Botox · Geneva, IL
Botox Questions, Answered
Everything patients ask us most about Botox at Dermatique in downtown Geneva, IL — from how long it lasts to what makes a natural result. Have a question that isn’t here? Bring it to your consultation.
How long does Botox last?
Botox typically lasts three to four months. How long your results last depends on factors like your metabolism, the area treated, the strength of the muscle, and how many units were used. Many patients find that with consistent treatment every few months, results become more predictable and can last a little longer over time.
How many units of Botox do I need?
The number of Botox units you need depends on the area being treated, your muscle strength, your anatomy, and your goals. As a general guide, frown lines (the ‘11s’) often take around 20 units, the forehead around 10 to 20 units, and crow’s feet around 10 to 12 units per side. Your provider determines the right dose during your consultation so your Outcome Plan fits your face, not a formula.
Does Botox hurt?
Botox involves only a few tiny injections with a very fine needle, so most patients describe it as a quick pinch rather than true pain. The treatment takes just minutes, and numbing is usually not needed, though we can apply a topical numbing cream if you prefer. Any discomfort is brief and fades almost immediately.
When will I see results?
You’ll usually begin to notice results three to five days after your Botox treatment, with full results appearing around ten to fourteen days. Because the effect builds gradually, we recommend waiting two weeks before judging your final outcome or scheduling any touch-up.
Can I exercise after Botox?
We recommend avoiding strenuous exercise for 24 hours after Botox. Vigorous activity increases blood flow and can raise the chance of bruising, or of the product moving away from the treated area before it settles. Light activity and your normal daily routine are fine right away.
Can I wear makeup afterward?
We recommend waiting about 24 hours before applying makeup over the treated areas. Pressing, rubbing, or massaging freshly treated skin can disturb the product before it settles, so gentle handling for the first day helps protect your results. After that, you can return to your normal makeup routine.
How often should I get Botox?
Most patients maintain their results with Botox every three to four months. Treating consistently keeps the muscles relaxed and the lines soft, and over time some patients are able to extend the interval between visits. Your provider will help you build a schedule that keeps your results looking their best.
What is the best age to start Botox?
There is no single ‘right’ age to start Botox — it depends on your skin and the lines you want to address, not a number. Many patients begin in their late twenties or early thirties, when dynamic lines from repeated expressions first appear, while others start later. The best time is when movement-related lines begin to bother you, which we can assess together at a consultation.
Does Botox prevent wrinkles?
Yes. By relaxing the muscles that create repeated expressions, Botox can slow and help prevent dynamic wrinkles from deepening into permanent, etched-in lines over time. Starting earlier, before lines become static, is a core part of our Layered Aging Approach to keeping skin looking smooth for the long term.
What’s the difference between Botox, Dysport, and Jeuveau?
Botox, Dysport, and Jeuveau are all neuromodulators made from botulinum toxin type A, and each works by relaxing the muscles that cause expression lines. They differ in their formulation, how they spread, how quickly they take effect, and how they’re dosed, so units are not interchangeable between them. During your consultation, your provider recommends the option best suited to the area being treated and the result you want.
Who should not get Botox?
Botox is not recommended for anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding, has a known allergy to botulinum toxin or its ingredients, or has certain neuromuscular conditions such as myasthenia gravis or ALS. It’s also best to postpone treatment if you have an active skin infection at the injection site. Every patient is screened during a health review before treatment to confirm Botox is a safe choice for you.
Can Botox lift the eyebrows?
Yes. A technique often called a ‘Botox brow lift’ relaxes the muscles that pull the brow downward, allowing the surrounding muscles to gently raise the brow for a more open, refreshed eye area. It’s a subtle, non-surgical lift, and placement is carefully tailored to your natural brow shape.
Can men get Botox?
Absolutely. Botox is a popular treatment for men, sometimes nicknamed ‘Brotox.’ Men typically have stronger facial muscles and often need more units than women to achieve the same result. The goal is always a natural look that softens lines while preserving masculine features and full expression.
How much does Botox cost?
