Botox: The Injection

You’ve heard about the great things Botox can do to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles and even prevent new ones from forming. You’ve seen for yourself what Botox has done for your friends. You want that, too! But, wait just a minute – we’re talking injections here. What if getting shots isn’t really your thing?

Relax! It’s not that bad! In fact, Botox injections are not at all like getting vaccinations or other types of medical shots that you may have experienced.

At Raval Facial Aesthetics, we understand your concern and we’re here to allay your fears. If you’re not fond of needles, you aren’t alone. We get lots of questions from prospective Botox patients about the procedure itself. So let’s talk about those questions so you, too, can comfortably look forward to the benefits of Botox treatment.

Does the Injection Hurt?

This is the bottom line question for most people. Botox injections typically feel like little needle pricks. We use the smallest needle available. It’s the same tiny size that is used by diabetics, not the larger needles that are used to deliver vaccines and medications. So Botox treatments feel nothing like a typical shot you may have gotten.

Dr. Jeffrey Raval has developed special techniques to ensure our Botox patients enjoy the most comfortable experience possible:

• We use a very high concentration of Botox, so there is less volume to inject. That makes injections even faster and reduces the possibility of pain.
• We inject the Botox in a suspension that includes normal saline with preservative, which balances the pH, reducing the likelihood of a burning sensation.
• For patients who are sensitive or simply want even more comfort assurance, we can also apply a numbing cream prior to treatment. Most of our patients say it’s not needed, but everyone is different, especially when it comes to something like injections.

Injection Location Matters

We most commonly use Botox injections to treat lines and wrinkles on the face and neck. But Botox can also help patients who are challenged by bruxism (teeth grinding), migraine headaches, or hyperhidrosis (excessive underarm sweating). Some of these areas are naturally more sensitive than others. So Botox injections for bruxism or for neck wrinkles, for instance, don’t hurt as much as injections around the eyes. For most people, lips are the most tender.

In some cases, if injections are administered close to a nerve, whatever discomfort you feel may linger a bit longer, but it will go away.

Do the Injections Leave Marks?

Botox injections don’t require any downtime afterward, but patients often ask if they will have red marks or bruising as they might have experienced with other types of shots. Following Botox injections, you may have tiny red marks for a day or two, but this is rare.

It’s not unusual for injections to cause some temporary bruising, but because we use the smallest needles possible, any bruising will also be much smaller – maybe something the size of a pea. Interestingly, bruising can happen to anyone at any time. So you might have had Botox injections in the past without any bruising, then you do see some after your next treatment. If it happens, it goes away quickly.

If you do have bruising or tenderness, Dr. Raval suggests using an ice pack for the first 24 hours. After that, you can use a warm compress instead.

Precision Placement is Crucial

Comfort, safety and results all depend on precise placement of the injected Botox to appropriately affect muscle movements. Assessing placement patterns requires skill and practice. All of our aesthetic injectors are highly trained and experienced. And Dr. Raval? He’s the expert that trains other doctors and nurses around the country on how to deliver safe, comfortable and effective Botox treatment to their own patients.

A painless experience starts with confidence. When it comes to Botox injections, you can trust Raval Facial Aesthetics. Ready to book your consultation?