Does Botox Hurt?

Do Botox Injections Hurt?

Nope, not really!  Way less than the average vaccine for sure!  We use tiny (seriously tiny) insulin needles to do Botox injections in the upper face (forehead, frown lines and crow’s feet).  These needles are only slightly larger than acupuncture needles and don’t go in nearly as deep as acupuncture needles often do.

The Botox solution is also not painful when injected, as some vaccine solutions tend to be or can cause a burning or stinging sensation.  

How many actual injections are there? 

Because Botox is applied to small areas of the face, we use several small needles to get the overall effect we are looking for.  Most providers are balancing using enough injection sites to cover the area fully but not so many that we are injecting areas needlessly.

Paradoxically, when I inject Botox for patients, I use several syringes per area (i.e. three separate needles/syringes for the frown lines typically) but each syringe has a brand-new needle attached, so you actually feel less discomfort. Some providers will inject multiple areas with the same needle, this reduces the sharpness of the needle with each injection and makes each subsequent needle poke a little more uncomfortable.

Can anything be done to reduce discomfort?

Almost universally, patients don’t require any extra measures for comfort during Botox treatments because they are so quick and simple, you’re in and out before you know it!  If you do prefer or require additional support for discomfort, using a simple ice pack to numb the skin before injecting is quick, easy and effective.

How often do I need to get Botox?

Typically, patients get Botox treatments every 3-4 months.  Each person’s body and activity level will cause them to metabolize the botox a little differently, but 12 weeks is a general recommended timeline for follow-up treatments.

What if I need more Botox?

I always recommend patients schedule a short follow-up visit 1-2 weeks after their initial Botox injections, that way we can do “touch-ups” if there are any areas of concern that weren’t covered with the initial injections.

What now?

If you’ve never experienced Botox injections with me, you can schedule a new patient 60-minute visit online at www.aureopdx.com. The new patient paperwork will be sent for you to fill out before your appointment and we will go over your skincare regimen, medications, supplements, general health history and come up with a great plan for you.  In this 60-minute visit, if there are no contraindications to Botox treatment, you can get your first set of injections that day!