First Time Getting Botox®? Here's What to Expect

Wrinkles aren’t particularly welcome on any part of your face, but dynamic wrinkles can be most bothersome. These are the lines that develop because of repeated facial expressions. You might notice horizontal lines across your forehead, making you look tired. Or vertical lines between your eyebrows, making you look stern. Or, crow’s feet around your eyes, aging you. 

Fortunately, you’re not stuck with these dynamic wrinkles. Here at Discovery Medical Center in Midtown Logan Square in Chicago, Pekka Soini, MD, FACOG, offers Botox®. With this cosmetic injectable, he gives you a way to banish unwelcome wrinkles so you can look like your best self again. 

If you’ve never had Botox before, you’re probably wondering what to expect. Let’s walk through it.

What happens during your first Botox appointment

Your first Botox appointment starts with a consultation with Dr. Soini. Tell him what’s bothering you about the lines on your face. This allows him to customize the placement and amount of Botox for you. Together, you agree on a treatment plan. 

Then, Dr. Soini performs the actual injection(s). Most people say it feels like a quick pinch. The needles Dr. Soini uses are tiny, which limits pain. Instead, treatment should be quick and mostly comfortable. Plus, the injections usually take 10 minutes or less. 

If you’re worried about discomfort, tell Dr. Soini. He can apply a topical anesthetic or numb the area with ice beforehand. 

After treatment, you can continue on with your day immediately. That said, you might have some redness, tenderness, or bruising at the injection site(s). Some people schedule their Botox appointments for late afternoon so they can go relax at home after. We also don’t recommend exercising for a few hours afterward. 

Whatever activity (or lack thereof) you choose after your appointment, make sure it’s one that keeps you upright. Don’t lie down for a few hours afterward so the Botox stays where you want it. 

What to expect afterward

Botox doesn’t require much aftercare. You don’t need to bandage the injection sites or anything like that. You do need to avoid rubbing the area, though. For at least 24 hours, keep your hands off it so you don’t accidentally spread the Botox. 

Botox doesn’t work immediately, but it does work quickly. You should start to notice your results within a few days. Within two weeks, you’ll be able to enjoy the full effect. 

Those results usually last at least a few months. When you notice the wrinkles start to reappear, come see Dr. Soini. With a quick touch-up treatment, he can help you maintain your results over time. 

Getting Botox should be a quick, mostly painless experience that doesn’t require much from you afterward. If you want more info or to schedule a consultation with Dr. Soini, call our office or book your appointment online today.