- What is Botox? Mechanism and how it differs from filler
- How much does it hurt? The real experience for beginners
- How many days until you see results? How long do they last?
- Will my face stiffen or look fake?
- Which areas can be treated? What problems do they suit?
- How is Botox priced? Which brand is good?
- Preparing before and caring for yourself after the injection
- Safety, genuine products, and side effects you should know
- Botox in Phitsanulok — de Pry Clinic
- FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions
- References and verification
I understand this hesitation very well — when patients are about to have their first Botox injection, the questions that keep running through their minds are usually Does it hurt? Will my face look stiff or fake? And how safe is it? These fears are completely normal, and they make sense too, because you are about to do something to your own face for the first time.
Dr. Time has gathered the real questions that patients most often ask before their first Botox injection and answered them all, straightforwardly and without embellishment, because I believe you make the best decisions when you have complete information.
Botox temporarily relaxes muscles, reducing wrinkles caused by facial expressions and slimming the jaw. It hurts very little (tiny 30–32G needles), shows results in 3–5 days, and lasts 3–6 months. It does not make your face stiff if it is well designed. It is safe when genuine, FDA-registered products are used by a doctor who assesses you before every injection.
What is Botox? Mechanism and how it differs from filler
How does the mechanism of botulinum toxin work?
Botox is the trade name for botulinum toxin type A (Botulinum Toxin Type A), which works by blocking the nerve signals that tell muscles to contract, causing that muscle to relax temporarily for about 3–6 months. After that, the nerve signals gradually return and the muscle works normally again.
When the muscles that create wrinkles work less, wrinkles from facial expressions — such as forehead lines, crow's feet, and frown lines — appear faded or disappear. For jaw slimming (jaw Botox), the Masseter muscle that causes a large jaw gradually shrinks, making the face slimmer within 4–8 weeks.
Can do: Reduce wrinkles from facial expressions (crow's feet, frown lines, forehead) · slim the jaw · reduce a Gummy Smile · reduce excessive underarm sweating (Hyperhidrosis)
Cannot do: Fill deep grooves · add volume to the lips · lift the face — these tasks belong to filler or other procedures
Botox vs filler — how do they differ, which one should you choose?
The most common confusion for beginners is not knowing what to inject. This table helps distinguish them clearly:
| Topic | Botox | Filler (Filler / HA) |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanism | Temporarily relaxes muscles | Adds volume to tissue |
| Best for | Dynamic wrinkles, jaw, sweat, Gummy Smile | Deep grooves, lips, cheeks, chin, nose |
| Results appear | 3–5 days (clearest at 2 weeks) | Immediately after injection (swelling subsides in 1–2 weeks) |
| Results last | 3–6 months | 6–24 months (depending on area and formula) |
| Reversible? | No antidote — wait for it to wear off | Has an antidote (Hyaluronidase) that dissolves HA |
| Suitable for beginners? | ✅ Yes — results reverse on their own, easily affordable | ⚠️ Yes, but you must choose the right area first |
| Approximate price | Depends on units (the fewer the areas, the more economical) | Higher (priced per syringe ~1 cc) |
In summary: if you want to reduce dynamic wrinkles or slim your jaw, Botox is a better starting point because it reverses on its own, costs less, and looks very natural when well designed.
How much does it hurt? The real experience for beginners
Got questions? Dr. Time offers personalized, honest consultations — no upselling.
Consult Dr. TimeWhy does it hurt so little?
Dr. Time has given Botox injections to hundreds of patients, and the answer I hear most often after the injection is done is "That was much easier than I thought."
