Botox Aftercare & What to Expect After Botox – First Time Botox – The Gifted Gabber

This Botox Aftercare & What to Expect After Botox post is sponsored by Arkansas Family Dental. Arkansas Family Dental gave me Botox services in exchange for my honest review of the process and the results.

I’ve been curious about Botox for some time since I have many friends – some much younger – getting Botox. But I waited until my 40th birthday so I could actually have a little 40th birthday pick-me-up. How funny that two weeks before I turned 40, Arkansas Family Dental reached out and invited me to attend its Botox party in exchange for a review. Perfect timing!

Today, I’m here to tell you all about my first time Botox at 40. If you are wondering about a Botox party, what to expect with first time Botox, or Botox aftercare, this post is for you! 

First Time Botox: Attending a Botox Party 

The Botox party was held in a relatively new addition to the Arkansas Family Dental building in Little Rock. Camille, the marketing coordinator for the clinic, gave me a tour and I couldn’t believe how big the place was. With its recent additions, it is so spacious and nice. 

We were treated to a table of yummy appetizers and drinks while we waited. There was a packed house of women from early 30s to maybe 70s. I guess most of us are choosing Botox over bangs. The offer for the evening also included a buy-one-get-one-free deal so many seemed eager to take advantage of this.

Botox for Forehead Lines

It’s only been in the last four or five years that I have really noticed aging. Given that I had a pretty nasty head-to-toe skin disease for about eight years as a child/teen, I feel my skin has fared pretty well in my adult life. The most bothersome aging signs on my face are the horizontal forehead lines and the ever-deepening vertical line between my eyebrows.

There are different eyebrow Botox areas and different Botox treatment options. Some people get Botox for 11 lines. What are 11 lines? Basically, these are two vertical lines between the eyebrows that look like the number 11. My eyebrow Botox is for a single vertical forehead line between the eyebrows.

But the vertical line between the brows is what I refer to as my teacher wrinkle. I blame my students (and now my own biological children) for this one. I mean, if I don’t scowl my face up at the same time I use a stern voice, these young-ins simply do not take me seriously! Do any of you teachers and moms out there feel this way?! Teacher mom life can be tough, y’all.

As for the horizontal lines on forehead, I can only blame myself. I can recall countless times my mom got onto me as a kid for wrinkling up my forehead.

Prices of Botox: How Much Per Botox Area vs How Many Units of Botox?

Speaking of Botox prices, you are probably wondering how much Botox costs. 

At this particular Botox party I was invited to, the pricing was set by Botox area. We paid by the Botox areas we wanted done. The Botox price menu was set by Botox prices per area and not the number of units.

At some places, the Botox price you will pay depends on how much Botox is needed for a specific area. When paying by the unit, you may also have the choice to go for a more conservative approach (fewer units for a more relaxed look) or more Botox for a tighter look. How many Botox units you buy will determine your final price.

How Many Units of Botox Do I Need?

One thing I’ve come to learn (during my first Botox and after) is that the number of Botox units and the average cost of Botox vary between person and between establishment. One plastic surgeon I know also told me the average price of Botox for a person with a high forehead (ME!) will be higher than a person with a small forehead because the average units of Botox will be higher for adequate coverage. So how many units of Botox do I need for forehead Botox? Around 30 units of Botox. Thanks, big forehead! I think the average Botox price per unit is $10. Sometimes, Botox technicians will run specials for $8 for one unit of Botox. When paying by the unit for Botox, I will pay around $300 for my forehead Botox. Some lucky folks might get way with only paying for 20 units of Botox for forehead Botox.

The Best Botox Age

The doctor told me 40 is the “perfect age” for Botox! However, there are plenty of people who get Botox at 35, Botox at 30, and even Botox at 20. 

Reasons for Getting Botox

Camille also provided me with some insight as to the reasons various people seek Botox. It isn’t all for cosmetic purpose. Some people receive Botox for TMJ issues and migraines. Additionally, some people seek Botox for relief with muscle spasms that cause eye issues, excessive sweating, and even bladder issues. You can find more information about using a dentist for Botox treatments on the Arkansas Family Dental website.

First Time Botox and What to Expect 

How long does Botox take?