At Dermatique, Botox is priced per unit, so your total depends on the number of units your Outcome Plan calls for and the areas being treated. Because every patient’s anatomy and goals are different, the most accurate way to understand your investment is a consultation, where your provider maps out your plan and reviews current pricing with you.
Is Botox safe?
Botox is one of the most studied and widely performed aesthetic treatments in the world and has been FDA-approved for cosmetic use since 2002. Its safety depends heavily on the skill of your injector, which is why Botox at Dermatique is performed by trained medical providers within our physician-led practice in Geneva, IL. A thorough health review before every treatment helps keep your experience safe.
What areas can Botox treat?
Botox is most commonly used to soften frown lines between the brows, horizontal forehead lines, and crow’s feet around the eyes. It can also address bunny lines on the nose, a downturned mouth, chin dimpling, and vertical neck bands. Your provider will assess your facial movement and recommend the areas that will give you the most natural, balanced result.
What should I avoid before my Botox appointment?
To reduce the chance of bruising, we suggest avoiding alcohol for about 24 hours before your appointment and, if your doctor says it’s safe, pausing blood-thinning supplements like fish oil, vitamin E, and ginkgo for a few days beforehand. Never stop a prescribed medication without checking with your physician first. Arriving with clean, makeup-free skin also helps.
What are the side effects of Botox?
Side effects from Botox are usually mild and short-lived, such as slight redness, swelling, tenderness, or a small bruise at the injection sites, and occasionally a mild temporary headache. These typically resolve within a day or two. More significant effects, like temporary brow or eyelid heaviness, are uncommon and are minimized by careful, precise technique.
What’s the difference between Botox and fillers?
Botox and dermal fillers do different jobs. Botox relaxes muscles to soften lines caused by movement and expression, while fillers add volume to restore areas that have lost fullness, such as cheeks, lips, and deeper folds. Many patients combine both in a single Outcome Plan, which is central to our Layered Aging Approach of treating the face as a whole rather than one line at a time.
Can I get Botox while pregnant or breastfeeding?
No. Botox is not recommended during pregnancy or while breastfeeding, because its safety in these situations has not been established. We ask patients to wait until after this period, and we’re glad to plan ahead so you’re ready when the timing is right.
What happens at a Botox consultation?
At your consultation, your provider reviews your health history, studies how your face moves, and listens to what you’d like to improve, then builds a personalized Outcome Plan. Because Dermatique works as a collaborating team of specialists, your plan reflects the full expertise of our providers. In many cases, treatment can be done the same day.
What is ‘baby Botox’?
‘Baby Botox’ refers to using smaller, carefully placed doses to soften lines while preserving more of your natural movement, for a subtle, refreshed look. It’s a popular choice for early or preventative treatment and for patients who want a very natural result. Your provider can tailor dosing to match the look you’re after.
Will Botox make me look frozen or unnatural?
Not when it’s done well. Skillful, conservative dosing softens lines while keeping your natural expression intact — the goal is a refreshed version of you, not a frozen one. This reflects our belief that the future of aesthetics isn’t more units, it’s better outcomes.
Is there any downtime after Botox?
Botox requires little to no downtime, and most patients return to their normal day right after treatment. We simply ask that you follow a few aftercare guidelines for the first 24 hours — such as avoiding strenuous exercise, rubbing the area, and lying flat for several hours — to help your results settle evenly.
What else can Botox treat besides wrinkles?
Beyond softening lines, Botox can be used to slim a strong jaw and ease teeth grinding by relaxing the masseter muscle, to reduce excessive underarm sweating, to create a subtle lip flip, and to soften a gummy smile. These uses are evaluated case by case during your consultation to make sure they’re a good fit for you.
Why choose Dermatique for Botox in Geneva, IL?
Dermatique is a physician-led aesthetics practice in downtown Geneva, IL, where Botox is performed by experienced, specially trained medical providers under the direction of our Medical Director. As a collaborating team of specialists, we focus on natural, lasting results through personalized Outcome Plans rather than a one-size-fits-all approach — Layered Beauty, Lasting Results.