Botox Before and After Care

Preparing for Botox – Two Weeks Before Cosmetic Injectable Treatment

• Refrain from use of excessive or unnecessary blood thinners.

Three Days Before Botox Injections

• Avoid exfoliating agents like Retin-A, alpha or beta hydroxy acids, toners or any irritating creams on the treatment area.
• Discontinue electrolysis, waxing, threading, tweezing, plucking and chemical epilation in the treatment area.
• If you are prone to cold sores, notify the physician, who will prescribe a course of antiviral prophylactic treatment.
• Avoid Vitamin E (includes a multivitamin) and Fish Oil.
• Consider a course of Arnica Homeopathic tablets until a day after treatment to decrease the occurrence of bruising.
• Avoid Ibuprofen or Aspirin.

Day of Injection Treatment

• Arrive at your appointment with a clean, makeup free face. Makeup wipes will be available, if not possible.
• A topical anesthetic / local analgesic may be indicated to maximize your comfort.
• You may experience some tenderness, swelling, redness or stinging at the injection site, immediately following injection.

Botox cosmetic is contained within a vial. Each vial of Botox injectable typically contains 100 units. The Botox units needed are always individual, however; here are some general guidelines per treatment area:

Forehead Lines 

Diminishes the horizontal lines that often run parallel to one another across the forehead. 

How Much Botox: 10 to 30 units.

Frown Lines (aka the Eleven’s / 11’s / Glabellar Lines / Glabella Lines)

Helps with the vertical lines that appear above the bridge of the nose. These lines become more pronounced when you frown or are in deep thought.

How Much Injectable: 15 to 30 units.

Eyebrow Lift / Sagging Brow

Relaxes the muscles that pull down the eyebrows and cause the brow area to droop.

How Much Injectable: 2 to 5 units.

Bunny Lines

Counteracts the horizontal lines that appear across the bridge of the nose. 

How Much Injectable: 5 to 10 units.

Crow’s Feet / Smile Lines

Softens lines at the corners of the eyes that often appear when squinting or smiling.

How Many Units: 5 to 15 units.

Marionette Lines / Corners of the Mouth

Helps when the muscles pull down the corners of the mouth, and cause the mouth to droop. 

How Much Botox: 3 to 6 units.

Chin Dimples

Smooths the appearance of wrinkles on the lower part of the face.

How Much Botox: 2-6 units.

Square Jaw / Masseter Botox

Slims a square jaw by softening the Masseter muscle along the jawline. Also, provides relief from Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome or TMJ as well. 

How Much Botox: 20 to 30 units.

Platysmal Bands / Neck Botox

Corrects the horizontal bands that appear on the neck.

How Much Botox: 10 to 50 units.

Cosmetic Injectables Aftercare

• Avoid lying down for four hours following treatment.
• If using makeup the day of procedure, mineral makeup is preferable.
• Avoid going to the gym for 24 hours after injection.
• Comfort Measures:
  • Ibuprofen, acetaminophen or Aleve are appropriate for swelling or discomfort, if needed.
  • Antihistamines, like Benadryl and Zyrtec, may be used for minor itching.
  • For up to 48 hours following treatment, cool packs or ice can relieve minor discomfort and reduce swelling and bruising. Ice for a maximum of 20 minutes per hour. After 48 hours, switch to hot packs.
  • Arnica Gel may be used for bruising.
  • If extreme swelling or any unforeseen symptoms occur, please contact Smooth Synergy®.

Post-Treatment Expectations

• Botox is generally considered safe and effective with minimal side effects, down time or recovery.
• With the exception of strenuous exercise, you may return to normal activity immediately following injection.
• Most side effects from the treatment should not be cause for alarm. Symptoms are usually minor and should subside in time, as a normal part of the healing process. They may be alleviated with simple measures, as described above.
• It is normal to experience pain, mild tenderness, swelling, bruising for up to a week, particularly around the injection site.
• Flu-like symptoms or headache have been reported but are uncommon.
• It’s rare to experience drooping of the muscles around the treatment area; however, should this occur, please contact Smooth Synergy® immediately at 212-397-0111.
• If you are concerned about any aspect of your post-treatment recovery, please call Smooth Synergy® at 212-397-0111.

The issue of difference between the Botox, Dysport and Xeomin has been hotly debated. Some studies have shown that Dysport has a 2-5 day onset vs. 4-7 days for Botox Some studies have shown that Dysport diffuses more quickly than Botox, which has different repercussions for different areas of the face. Some studies have shown that the number of units of Dysport needed is higher than the amount of Botox needed. Somes studies have shown that Xeomin offers less chance of long-term resistance to its product. To reiterate, no studies have conclusively shown a difference between the three brands of injectables and its best to speak with a physician to find out which product is right for you.

Injection Results

• You will begin to see smoothing of lines and wrinkles between 3-7 days after Botox, Dysport or Xeomin injection, although some areas may take effect quicker than others. 
• Schedule a follow-up appointment ten days after your procedure, so the doctor can assess treatment results and administer minor touch-ups, as needed.
• To maintain Botox results, it’s recommended that you schedule your next appointment in about three months.

Smooth Synergy®’s Medical Director, Dr. George Liakeas, has over 20 years experience administering injectables in Manhattan. He’s not only a trusted medical physician, but has a keen eye for aesthetics. He has a knack for understanding the face and knowing where to place product to make you look your best.  Call Smooth Synergy® MedSpa in New York City at 212-397-0111 to find out more about cosmetic injectables including Botox, Dysport and Xeomin, as well as our comprehensive menu of skincare and beauty treatments. Our experts treat each client as a work of art, in order to skillfully revitalize the youthful look you desire. Our NYC medical spa guarantees the best care from our expert MD injector and skin care consultants.