You might be wondering how long does Botox take when you arrive for a procedure. Once I went to the back, the start-to-finish of the procedure was about 10 minutes. The first five of that was simply a discussion with the staff about which Botox areas I wanted to have done. I had originally said I wanted eyebrow Botox. While looking at the menu of offerings, I also decided to add Botox for horizontal forehead lines. Other services were for crow’s feet, laugh lines, fillers, etc.

This is a picture I took while the doctor prepared the Botox injections. No judgies on my worn out look or my shaggy eyebrows – typical teacher on the fourth-day-of-school look. I was August school teacher tired. 

It was a much quicker process than I expected. Seriously, it was like five minutes.

Does Botox Hurt?

Basically, the doctor made five or six little marks on my forehead frown lines. Then, she made one small needle prick in each of those spots. The pain was minimal. It felt kind of like five little rubber band snaps.  I couldn’t believe how quickly it was over and how little I felt. 

This is me in the clinic parking lot. The little red dots are from the pricks.

Botox Aftercare: What Not to Do After Botox 

It is super important to know what not to do after Botox and follow your doctor’s general Botox aftercare rules. For instance, I had just assumed it would be okay to go to my barre class on the evening of my treatment. That was a big fat no! You cannot exercise until the day after Botox. The doctor said the Botox could move around in my forehead with all my movements and not settle where we want it to settle.

So what about resting? Can you lay down after Botox? No. How long after Botox can you lay down? My doctor said that I should not lie down for 5-6 hours after Botox treatment as per Botox aftercare precautions.

What to Expect After Botox? 

You need to know what to expect after Botox injections. You will not wake up with Botox day 2 and find a completely different face than you had before. 

Day by day, my forehead changed ever so slightly. I would certainly not say it was a dramatic change (which I did not want). It was more of a subtle transformation which occurred over time. 

What does Botox feel like when it starts to work? All I can say is I could feel my forehead becoming more and more firm. No longer could I just raise my eyebrows to show surprise or disapproval to my students or children. Now, I will have to find a new method. My mother should be so proud. It only took me getting Botox at 40 to get my frown lines under control.

How Long Does Botox Take to Work?

One big question we all have is how long does it take for Botox to kick in after the treatment. Some Botox aftercare information I received from the doctor was that I should expect to wait for two weeks before I saw the final results. That is how long it takes for the Botox to fully settle in. She said if I wasn’t happy with how things looked after the two-weeks, I could return for a touch-up. The doctor said the Botox typically lasts three to four months but sometimes longer.

What Are Some Side Effects of Botox? 

The reading material I was given said I may experience some bruising, but I never really had any. However, I did notice some friends of mine had bruising after receiving Botox. Also, some had swollen, puffy upper eyelids for a several weeks. Other temporary common side effects are headaches, itching, and stiff neck.

I didn’t even think to take any Botox pictures day by day. But I did take a few before and after Botox pictures during my two week wait. 

About a week after the Botox procedure, my sweet kindergartner said the sweetest thing. She said, “Mommy, I’m so proud you and I go to the same school now!” Then, she asked if we could take a selfie.

(We don’t actually “go” to the same school, but she does attend the elementary school that attaches to my middle school campus so we are kind of in the same building now.)

In the picture, I could see where the teacher wrinkle had really started the relax.

How Often Should You Get Botox? 

How long does it take for Botox to wear off? How long does Botox last? The doctors told me how often to get Botox is about 3-4 months on average. My Botox starts to wear off between 5-6 months. Therefore, how often should you get Botox is a personal choice. For me, when I can start lifting my eyebrows easily, it’s time. 

Before and After Botox Pictures

And here are some final photos of Botox at 40 on my forehead after the two-week wait.

Can I just say it is super scary to post my before and after Botox pictures? 

Be. Nice. 

Also, remember only my forehead received Botox. If you notice wrinkles elsewhere…be nice!

I can definitely say I am happy with my Botox party experience! My teacher wrinkle is far less noticeable, and my forehead lines appear much more minimal. I will definitely treat my face to more Botox in the future! Seriously, can you stop once you get Botox? 

Hopefully, this Botox review post answered any questions you had about attending a Botox party, getting Botox for the first time, or Botox aftercare! 

Check out my other latest post on easy sweater looks for teachers and moms!