6 Things You Didn’t Know Happen When You Get Botox® or Xeomin® Injections

1) Small bumps appear, but only last for a few minutes. 

Small bumps (pea-sized or smaller), filled with fluid (saline) that’s used to dilute the injection material – because neuromodulators come as a powder – tend to pop up right after an injection—literally seconds later—but no need to worry, they’ll disappear.   The bumps disappear once the fluid has been absorbed by the skin – typically within a few minutes.

2) Injections go to work in just 1 minute

Botox^® and Xeomin^® injections do not directly treat the wrinkle. The injection simply blocks the nerves that create muscle movement in the injected area.   It reduces muscle activity so that the wrinkle is no longer creased and reformed. When the muscle activity causing the folding stops, the body can start repairing these wrinkles. Although the effects of the injections will go to work within one minute, but patients should not expect to see full results for a few days, or possibly up to 1-2 weeks.

When the result of the injections are fully visible, patients will notice smoother skin in the treated area, especially the forehead. This is the result of the reduced amount of muscle activity in the area, which leads to smoother, more pliable skin. And smoother looking skin is younger-looking skin!

3) The results are not permanent

Botox results will start to wear off in three months, while Xeomin results typically last longer (4-5 months), and then you’ll need to do it again to maintain your smooth, wrinkle-free skin in the treated area. The chemical reaction that bonds the neuromodulator to muscle cells is permanent, but new nerves sprout connections to the muscle, so communication resumes after a few months. Once that muscle regains activity, any lines that were originally there will start to come back.