What to Expect After Botox Treatment

At Fresh Aesthetics & Skin in Northern Ireland, we specialise in natural-looking Botox results that refresh your appearance without looking frozen. If you're planning an anti-wrinkle treatment, it’s helpful to know what happens afterward. Here’s a clear guide to Botox aftercare and what to expect over the following weeks and months.

Immediately After Your Botox Treatment

Right after your Botox injections at our Portadown clinic, you may notice small red bumps at the injection sites. These are completely normal and usually disappear within a few minutes to half an hour. Some clients experience mild tenderness or slight swelling, which also settles quickly.

Short Term: First Few Days

In the first two to three days post-treatment, you likely won't see any visible changes. Botox takes time to begin working. During this early phase, you might experience:

• A small bruise at one or more injection sites (this is rare)

• Very occasionally, a mild headache within the first day or two. This is more common in first-timers

Both are minor and typically resolve quickly.

Gradual Onset of Results

From around day 3, you will start to notice your Botox results slowly developing. Lines and wrinkles will begin to soften, and treated areas will appear smoother. Full effects are usually seen by two weeks but may continue to improve for up to three weeks.

We describe this process like a dimmer switch, not a light switch—results come on gradually and naturally.

Natural Results: Fresh, Not Frozen

At Fresh Aesthetics & Skin in Portadown, we are proud to specialise in a fresh, not frozen approach to Botox. Our philosophy is simple: Botox should soften lines, not erase every expression.

We aim to preserve natural movement while subtly reducing dynamic wrinkles. Especially in the forehead, complete muscle paralysis is avoided—this is important, because over-relaxing the forehead can cause the brows to drop, resulting in a heavy or tired appearance.

Instead, our treatments are carefully balanced to enhance your natural beauty, helping you look like a fresher, well-rested version of yourself—not a different person. We do not aim for, nor do we promote, the 'frozen' look that completely eliminates all facial movement. If a frozen appearance is what you're seeking, our clinic may not be the right fit for you.

Our goal is for your friends and family to notice how well you look—without being able to tell you’ve had anything done.

Gradual Return of Movement

Over the coming weeks and months, muscle activity will gradually return. Botox is usually completely worn off at between three and five months post-treatment. Everyone is different depending on factors like metabolism and muscle strength.

You’ll notice your muscle movement slowly increasing—again like a dimmer switch—until full activity returns.

In Summary

• Immediately after treatment: Expect minor red bumps, mild tenderness.

• First few days: No immediate changes, possible light bruising or mild headache.

• 2-3 weeks: Gradual softening of lines as Botox reaches full effect.

• 8 weeks -5 months: Slow and natural return of full muscle movement.

At Fresh Aesthetics & Skin in Portadown, we’re dedicated to achieving subtle, natural-looking Botox results. If you have any questions about your Botox aftercare, or want to book a consultation, we’d love to hear from you.

Need help refreshing your look naturally?

Book your Botox consultation and experience professional, caring treatment with beautiful, natural results.