There are several reasons it hurts so little:
- Very small needles (30–32 Gauge) — many times smaller than the needles used to draw blood, only slightly thinner than a human hair
- Cold compress before the injection — reduces sensation in the skin area before the needle goes in
- Very little product per point — only 1–5 units are injected each time, so the needle doesn't stay in long
- The doctor does every case personally — allowing fine control of rhythm and depth
Pain at each point — a real comparison
| Injection point | Pain level (1–5) | Commonly described sensation | Approximate number of needles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Between the brows (Glabella) | ⭐⭐ (2/5) | A brief ant bite | 3–5 points |
| Crow's Feet | ⭐⭐ (2/5) | A slight tingle | 3–4 points per side |
| Forehead | ⭐⭐ (2/5) | Like a light flick on the skin | 4–8 points |
| Jaw (Masseter/jaw Botox) | ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5) | A slight tightness during the injection | 3–4 points per side |
| Neck (Neck Bands) | ⭐⭐ (2/5) | Very little | 4–8 points |
| Underarms (Hyperhidrosis) | ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5) | Tight, more sensation than the face | 10–15 points per side |
If you're worried about pain, always tell the doctor before starting. Dr. Time will explain every step, give you time to be ready, and proceed gradually. Your peace of mind matters just as much as the result.
How many days until you see results? How long do they last?
Timeline after a Botox injection — week by week
Many people fear that they'll get the injection and see no result, or the opposite — that their face will stiffen instantly. The truth is that Botox results take time, as follows:
| Time period | What happens | What to do / avoid |
|---|---|---|
| 0–24 hrs | May have slight swelling and redness at the injection site; muscles still work normally | Avoid massaging, pressing the face, and strenuous exercise |
| Days 1–3 | You start to feel the muscles move less | Perfectly normal, no need to worry |
| Days 3–7 | Results become clearer, wrinkles begin to fade | You can take comparison photos now |
| Week 2 | Results are at their clearest — this is the full effect of the injection | If any point is still uneven, you can inform the doctor (free touch-up within 2 weeks) |
| Months 1–3 | Results remain stable at this level | — |
| Months 3–6 | Muscles gradually return, results begin to fade little by little | Schedule a repeat injection when ready |
Why does it last differently for each person?
The variables that affect how long Botox lasts:
- The amount of product used — more units = longer lasting, but it must be balanced against a natural result
- Muscle usage — people who make a lot of facial expressions or chew frequently will "break down" the Botox faster
- The body's metabolic rate — people who exercise very intensely may metabolize the product faster
- Consistent, ongoing injections — muscles trained to relax frequently gradually weaken, so results last longer in the long run
Facial wrinkles (forehead, brows, crow's feet): 3–4 months | Jaw (Masseter): 4–6 months | Underarms (Hyperhidrosis): 6–9 months
Will my face stiffen or look fake?
The real causes of a "stiff face"
I understand where this fear comes from — we've all seen pictures online where the face looks stiff or can't smile. But that comes from a problem in the design, not from Botox itself.
The main causes of a "stiff face":
- Too much product — injecting more than the muscle needs, so the muscle can't work at all
- Covering too much muscle — injecting the forehead with a full block instead of designing around actual movement
- Injecting the wrong position — the product spreads to the muscles that control raising the brows, causing the brows to droop
- Not assessing before injecting — not observing real movement, using the same formula for everyone
What is a Natural Look? How does the doctor gauge it?
At de Pry Clinic, Dr. Time will ask you to move your facial muscles in many ways before the injection to see which muscles are genuinely overworking. Then I design the position and amount of product to "reduce only what needs reducing" without blocking all of your facial expressions.
The correct result is that you can still smile, laugh, frown, and make facial expressions normally — but the wrinkles from repeated movement will fade. People you meet in daily life will feel that you "look better, brighter" without knowing what you did. That is the result the doctor intentionally designs for.
If after the injection you feel that one brow is drooping / an eyelid is heavy / your smile is asymmetrical, inform the clinic immediately. These symptoms are usually temporary and resolve on their own, but if you report them early the doctor can assess whether anything further needs to be done.
Which areas can be treated? What problems do they suit?
Botox treats more areas than many people think — not just reducing wrinkles. The points used most often at de Pry Clinic:
| Injection point | Problem it solves | Approximate units | Suitable for beginners? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Between the brows (Glabella) | Frown lines, a stern-looking face | 15–25 units | ✅ Popular among beginners |
| Forehead | Horizontal lines on the forehead | 10–20 units | ⚠️ Requires muscle assessment first |
| Crow's Feet | Crow's feet, wrinkles around the eyes when smiling | 12–24 units (both sides) | ✅ Very natural results |
| Jaw (Masseter/jaw Botox) | Large jaw from muscle, wanting a slimmer face | 40–60 units (both sides) | ✅ Clear results, lasts 4–6 months |
| Slight brow lift (Brow Lift) | Drooping brows, eyes that look heavy and sleepy | 2–4 units | ⚠️ Requires great precision, by a doctor only |
| Gummy Smile | Showing a lot of gum when smiling | 4–8 units | ✅ Remarkable results, can transform your smile |
| Underarms (Hyperhidrosis) | Excessive sweating | 100–200 units (both sides) | ✅ Results last 6–9 months |
Who should not have Botox?
