Overview:
Most patients have no problems after Botox treatments. Overall, it is extremely safe with very high satisfaction! The most common problem is not having realistic expectations. Botox can not always last as long as desired, or improve wrinkles, as much as hoped. Small “touch-ups” that require just a “few” extra units of Botox are often done at no expense to the patient. Some patients, however, just need more Botox than they received or paid for! This is really not a problem; extra Botox can be safely added shortly after the first treatment. Most of the time it means more Botox should be used to get the desired result. There is an extra expense for the extra Botox needed.
General care after Botox:
Most patients need to do absolutely nothing. Strenuous workouts are not recommended on the day of your treatment, but can be resumed the next day. Light activity and walks can be done immediately. Patients do not need to do facial exercises to facial muscles. These have been shown to be unnecessary.
- Ice application to the area – 20 minutes on and then 20 minutes off three times a day. Extra ice application is fine if desired.
- Headache – Tylenol or Motrin as needed.
- Welts, redness, or itching – Benadryl over the counter as needed.
- Avoid strenuous exercise on the day of the procedure.
- Understand realistic results and how long Botox lasts in general. Additional treatments or touch-ups can require more Botox. Please see above overview.
Potential Botox and Dysport Side Effects:
- Bruising – Recovering from Botox is extremely easy. Most people have minimal to no bruising and can resume normal activities right away. Rarely, someone gets unlucky and gets more significant bruising. Although disappointing, it is important to understand it will not affect the Botox from working. It just takes time for the bruising to go away. Makeup can be used to hide the bruising following Botox.
- Headache – Headache also can happen after Botox. This is usually minimal and goes away quickly. Dr. Saunders recommends Tylenol or Motrin for headache pain.
- Redness, Welts, and Itching – Minor redness or welts can occur after a treatment. Sometimes itching as well. This is normal and you should not worry. Benadryl is recommended for these symptoms. Please call if they do not quickly improve over a day or two.
- Drooping of Eyelids or Eyebrows – Drooping of eyelids or eyebrows is very uncommon and most people do not get this. If you do, do not worry and please call the office for an appointment with Dr. Saunders. Some patients might feel their eyebrows are too low even after Botox. In this case, cosmetic eyelid lift or cosmetic blepharoplasty might be something that helps with the aesthetic appearance and your rejuvenation. Within a short period of time, drooping of the eyelids or forehead tends to resolve. In unusual cases, Dr. Saunders might prescribe an eye drop to help with this. Again, Botox is extremely safe. This type of problem is very rare.
- Results – Remember: “realistic” expectations after Botox or any cosmetic procedure is extremely important! This means patients can be disappointed that the Botox didn’t do enough. Botox is a chemical that works to “diminish” facial lines. It does take several days to reach its maximal potency. This means that the best results take 2-4 days to appear. People often want to “get rid of” all their wrinkles. Botox frequently just “diminishes” wrinkles. “Getting rid of” all wrinkles often doesn’t happen. Also, the Botox might not last as long as desired. This is something that happens. Botox usually lasts 2-4 months, and we want it to last a long time. However, if it goes away too quickly, you just need more Botox. Some people metabolize Botox more quickly than others and need treatments more frequently. Men often have larger muscles and need bigger doses and more frequent treatments. Additional Botox treatments do have additional expense.
