Just before the actual treatment, you may be given a topical anesthetic to numb the area prior to injection, though many patients find this unnecessary, as the needles used to inject botulinum toxins are very thin and the injections are not very deep. Your provider will reconstitute the botulinum toxin into a solution, and inject this solution into the muscle at strategic points. Most patients describe a pinching feeling during the injection, though not much pain.
You will be able to go back to your normal activities right after treatment, but your medical provider may ask you to take the day off from exercise or other strenuous activity, and to keep your head upright for the rest of the day. Mild redness, swelling at the injection site, and bruising are the most common side effects.
Following treatment, you will not see results immediately. This is expected, so do not worry that treatment hasn’t worked. Depending on the patient, product used, and area treated, final results are typically reached 3 to 7 days after initial treatments. If this is your first botulinum toxin treatment, your physician or nurse may initially inject a more conservative amount and touch up the results during a follow up treatment. This helps to ensure natural, optimal results without the risk of over-treating an area.