Botox is safe for most people, but there are contraindications you must tell the doctor about first:
- Pregnant or breastfeeding
- Having a muscle disease such as Myasthenia Gravis or Lambert-Eaton Syndrome
- Allergic to the protein in botulinum toxin
- Having an infection at the site to be injected
- Currently taking certain antibiotics (Aminoglycosides) or blood thinners — you must inform the doctor for assessment
Read more service details on the Botox page
How is Botox priced? Which brand is good?
What determines the price?
This question is asked very often, and the doctor will answer straightforwardly that Botox pricing is based on 2 factors:
- The product brand — each brand has a different cost; the more research backing and the clearer the FDA registration, the higher the cost
- The number of units — each person, each area, uses a different number of units, depending on muscle size, needs, and the desired result
At de Pry Clinic, Dr. Time assesses you on site first and then states a clear price, with no hidden fees and no pushing of more units than necessary.
FDA-registered Botox brands — a comparison
| Brand | Company / Country | FDA registration | Key strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Botox® | AbbVie (USA) | ✅ Yes | Gold standard, backed by more than 30 years of research |
| Dysport® | Ipsen (France) | ✅ Yes | Acts faster (2–3 days), spreads better over wide areas |
| Xeomin® | Merz (Germany) | ✅ Yes | No complexing proteins, reducing the chance of antibody formation over the long term |
| Nabota® | Daewoong (South Korea) | ✅ Yes | Good quality, more affordable, FDA approved in 2019 |
Botulinum toxin products have a high cost. Clinics offering abnormally low prices often use products without FDA registration, counterfeit products, or excessively diluted ones. All three cases give poor results, risk side effects, and are the least worthwhile in the long run. You can check product registration yourself at oryor.com
Preparing before and caring for yourself after the injection
Before the injection — 5 important things to do
- Avoid alcohol 24–48 hours before the injection — alcohol dilates blood vessels, increasing the chance of bruising
- Disclose your regular medications — especially aspirin, ibuprofen, blood thinners, and supplements (vitamin E, fish oil, ginseng, ginkgo); these increase the risk of bruising. Stopping them 1 week before the injection is even better if possible
- Disclose your drug allergy history and underlying conditions — especially muscle and nerve diseases
- Come with a clean face — no need to apply numbing cream or do special preparation, the clinic handles it for you
- Get enough rest, avoid strenuous exercise on the day of the injection — a well-rested body bruises less
Many people think they need to buy EMLA numbing cream to apply beforehand. It's actually not necessary, because (1) the needles are already very small, (2) the clinic's cold compress works well enough, and (3) numbing cream on the face sometimes makes it harder to assess muscle position.
After the injection — what to avoid and why
| What to avoid | Duration | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Massaging, pressing, or rubbing the injection site | 24–48 hours | The product spreads away from the intended position |
| Strenuous exercise, running, swimming | 24 hours | Increases blood circulation, may bruise more |
| Sauna, hot baths, steam rooms | 24–48 hours | Heat may cause the product to disperse |
| Lying face down, bending the head down for a long time | First 4 hours | Reduces the chance of the product spreading to unwanted positions |
| Applying cosmetics on the injection points | 4–6 hours | Reduces the risk of infection |
| Drinking alcohol | 24 hours | Reduces bruising and swelling |
Safety, genuine products, and side effects you should know
Genuine vs counterfeit products — how can you tell?
