In early November, I went to Basu Plastic Surgery to get a Botox treatment for the first time. I have had Dysport injected once before, but this was my first time trying Botox and I’m absolutely thrilled with my results.
I went to Basu Plastic Surgery’s Texas Medical Center location and the nurse injector, Tiffany, evaluated my skin and marked where the injections would go, explaining everything along the way. I loved how meticulous she was about the injections — it was very clear after a couple of minutes of chatting that Tiffany is an extremely experienced and skilled injector. I’m not nervous about injections, but I had a friend that was, and Tiffany totally kept her calm and cool throughout the process!
The procedure itself is quick and painless with zero downtime. You do have to avoid working out for 24 hours and you should not lay completely flat or bend over really far for four hours after the injections, but other than that, you would never know I had gotten Botox. No bruising, swelling, or any other signs.
Below you’ll see my before and after photos — WOW! On camera, it looks even more dramatic when it’s zoomed in like this — you can really see how the Botox completely smoothed out my expression lines. My before AND after photos show me making the same expression — after Botox, I can still lift my brows, but the wrinkles/folds on my forehead no longer show because the Botox makes is to those muscles can’t “scrunch up” anymore, leaving a much smoother appearance to the skin.
I’m sharing a video below of my full appointment where you’ll see Tiffany doing my injections and also chatting about my personal experience and results, filmed a few weeks after I got the injections.
I LOVE my results from Botox and will definitely keep them up, along with a robust skin care routine, which is a necessity and complement to any cosmetic skin procedure.
If you’re in Houston, check out Basu Plastic Surgery’s locations to find one near you.
Mention my blog post, YouTube video or Instagram when you book your appointment and receive 15% off of your Botox treatment! One of my co-workers liked my results so much that she already went and used the code! You can also view their specials for other procedures, here.
My Basu Plastic Surgery Botox Video
Many of you submitted your questions via email and social media and I had Tiffany, my nurse injector, answer them for you. If you’re considering Botox and have additional questions, please leave them in the comments.
What is Botox and how does it work?
Botox Cosmetic also called Onabotulinumtoxin A, is a temporary neurotoxin that works by temporarily paralyzing or weakening certain muscles. Cosmetically speaking, by using Botox we can improve the appearance of moderate to severe lines associated with muscle activity.
Where is Botox injected?
Botox cosmetic can be injected to several areas of the face. An evaluation of the patient is needed to understand their goals and problematic areas. The most common areas to inject are Glabellar ( frown lines), Crow’s feet ( around the eyes), and Frontalis ( forehead.) One area that most people aren’t aware of that can be treated is called the Gummy smile. A gummy smile is known as an excessive display of gum tissue when a person smiles. A few sprinkles of Botox can soften this overactive muscle and produce a lovely smile. Other areas to inject Botox include, nasal tip, brow lift, down turned mouth, and masseter reduction ( used for teeth grinding or to slim the face).
What is the goal of using Botox? How does it make skin look?
The goal of using Botox is dependent on the patient and the muscles being treated. The majority of patients are concerned with lines caused by overuse of a muscle mainly to their foreheads and frown lines. The goal here is to temporarily paralyze the muscle so that the lines can eventually smooth out. It makes the skin look refreshed and soft. I make sure my patients have a soft natural look and not a “frozen” appearance.
Is Botox a preventative treatment?
Botox is indeed a preventative treatment. Depending on the person’s expressions, a great time to start is late 20’s to early 30’s. Think about muscle movement like a piece of paper. The more you scrunch a piece of paper the deeper the lines will be. If someone waits until their 40’s/50’s the muscle movement has likely caused deep lines that take longer to correct. By starting younger, you prevent those lines from forming and you’ll continue to have a nice refreshed look.
What age is ideal to start getting Botox?
Again, depending on the expressions of the patient I would suggest late 20’s to early 30’s. I’ve done some patient’s as young as 21 though due to overactive muscle movement.
What is the difference between Botox and fillers?
