to finish.
Initial Consultation
During your first appointment, you and your doctor will discuss Botox and its benefits and risks. Your doctor will review your medical history and ask if you have received a similar injection within the last four months. This is a good time to tell them if you take any allergy medications, sleeping aids, muscle relaxants, or blood thinners. Usually, your doctor will take you off blood thinners for several days before your appointment to lower your risk of bruising and bleeding. They may also ask you not to consume alcohol for at least 24 hours before your procedure.
Preparation
You will not need to wear loose clothing for the procedure unless the treatment area is otherwise inaccessible. A technician may numb your skin with a local anesthetic to reduce your discomfort during the procedure. Depending on the situation, your doctor may use ice and vibration anesthesia or topical anesthesia. The former uses massage to alleviate discomfort.
Injections
Once the treatment area is sufficiently numb, your doctor will clean the treatment area and then use a fine needle to administer the injection. You will likely receive several injections in different places as your provider directs you to move your muscles in specific ways. How many injections you receive will depend on the treatment area and other factors.
Post-Procedure Care
Because Botox is an outpatient procedure, you can usually go home after your injections. You may experience mild discomfort that may feel like a stinging sensation in the treatment area. However, this symptom will resolve soon, and you should refrain from massaging or rubbing the area for at least 24 hours. Doing so could spread the toxin to a different area. Unless your provider recommends otherwise, you should be able to resume your daily activities immediately. However, avoid lying down for at least three hours after your treatment, exercising for 24 hours, and sunbathing for 48 hours. Contact your provider if you experience severe pain, discomfort, bleeding, or swelling.
Results
You should begin to see the results of your Botox treatment within one to three days of your appointment. The effects can last up to three months or longer, depending on the treatment area. However, you will need follow-up injections to maintain the results. These subsequent appointments should be spaced at least three months apart for the best results.
Discuss Botox with a Certified Provider
Botox injections contain Botulinum toxins found naturally in contaminated foods and soil, which can cause botulism. However, administered by a certified provider, these toxins are safe and have a rejuvenating effect on your skin. If you are considering Botox injections, you now know what to expect from the process. Contact a licensed healthcare provider to find out if this treatment can help relieve the effects of aging on your face, including sagging skin, wrinkles, and lines.