Botulinum toxin is a specially controlled drug in Thailand under the Drug Act B.E. 2510 (1967). Its sale and use must be under a valid license. At de Pry Clinic:
- We use only products with Thai FDA registration that can be genuinely verified
- Products are stored in a refrigerator at 2–8°C before use
- We can open a new vial in front of the patient if you want to verify
- Dr. Time performs every injection personally, never delegating to an assistant or nurse
Possible side effects — with how to handle them
According to information confirmed by the NHS and the American Academy of Dermatology, most Botox side effects are mild and temporary:
| Side effect | Frequency | Duration | How to handle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bruising, redness at the injection site | ~20–30% | 2–5 days | Cold compress, avoid blood thinners |
| Headache | ~5–10% | Hours to 1 day | Paracetamol, avoid aspirin |
| Slight swelling | Occasional | 1–2 days | Cold compress, rest |
| Slightly heavy brow or eyelid | ~1–3% | 2–6 weeks | Inform the doctor, eye drops may help in some cases |
| Asymmetrical smile | <1% | 2–8 weeks | Inform the doctor immediately, resolves on its own as the product wears off |
| Drug allergy (Anaphylaxis) | <0.01% | — | The clinic has emergency medication ready |
Botulinum toxin has been approved by the US FDA for cosmetic use since 2002 and has had safety research backing it for more than 30 years. When genuine, registered products are used by a doctor who assesses you correctly, the risk is very low — even lower than taking painkillers frequently.
Botox in Phitsanulok — de Pry Clinic
If you live in Phitsanulok or a nearby province such as Sukhothai, Uttaradit, Phetchabun, or Kamphaeng Phet, you don't need to travel to Bangkok to get Botox from an experienced doctor.
At de Pry Clinic Phitsanulok, Dr. Time (Dr. Nathatham) graduated from Prince of Songkla University, holds a certificate from ABAARM (American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine), and is the physician who personally cares for every case. He will:
- Assess your facial structure and muscle movement before every injection
- Design the points and units specifically for you, not using the same formula for everyone
- Perform the injection personally, never delegating to a nurse or assistant
- Always state a clear price before starting, with no hidden charges
- Never push courses or areas you didn't ask about
Most patients who come for their first Botox become regular patients — not because the doctor tries to sell, but because once they see the results, they don't want to stop.
If you're still hesitant, message Dr. Time on LINE. The doctor is glad to answer every question without pressuring you to book an appointment. It's better to come with peace of mind than with uncertainty.
FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions
- Does the first Botox injection hurt?
It hurts very little. The needles used are very small (30–32G); the sensation is like a brief ant bite, with a cold compress before the injection. Most people say it's much easier than they thought. - How many days until Botox shows results?
Results begin to appear within 3–5 days, are clearest at about 2 weeks, and after that remain stable for 3–6 months. - Will my face stiffen after Botox?
No. If the amount and position are designed correctly, you can still move your facial expressions normally. A stiff face comes from injecting too much or in the wrong position. - How is Botox different from filler?
Botox relaxes muscles and suits dynamic wrinkles; filler adds volume and suits deep grooves or shaping. The two are different, and some people use them together. - How should I prepare before Botox?
Avoid alcohol for 24–48 hours, disclose your regular medications (especially blood thinners), come with a clean face, and get enough rest. No need to apply numbing cream yourself. - How much does Botox cost in Phitsanulok?
It's priced according to the units and the product brand actually used. Dr. Time states a clear price before starting every time. Message via LINE to inquire. - What are the side effects of Botox?
Most are mild and resolve on their own: bruising, slight swelling, temporary headache. Heavy eyelids are very rare (~1–3%) and temporary. The risk drops greatly when done by a doctor. - How often should I get Botox?
Every 3–4 months, or when you feel the muscles starting to return. You shouldn't inject before 3 months are complete. Consistent injections help results last longer over the long term.
References and verification
The doctor wants you to be able to verify the information used yourself — here are all the references this article draws from:
- DermNet NZ (New Zealand Dermatological Society) — complete botulinum toxin information: dermnetnz.org/topics/botulinum-toxin
- NHS (UK National Health Service) — safety guidelines for cosmetic procedures: nhs.uk/cosmetic-procedures/advice
- American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) — reducing wrinkles with procedures: aad.org/public/cosmetic/wrinkles
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA Thailand) — verify drug product registration: oryor.com
- Aesthetic Medicine Journal (PMC) — research on botulinum toxin safety in Aesthetic Medicine: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4174876
