Every week, someone sits in my chair for their first Botox treatment and says some version of: “I’ve been thinking about this for years but I was scared I’d look weird.”

I get it. The internet is full of frozen foreheads and overfilled faces. But that’s not what good Botox looks like—and the gap between “I’m terrified” and “why didn’t I do this sooner” is usually about 15 minutes.

Here’s what actually happens.

Before You Come In

Skip the Advil and fish oil for a few days—they make you bruise easier. That’s it. That’s the prep.

You don’t need to do anything special. Come with a clean face if you can, but I’ll wipe everything down anyway. Eat breakfast. Drink your coffee. It’s not surgery.

What I’m Looking At

When you sit down, I’m not just looking at your wrinkles. I’m looking at how your face moves.

I’ll ask you to raise your eyebrows, squint, frown. I want to see which muscles are doing the heavy lifting and where you tend to hold tension. Everyone’s face is different—the woman with the deep forehead lines might need fewer units than someone with subtle creasing because it depends on muscle strength, not just how the lines look at rest.

This is the part a lot of injectors skip. They have a “standard” amount for foreheads and just inject the same pattern on everyone. That’s how you end up looking like everyone else who went there.

The Actual Injections

Here’s the honest truth: it’s not that bad.

The needles are tiny. Like, comically small. Each injection takes about one second. Most people say it feels like a small pinch or a mosquito bite—uncomfortable but not painful.

The whole thing takes maybe 10-15 minutes. People are usually surprised it’s over that fast.

The Weird Part

For the first few days, nothing happens. Your face feels normal. You might wonder if it even worked.

Then around day 3-5, you’ll start noticing you can’t make certain expressions as easily. Your forehead doesn’t scrunch the way it used to. This feels strange at first—not bad, just different.

By day 10-14, you see the full result. The lines have softened. You look more rested. But here’s the key: you still look like you.

People notice something’s different but can’t put their finger on it. “Did you do something to your hair?” That’s the goal.

What Freaks People Out (But Shouldn’t)

“I tried to raise my eyebrows and couldn’t.”
That’s the Botox working. It’s temporary. It’s supposed to do that. If you hate the feeling, it wears off in a few months. Almost nobody hates it.

“I got a small bruise.”
Normal. Happens sometimes. Goes away in a few days. Cover it with concealer if you’re self-conscious.

“It’s been a week and I still have some lines.”
Good Botox softens lines—it doesn’t erase your face. You should still be able to move and express. Those subtle remaining lines are what keeps you looking human.

My Honest Take on “Preventative Botox”

You’ve probably heard that people in their 20s should start Botox to prevent wrinkles from forming. Here’s my actual opinion: it depends.

If you’re 26 and you don’t have any lines, you probably don’t need Botox yet. If you’re 26 and you can already see forehead lines forming when your face is relaxed, then yeah, starting now will keep them from getting deeper.

The “start Botox at 25” advice is mostly marketing. The real answer is: start when you start seeing lines that bother you.

What Nobody Tells You

The first time is the hardest to judge. We’re finding your sweet spot—how much product, exactly which muscles, how your body metabolizes it.

Your second and third treatments will be better because I’ll know your face. Most of my long-term patients need less Botox over time, not more, because their muscles get trained to relax.

Give it 3-4 treatments before you decide if Botox is “for you.” The first one is just the beginning of the conversation.

Have questions? I’d rather answer them before you’re in the chair than have you sitting there nervous. Book a free consultation or just text me: 480-933-2328.