Botox & Neurotoxin Treatments

The cost of Botox treatments varies depending on the areas treated and the number of units required. During your appointment at Jacobson Cosmetic Surgery, Dr. Jacobson will evaluate your needs and provide personalized pricing.

Both Botox and Dysport are neurotoxins that temporarily relax facial muscles to reduce wrinkles. Dysport spreads slightly more softly across treatment areas, which can be beneficial for forehead treatments and larger muscle groups. Dr. Jacobson will recommend the best option based on your anatomy and goals.

Botox and other neurotoxins work by temporarily interrupting the signal between the nerve and the muscle, helping relax targeted muscles that cause dynamic wrinkles and facial lines.

After treatment, it typically takes about 5–7 days for Botox to begin “kicking in,” with full results and steady-state effect occurring around 2 weeks after injection. If a touch-up is needed, we generally recommend evaluating results between the 2–4 week mark.

Most patients enjoy softened, refreshed results for approximately 3–4 months while the body naturally metabolizes the product. To maintain consistent results, many patients choose treatments every 3–4 months. However, treatment frequency can vary depending on your goals, muscle strength, metabolism, and desired level of correction — some patients prefer maintenance closer to every 6 months, while others may come in once yearly for more subtle refreshment.

There is essentially no downtime following Botox or other neurotoxin injections, and most patients return to normal daily activities immediately after their appointment.

However, there are a few important aftercare guidelines to help optimize your results and minimize bruising:

• Avoid exercise or strenuous activity for 24 hours after treatment. This allows the product time to fully settle into the targeted muscles.
• Botox typically takes about 5–7 days to begin noticeably “kicking in,” with full results developing around 2 weeks after injection.
• Avoid heavy massaging of the treated areas for the first 24 hours, including facial massages or facials.
• Avoid activities that place you upside down — such as handstands, cartwheels, or certain yoga positions — immediately after treatment to help prevent unwanted product diffusion.
• You may resume light skincare and makeup application afterward as normal.

If you are prone to bruising, we also recommend avoiding blood-thinning medications and supplements for approximately one week before injections when medically appropriate and approved by your prescribing physician. This may include:

• Aspirin
• Ibuprofen
• Fish oil
• Vitamin E
• Other supplements or medications that can increase bruising risk

Following these recommendations can help ensure the smoothest recovery and best possible outcome from your treatment.

Botox and other neurotoxins do not work instantly. After your injections, the product gradually begins interrupting the communication between the nerve and the targeted muscle, allowing the muscle to relax over time.

Most patients begin noticing early improvement within about 5–7 days after treatment as muscle movement starts to soften. Full results typically develop around 10–14 days, when the treated muscles have reached their maximal relaxation and fine lines and dynamic wrinkles appear smoother and softer.

Some areas of the face may respond slightly faster or slower than others depending on muscle strength, metabolism, and the amount of product used. Patients with stronger facial muscles may require additional dosing or occasional touch-ups to achieve their desired result.

If adjustments or a touch-up are needed, we generally recommend waiting until the full 2-week mark before reassessing your results. At that point, the treatment has reached its steady state and can be accurately evaluated.

Yes. Many patients in their late 20s and 30s choose Botox as a preventative treatment to help slow the formation of deeper lines and wrinkles before they become more permanently etched into the skin.

Preventative Botox works by softening repetitive muscle movement that contributes to dynamic wrinkles — such as frown lines, forehead lines, and crow’s feet — before those lines begin appearing at rest. Over time, repeated facial expressions can cause these creases to become more noticeable even when the face is relaxed. By decreasing excessive muscle contraction early, Botox can help preserve smoother skin long term.

The goal of Botox is not to “freeze” the face or eliminate natural expression. When performed thoughtfully and conservatively, Botox simply softens excessive movement while still allowing for natural facial animation and expression. Treatment is highly customizable based on your anatomy, muscle strength, and aesthetic goals, allowing for results that look refreshed and natural rather than stiff or overdone.

First — don’t panic! Mild bruising is a very common and normal side effect after injectable treatments, especially in delicate facial areas such as the lips.

At Jacobson Cosmetic Surgery, we provide ice packs after treatment to help minimize swelling and bruising. Applying ice intermittently during the first 24 hours can be very helpful.

To help reduce bruising and prevent worsening, we also recommend:

• Avoiding blood-thinning medications and supplements for approximately one week after injections when medically appropriate
• Avoiding strenuous exercise for 24 hours
• Limiting alcohol intake immediately after treatment

Helpful blood-thinning agents to avoid may include:

• Aspirin
• Ibuprofen
• Fish oil/Omega-3 supplements
• Vitamin E
• Certain herbal supplements

We also recommend topical and oral arnica, a natural herbal supplement commonly used to help minimize bruising and swelling. We carry the Silagen® bruise care line in our office specifically for this purpose, and all of our post-lip “chapstick” aftercare products contain arnica to support healing and comfort after injections.

Most bruising improves significantly over several days and can often be covered with makeup once the injection sites have closed.