How to Get the Best Results From Your First Botox® Treatment
You’ve decided to take control of your aging process by relaxing the dynamic muscles in your face that cause pesky wrinkles and lines such as frown lines and crow’s feet. You’ve chosen the first FDA-approved neuromodulator — Botox® Cosmetic — as your preferred injectable.
The two most important parts of your first treatment are already taken care of: You’ve chosen a safe, effective neuromodulator with decades of satisfied clients, along with an expert injector to administer your treatments at Revive Health and Wellness med spa in Norwell, Massachusetts. Now comes your part.
Avoid blood thinners for one week
You want to minimize bleeding during your Botox injections, which also cuts down on post-treatment swelling and bruising. To do this, you should avoid any kind of substance or medication that thins your blood or interferes with healing. One week before your treatment, cut out:
- Aspirin
- Smoking
- Red wine
- Ginger
- Cinnamon
- Fish oil
- Green tea
- Ginkgo biloba
- Garlic
We give you a full list of ingredients to avoid or minimize to make your treatment and recovery as easy as possible.
Be patient
Unlike hyaluronic-acid-based dermal fillers, which immediately improve the look of your skin and erase wrinkles and creases, Botox takes a while to work. Botox is made of a purified form of botulinum toxin, which blocks signals that cause the dynamic muscles in your face to create wrinkle-causing expressions.
Botox takes a while to settle into your muscles and relax them. You may notice a difference in how deeply you can grimace or frown within the first day or two. However, Botox takes about 2 weeks to fully relax your dynamic facial muscles. You’ll know your full results have been reached when your skin looks smooth, silky, and youthful again.
Get back to normal
When you erase your wrinkles, lines, and creases with Botox, you don’t have to take hours or days away from your normal routine. Unlike invasive surgical procedures, minimally invasive Botox has few side effects that tend to be mild, such as skin tenderness for an hour or two after your treatment. You can return to most of your normal routines immediately.
We do ask that you baby your skin after Botox. Be sure not to rub the areas that we injected. Wash your face gently with a mild cleanser and moisturize afterward. But again, don’t rub or massage your skin for a few days. You could displace the Botox or irritate your injection sites.
Avoid the sun
Strictly speaking, you should avoid the sun every day — Botox or not. However, after your Botox treatment, it’s more important than ever to minimize your skin’s exposure to the sun’s damaging UVA and UVB rays.
Stay out of direct sunlight between the hours of 10am and 4pm. Wear wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses when outdoors. Use a high-quality, safe, full-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every time you’re exposed to sunlight, including when driving or when sitting or working near a sunny window.
Schedule your touch-ups
Botox’s beautiful results last up to 3-4 months. Of course, once you see how smooth and healthy your skin looks after your treatment, you won’t want to slide back into your old “normal.” Keep your new normal going by setting up your follow-up appointments ahead of time so you don’t miss them.
Find out more about how Botox can transform your face and erase your wrinkles for months at a time. Call our friendly staff today or use our online form to schedule a consultation.