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What to Expect from your First Neurotoxin Treatment

As we enter our busiest injectable season of the year, it’s important that we prepare our new-to-toxin patients for what they can expect from the consultation, treatment, follow-up appointment, and beyond. But first, let’s talk about what it is and when it’s time to start! 

How do Neurotoxins work? 

Neurotoxins help to temporarily relax the underlying muscle activity to help soften frown lines, crow’s feet, and forehead lines both at rest and when you are animating.  

When is it time to begin Neurotoxins? 

You might start to notice expression lines that are beginning to stick around even when your face is at rest. This could be those small lines around the corner of your eyes (crow’s feet), between the brows (glabella), or on your forehead (frontalis). This is typically when we recommend patients consider their first treatment. Regular treatments once this occurs will significantly slow down the aging process and prevent those lines from becoming more prominent. If you aren’t sure that it’s time, it’s always best to set up a consultation to speak with one of our nurse injectors! 

How much does it cost? 

At Cool Springs Plastic Surgery, we offer Botox at $13.25/unit and Dysport at $4.50/unit—it’s important to know that the 3 units of Dysport is equivalent to 1 unit of Botox.  But how many units do you need? Every patient is different there is no “one size fits all”. Areas such as the frontalis and glabella could be treated with 20-40 units of Botox or 60-120 units of Dysport. Thus, the cost of your treatment depends on how large the area is, how many areas there are, your unique anatomy, and more. This is something your injector can dive into during your consultation!  

When will I see the results and how long will they last? 

Patients see results by 2 weeks after their treatment with results lasting up to 4 months This can vary based on the area treated and how quickly your body metabolizes the product.

What is the treatment like? 

Neurotoxin appointments, specifically for a first-timer, are about 30 minutes long. Your injector will work with you to determine areas of concern and how many units are necessary. After this consultation, they’ll draw up the product and inject it! 

Many patients ask if this is an uncomfortable treatment. Most find that neurotoxin treatments cause very little discomfort! Some patients report that the injection feels like a small pinch. The needle is very small, patients state that they feel little to no pain. The actual treatment is quick, often taking providers less than 10 minutes to inject. 

Beyond neurotoxins, you may find that our providers will work with you to come up with a comprehensive treatment plan for you to consider based on your unique anatomy and goals. This may include a combination of aesthetic treatments we offer to help you get where you want to be in the future. Hopefully these answers were helpful as you decide if a neurotoxin treatment is right for you! Give us a call at 615-771-7718 or book online to get your consultation scheduled.