first timers
What should I expect from my first Botox appointment?
Short answer
Expect a conversation about what bothers you, an assessment of how your face moves, a conservative first dose, and treatment that takes only a few minutes. You will see the first change in three to five days and the full result at two weeks, which is when a good injector wants to see you again.
Sally's take
First appointments should be underwhelming, and I mean that as reassurance. A few minutes of treatment, very little discomfort, and you go back to work.
I treat a first visit as information gathering. I don't know yet how your muscles respond, so I start lower than I might for someone I've treated before, and we adjust at two weeks. That isn't caution for its own sake. It's the only order that can't go wrong in a way you'd have to wait out.
The other thing I want you to hear is that you can change your mind in the room. Booking a consultation isn't a commitment to be treated, and I'd far rather you leave untreated than treated because saying no felt awkward.
What happens, step by step
- We talk about what bothers you and what you are worried about
- I watch your face at rest and at full expression
- We agree a plan, including how much movement you want to keep
- Photographs for honest comparison later
- Treatment itself, usually a few minutes, with a series of small injections
- Aftercare instructions and a two-week follow-up
Does it hurt
The needles are very fine and most people describe a brief pinch. It is over quickly. Numbing is available but many people find they do not want it once they have felt the first injection.
The timeline afterward
- Small bumps at the injection sites for about an hour
- Day 3 to 5, the first softening
- Day 14, full effect, and the right time to judge
- Around month three, gradual return of movement
Common first-time worries
Looking frozen is the most common fear and it is a dosing decision, not an inevitability. Looking obviously different is the second, and a conservative first dose makes that very unlikely. Most people find the change is smaller than they expected, and that is usually the correct outcome for a first visit.
Quick answers
- How long does the appointment take?
- The consultation is the long part. The injections themselves are usually a few minutes.
- Will I be bruised for work?
- Usually not, and when it happens it's small and covers with makeup. Skip alcohol the night before to lower the odds.
- What if I want to stop after one round?
- Then you stop. It wears off completely and there's no rebound or catch.
- How much does a first treatment cost?
- It depends on your muscle strength and what we're treating. Tell me your budget and I'll build around it.
Questions worth asking
- What dose would you start me on, and why that amount?
- How much movement will I keep?
- Do you include a two-week follow-up?
- What should I avoid before and after the appointment?
Related questions
References
- FDA-approved prescribing information for BOTOX Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA)
- American Academy of Dermatology, patient guidance on botulinum toxin treatment
This page is educational and is not medical advice. It does not create a provider relationship. Results vary between people, and treatment decisions are made at your consultation.