People used to think that Botox was a deluxe and inaccessible treatment reserved only for the richest celebrities. However, with hundreds of clinics and salons all over the UK now offering Botox, you don’t have to be a Hollywood actress to look your best – but it is important to work with a reputable practitioner. At Pour Moi Cosmetic based in Poole and Bournemouth we have built up an excellent local reputation – you can read some reviews here.

Because Botox involves needles and injecting into your face, a lot of people have anxieties surrounding what Botox feels like, how it works, when it works and whether it can cause any damage. However, provided it is done by professionals, Botox is a simple yet effective treatment.

What Does Botox Feel Like When it Starts to Work?

Once your botox starts to work, you will feel a sensation of tightness, this is the same with the first treatment and any subsequent treatments.

If this is your first treatment it is very important to bear in mind that Botox does not work straight away. It is important to be patient when getting Botox because it can take from 10 to 14 days to work. Once it works, however, you will definitely feel and see the difference.

Below is a general timeline of what to expect when you get Botox and when you can expect it to work.

During treatment

Because Botox is administered via a series of small injections, it is normal to feel a little bit of a sting at the injection site, but this disappears immediately. Immediately after the treatment there may be redness from the injections, which will disappear within an hour

Later on the day of the treatment

It is suggested that you do not massage the area or lie down for 5 to 8 hours prior to the treatment.

A week after the treatment

You should begin to see the affects; the areas will be significantly tighter, bringing a lift to the upper face, giving a more youthful and fresh faced look. Your practitioner should call you in for a check up at around the 10 to 14 day mark.

Three months after the treatment

Most Botox clinics recommend making another appointment with your practitioner after three to four months, for a follow up procedure, as at this stage movement begins to return to the face, and the effects of your treatment begin to fade.

If you feel you want to continue with Botox, this is a good time to get your next set of injections, to train the brain not to use the muscles.

What is Botox?

Botulinum Toxin Type A is a form of neurotoxic protein that affects the neurotransmitter; freezing the muscles in the face. There are two used for cosmetic procedures are Botox and Dysport.

How does Botox work?

The small amount of BTX-A administered by the practitioner reacts with the acetylcholine neurotransmitter by temporarily paralysing facial muscles in the areas it is injected.

So, if you had Botox to combat crows-feet, the BTX-A would temporarily paralyse the muscles around your eyes which helps eliminate the appearance of wrinkles.

Why does my face feel tingly and tight when I first get Botox?

The tingly and tight sensations you get in your face early into your Botox treatment is essentially just the BTX-A protein getting to work on your neurotransmitter!

What you are feeling is BTX-A reacting with your acetylcholine and the subsequent process of your facial muscles beginning to paralyse.

These sensations may be more pronounced when you first get Botox because you have never experienced them before and aren’t used to them, but the more Botox treatments you get, the less pronounced and noticeable these sensations are.

Either way, these sensations are completely harmless and a natural part of the treatment process.

Is Botox legal in the UK?

BTX-A is approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

Under law, the practitioner must have a prescribing licence to administer Botox as well as a Level 6/Level 7 qualification.

Evidently, there is stringent training and laws involved, so you can be assured that you are in safe hands when booking an appointment at Pour Moi.