First Time Getting Botox? Here's Why Day 3 Is When It All Begins

First Time Getting Botox? Here's Why Day 3 Is When It All Begins

Last Thursday,

a woman in her early 30s came into my clinic.

"Doctor, it's been two days since I got my forehead Botox,

and nothing seems to have changed.

Did something go wrong?"

She furrowed her brows — and they moved just fine.

She sat there looking genuinely worried,

and honestly, I get this question all the time.

For Anyone Who Thinks Botox Works Instantly

Botox works by injecting a protein called botulinum toxin

directly into the muscle,

where it blocks the signals that tell that muscle to contract.

Unlike Filler, Botox isn't about "adding" volume —

it's about "stopping" movement.

With Filler, you see the volume change right away,

but with Botox, it takes time

for the nerve-to-muscle signal to be fully blocked.

So if you look in the mirror the same day and think,

"Nothing's different" — that's completely normal.

The Botox Timeline: Why You Start Feeling It on Day 3

That patient I mentioned earlier —

I told her, "Give it just 3 more days."

That Sunday, she messaged me:

"Oh wow, it's actually moving less now!"

That's not a coincidence.

Once Botox enters the muscle,

it blocks the release of a signaling chemical called acetylcholine

at the nerve endings.

But for that blockade to fully take effect,

it typically takes about 72 hours —

in other words, around 3 days.

That's why "you start feeling it on day 3"

is clinically accurate.

As for why day 7 tends to be the peak —

blocking a single nerve ending doesn't instantly stop the entire muscle.

The surrounding nerve endings are blocked one by one,

and the overall muscle tone gradually settles down.

That process takes an average of 5 to 7 days.

Last month, I followed up with about 47 patients who had forehead Botox,

and when I asked when they felt the most noticeable relaxation,

nearly all of them said somewhere between days 6 and 8.

How long the results last varies depending on the area and the dose.

Expressive areas like the forehead, glabella, and crow's feet

typically last around 4 to 6 months,

while larger muscles like the masseter or trapezius

tend to hold results for about 5 to 7 months.

That said, more isn't always better —

doubling the dose doesn't double the duration.

There's a ceiling to how much Botox can do in a given area.

That's why using the right dose for your muscle mass

matters far more than simply injecting more.

Botox Results by Area: Why the Timeline Differs

Facial expression muscles are small and thin,

so they tend to respond to Botox more quickly.

Larger, thicker muscles like the masseter or trapezius

take more time for the product to diffuse throughout the muscle

and bring the overall tone down.

To be straightforward about it —

I see many patients who come in saying, "It's been a week and nothing's changed" after masseter Botox,

and that is completely normal.

You really need to wait at least 3 to 4 weeks before drawing any conclusions.

Three Things to Know Before (or After) Getting Botox

Q1. If I still don't see any effect after 3 days, does that mean it didn't work?

A. It's too early to tell.

You should wait up to 2 weeks.

If there's still no noticeable change in movement after 2 weeks,

that's when we'd discuss whether a touch-up is appropriate.

It could be a matter of insufficient dosage,

or — though rarely — we may need to assess for possible resistance.

Q2. How can I make my Botox results last longer?

A. For the first 4 hours after the procedure,

avoid lying face-down or rubbing the treated area.

It's also best to avoid intense sauna sessions and strenuous exercise

for 2 to 3 days.

Additionally, if you repeat Botox on a very short cycle — every 2 to 3 months —

the risk of developing resistance may increase.

I generally recommend waiting at least 4 months between sessions.

Q3. My eyelids feel heavy after the procedure — is that a side effect?

A. A temporary feeling of heaviness around the brows

after forehead Botox is a fairly common response.

It usually resolves naturally within 2 to 3 weeks.

However, in rare cases, actual drooping of the eyelid — known as ptosis — can occur.

If that happens, please contact your clinic right away.

There are prescription eye drops that can help support recovery.

If you have any questions or concerns, I'm happy to go over everything with you in person. This has been Dr. Wi Young-jin.