Wimped out on botox today

[dogrilla]

Agghghhh! After about a year of umming and ahhing, I went in for botox today and then totally wimped out when the doctor said that one area would take five injections (and two more in a fortnight if my eyebrows went up). Is that normal? I thought it would be a tiny injection in one place and the effect would be v subtle. Am I an idiot?

Stupid question no.2: what happens to your frown/forehead tension after you've had it done? does it transport itself to somewhere else? If I try not to frown I sort of grimace instead, and worry I'll look like I'm about to cry for 3 months instead of just looking like I hate everyone...

[DeadGood]

Watching with interest

[JohnCheese]

sorry but your post made me giggle. Q1. No you're not an idiot. Yes, it takes a number of injections but they are teensy tiny not even pinches!! You almost can't feel them. For your first time, the usual procedure is to go lightly, review in 2 weeks and too up if necessary. Rather than go in with a whacking great dose and have to suffer a less-than-ideal-result for a few months. (And tell your practitioner you're looking for subtle.)

Q2 is what really made me giggle. No, the frown doesn't migrate into your head or down to your cheeks. It depends on the dose. I think the ideal dose is when you have a little movement left, but that's just my taste. Others like the frozen look. With the frozen look I find people tend to wrinkle their noses instead of (their paralysed) forehead, it's a dead give-away.

You'll be fine! Go lightly.

[JohnCheese]

Christ more typos. 'Top' up in 2 weeks.

[ChocolateButton15]

Yes one area is 4-5 injections but it's very small needle and small amounts on first time. My nurse gets me to frown a few times to see where to inject. I don't find it painful.

It takes 2 weeks to take effect. Don't lie down for a few hours after or it can travel. The recommendation is to frown as normal so it settles where it needs to. Good botox will still leave you movement in the forehead so you shouldn't look frozen. I still feel like I'm frowning but if I check the mirror I'm not if that makes sense

Your eyebrows will most likely go up but I liked this as it made my eyebrow arches more defined. Again this should be subtle and you shouldn't look shocked or surprised if done right. I had a headache for a week after but on the 2 week top up I didn't have any headache.

[dogrilla]

Thanks for the words of sanity. Feel quite sheepish today - had been gearing up to it for months but fled the clinic like a total wimp. So sick of looking tired and pissed off. Need to go back and woman up...

[StrawberrytallCake]

Don't worry - it took me 2 years and 1 appointment where I freaked out and left before I decided to have it done too.

Injections take around 2-3 seconds each and they are done within 5 minutes of being on the chair. When I first had it done the dr concentrated on the lines in my forehead and injected at the top of my forehead and across the lines - which made my eyebrows droop.

I requested another dr and he put the injections inbetween my eyebrows and just above them which makes me now look less tired and with a slight eyebrow lift (not spock). Make sure you know exactly what you want before you go in - I thought I wanted to get rid of lines when I frown but what I actually needed was a little lift as my eyelids were starting to droop.

For me it's been brilliant and I wake up not looking exhausted, only downside is I know I'll want it again in a few months!

[lougle]

I have botox for migraines. 25 injections in 5 areas of the head and neck. It's done and dusted within 5 minutes. The worst feeling is a slight crunchiness in the injections to the skull, but the face ones are a doddle.

[StrawberrytallCake]

Do you get the added benefit of smooth skin alongside (hopefully) your lack of crippling migraines, lougle?

[lougle]

Sadly it only dulls the pain for me, rather than preventing the migraines, but yes, i get the smooth skin