First round of Botox - what to expect!?

[sleepsuit]

I've done it. I've booked my first Botox appointment as I'm fed up of looking tired and worn out beyond my years.

I did my research (thanks Mumsnet) and have found a practitioner who has been a registered Doctor for over 15 years and comes with excellent reviews.

But... What can I expect? Does it hurt? Will my face look instantly better or does it take a while? Is there anything I should be aware of? Or avoid?

Mine looked slightly worse before it looked better, it took 2/3 days to settle

Your Dr should be able to answer anything else

Oh following! I’m booked in for March!

My friend gets it done and I’ll be going to the same place. She said some people can bruise. It’ll take 2 weeks for the final results. Oh and no facials/rubbing of face for first 24h.

Slightly worse in what way @Garlicnaan ?

It isn’t particularly painful - needles are tiny and amount injected v small. Less painful than a vigorous dental hygienist appointment I would say.

Will start working somewhere between day 4-7 and full effects be seen at day 14. By day 28 your face will have totally settled and feeling of heaviness will have gone.

Don't think I’ve ever spoken to anyone who hasn’t liked what it’s done for them! Lots of people who decry it without ever having tried it of course.

You won’t possibly see any difference immediately so anything ‘worse’ could only be mild bruising or red marks at injection sites I imagine.

It's not painful, some people can bruise. I had some bruising around my eye the first time. Best results for me are always at around Day 10.

That's really helpful @jusdepamplemousse thank you!

My appointment is tomorrow @Rosiiee !

It’s a complete non event on the day. 15 minutes, a few tiny needles, and you go away looking no different.

First time I had it, it took over a week to start working. Now it takes just a couple of days to kick in. Full effects by 2 weeks, sometimes feels a bit heavy week 2-4, and then a couple of great months before it starts to wear off.

It can take a few goes to get entirely happy with exactly how much and where. I find that the “perfect” amount at day 14 has all but disappeared by 3 months, whereas having a bit injected more feels heavy at day 14 but gets me to month 4. That’s worth it for me, but wouldn’t be right for everyone.

You won’t come out looking any different! So just be prepared to be underwhelmed immediately.

Avoid booze for a week before.

Buy some arnica cream to help with bruising- I’ve never had any bruises from forehead botox but definitely had some around my eyes when have done crows feet.

Do progress videos every day- I have whole folders of me making faces to see when the botox kicks in- it’s quite funny. But be prepared to feel heavy around the forehead when it kicks in.

Be prepared to be obsessed with it and spend lots of money on it!

Honestly it's not painful, done in 10mins.

Best thing ever, I was told it might only last two months being first one but I had it last May and only now thinking of getting it done again!

I was tired of looking tired/ grumpy!

I've been having it every 3/4 months for about 8 years (I'm in my early sixties).

i love the results but I've found as I've aged the bruising gets worse so I try and time appointments for when I can stay home for a couple of days.

it takes about 10-14 days to see results but I've never felt any of the heaviness referred to here. I just wake up a couple of weeks later and think "oh I look fresh and rested' and realise it's kicked in. Then 13/15 weeks later I realise I look knackered and it's time to go again.

on the whole I'm honestly delighted with it. It looks natural but I'm fresher and brighter looking. There was only one occasion when I wasn't happy with the results. my normal doctor was on maternity leave and I saw one of her colleagues. He was much more heavy handed and left me frozen faced for 3 months but I'd go for a frozen face over saggy and tired looking any day.

I’ve been meaning to book in for ages and this thread has convinced me! Can anyone recommend someone good in Kent?

Go for a dentist as they have the best training in face muscles

I actually find it quite painful 😳
I don't have a particularly high pain threshold though!

It's just awesome, enjoy!

It is a little bit nippy for me in certain places but completely bearable.

Mine usually takes a few days to really kick in so don't expect instant results.

Your forehead might be a bit lumpy where they inject but it'll be gone by the next day.

How does Botox compare to dermal fillers if you’re already showing signs of aging? Not really wrinkles as such - just tired- looking, drooping at sides of mouth etc?

@Mummypete not sure whereabouts in Kent you are, but I would highly recommend the Cindy Knight clinic in Hildenborough. They are trained GP’s so you are in good hands

It hurt more than I thought it would. Took about a week for it to kick in. The thing no one ever talks about is how it feels. Felt like I had concrete/glue in my forehead which felt really weird. Wore off after 3 months. Haven't had it done again, but I will when I can afford it. Also, no one noticed it but me!

@Netball01 you couldn’t get much more local than Hildenborough so that’s perfect, thank you so much!

I've been having it for 14 years now. Those of you saying it feels heavy that's a sign of being over injected. It took me ages to find someone who gets it exactly right and the difference is unbelievable.

You won't feel any different at all when you come out. The worst case you might have a tiny bruise at the injection site.
Depending which product is used it can take between 48 hours and a week to kick in.

@Unexpectedlysinglemum
Yes, I agree, my dentist does it, hardly feel a thing and great results

I don't find it painful at all, but I'm comparing it to other facial injectables I've had (profhilo/lumi eyes - and they have been painful !).

Take some arnica - I do, and I've never had any bruising.

Don't be surprised if it takes a while to work - mine takes over a week. You'll be obsessed at looking at it in the mirror and wiggling your face around, but will be able to feel it kicking in when it does. It can feel a little heavy but isn't uncomfortable.

Also, follow all the aftercare advice.

Good luck OP, can you let us know how it went?

Sorry just jumping in to ask if anyone can recommend somewhere in Surrey please?