Botox is a neurotoxin that affects the muscle. There are certain lines created by muscle movement and other lines that are created from volume loss and aging. Fillers are used to replace or enhance places where you need volume. For example, fillers are typically used for lips, cheeks, and nasiolabial folds.
Why do some people become droopy after Botox? Is that an allergic reaction?There are two kinds of ptosis (drooping) that can occur but are very rare with Botox. It should be noted that Botox is temporary and any adverse reactions resolve within a few weeks- months. Eye Ptosis is a result of migration of the Botox to the levator palpebrae superioris muscle which allows the lid to open. Brow ptosis is caused by injecting too low on the fontalis muscle or by dosing too much in that area. It is of utmost important that you go to an experienced injector that understands anatomy and how to avoid these types adverse reactions. It’s not the pricing of the Botox that matters, rather the knowledge of the person injecting you.
What is the difference between Botox and dysport?
Botox and Dysport are both botulinum type A toxins with the same indications. They are manufactured by different companies and have different units of measurement. The main difference is at the molecular level. Dysport has a smaller sized molecule than botox.
Are there different dilutions of Botox? Is Botox better than other brands?
According to Allergan, guidelines for Botox Cosmetic it should be diluted based off of the vial. 100 unit vials use 2.5 of NS and 50 unit vials use 1.25 NS. Different practices may dilute it differently but this is the proper reconstitution. Botox as a brand is the most commonly known and used neurotoxin. Whether that’s a result of better results or preference is hard to actually say. My personal preference is Botox within my practice.
Can Botox help soften lines around the eyes?
Absolutely! This area is commonly known as the crow’s feet when someone smiles.
How much does Botox cost?
Botox can range in cost depending on the location and the injector. The average cost can be anywhere from $9-$20 per unit. You want to go to a reputable facility with knowledge and experience. At our practice we charge $13 per unit.
How long does Botox last?
On average Botox lasts 3-4 months. Some patients can go up to 6-8 months but it depends on the strength of the muscle and your metabolism.
What are some important things to remember after treatment?
After Botox treatments I suggest that you don’t bend over or lay flat for 4 hours. I also suggest that you don’t work out the day of the treatment. Botox does slightly spread so we want to ensure that it stays where it was placed.
Are there any cons/risks or side effects to doing Botox?
There are risks associated with any medical procedure but those associated with Botox are very mild and are not permanent. The most common side effects are edema (swelling at site of injection), bruising, and a mild headache on the day of treatment. Other risks are very rare and are included on the consent form.
How can someone find a good Botox injector with the proper training to give the best results?
A good Botox injector is typically found through word of mouth or by doing some research on sites like realself.com.
Can wrinkle creams give me similar results to Botox?
Most wrinkle creams on the market will not provide results even close to that of Botox. I suggest using medical grade Retinols or prescription Retin A in addition to Botox treatments. In conjunction, these two things will keep your skin looking young and healthy.
Thank you Tiffany for answering these questions! This post is sponsored by Basu Plastic Surgery. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and based on my personal experience and treatment results.
Jane says
Only the cost of the actual medication is mentioned. What about the cost of the procedure at their clinic?
Veronika says
Hi Jane! The $13/ unit is the cost of the entire procedure, including the actual Botox injectable solution.
Hayley says
How many units did you get? Or do you get for your first time getting Botox?
Veronika says
I just got this message from Tiffany:
We did a total of 32 units. 16 to your glabella and 16 to your frontalis.
Danielle says
How many syringes does something like that normally take?
Thank you!
Veronika says
It is not done by syringes, but by units 🙂
I just got this message from Tiffany:
We did a total of 32 units. 16 to your glabella and 16 to your frontalis.
Barbie dental services says
Helpful post, I had Botox last year and while I did enjoy looking less grumpy and tired.Thanks for sharing.
Argo services says
Great post, I think Botox is best for reduce the fine lines and wrinkles from face.Thanks for sharing.