Botox injections are one of the most popular non-surgical cosmetic treatments, and their popularity doesn’t seem to be slowing down. And if you thought Botox injections are only used by women, you are quite wrong, because a number of men too, don’t mind having their lunch with a side of Brotox (Botox for Bros). But just like in all cosmetics and cosmetic surgeries, you need to educate yourself on the procedure before moving ahead with the treatment. And since Botox is quite common, I had a chat with Dr. Rory McGoldrick – a Dubai-based Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeon, on what one needs to know before taking a leap of Botox.

Botox Injections: What you need to know beforehand

Botox is not permanent

Most people who’ve never had Botox assume that it’s a permanent procedure. Truth be told, it would be quite amazing if that were true. Botox lasts for only 3 to 4 months depending on your lifestyle and the amount of Botox injected. But then on the other hand, if you have the treatment and you don’t like the results, you’ll have to wait it out until it wears off by itself because unlike dermal fillers, it cannot be dissolved to reverse the effects

The results are not immediate

If you think that Botox injections will immediately erase your wrinkles or stop your hyperhidrosis on the spot, you are wrong. 48 hours after the injections you might see a slight difference, but to see full results, you’ll need to be patient for 5 – 7 days.

Botox does not add volume to the lips

I’ve heard people whisper that someone has too much Botox in their lips when they see one with plump lips. This is so far the biggest misinformation regarding the injectable and how it works. In a nutshell, Botox works by paralyzing the muscles of the target area by blocking signals from the nerves to the muscles. This leaves the injected muscles unable to contract, making the surface of the skin to appear smooth and relaxed. So there’s no way you can plump up your lips with Botox. But just in case you need to add volume to your lips, dermal fillers will do just fine.

The negative side of Botox injections

The bruising that might occur if the needle hits a blood vessel during your Botox treatment is one of the minor side effects of the Toxin. The major side effects occur when it is not injected by a qualified and experienced plastic surgeon or dermatologist. When this happens, a lot of things can go wrong, but the most dangerous one is the paralysis of the wrong muscles, anywhere from the eyes to the throat. If you are thinking of going to a quack because they’re cheaper, I suggest you think harder because as mentioned above, Botox cannot be reversed and there is no known antidote for Botox. Your best chance will be to wait it out until it wears off.

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Botox is not a one-off thing

In short, Botox requires upkeep. To maintain that smooth and relaxed look that Botox gives, you have to do the Botox injections at least every 3-4 months, because that wrinkle you paralyzed will resuscitate itself after the Toxin wears off.

Always do your research

It might sound like a cliché but you really need to research the doctor as well as the facility where you plan on getting injected. This is because you need a practitioner who not only knows how and where to inject but one who will deliver natural results because let’s face it; no one wants to have that frozen plastic look!

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Finally, bending after injection is a no-no

This means you should not bend forward for the next 4 hours, even if it’s for a second. This is to avoid any negative effects that might occur if the Botox injections were to shift from the target area to undesirable areas like the eyes before full absorption. Otherwise, you can enjoy a fine glass of bubbly sitting up.