Botox for Guys What to Expect

The use of botox among aging body builders is nothing new. Many have used the substance to help them look younger and by extension, give them a bit of a leg up during competitions. And the whole Botox thing seems to have caught on among some business men and blue collar dudes, like plumbers!

Use of botox among male celebrities has been going on for a long time. Jared Leto is rumored to have used Botox for example. Let’s take a closer look at Botox and men walk through what to expect should you decide to have this cosmetic procedure. 

Men and Skin Appearance

Like it or not, we live in a youth focused world. Younger looking men are routinely pegged as being smarter, more skilled and happier than their older counterparts.  That’s just reality dudes – for real!

And while we have come a long way in the world of male skin-care, the topic of cosmetic procedures and guys is still somewhat taboo for many in our ubersexual society.

Botox and Guys

This article is designed to give guys the real deal on what to expect should you decide to get Botox injections. I will give you a brief overview of the drug and move on to specifics involving the actual cosmetic procedure.

Additionally, I will walk you through what to expect after you have your first Botox injections and share a few tips on how to reduce pain and swelling before a needle ever touches your skin.

Finally, I will share some of my own personal thoughts about Botox as an anti-aging tool in your arsenal of self-care weapons.

I’ve Had Botox

As a matter of full-disclosure, I have been receiving Botox injections since I was 34 years old. The information shared here comes from personal experiences and will hopefully give you some firsthand insight on how the whole Botox thing works. Obviously it is on you to do your research. What appears here should be considered for informational purposes only.

Yep – I’ve got the balls to admit it. 

Botox and Guys

Before we get too far into this, let me say there is nothing effeminate about a dude getting Botox. In fact, I am going to make the argument here that guys who opt for a cosmetic procedure, like Botox injections, are more masculine than the dudes who sit and talk smack about the guys that do. It’s like this … if you are going to the gym to work your body out so that you can look attractive, guess what – you are already engaged in anti-aging techniques and self-care. Let’s be real – there is an element of vanity involved. 

Botox (and other anti-aging procedures) can be thought of in the same vein. The drug helps to reduce the visible signs of aging and help you as a man look your best you can for where you are in life.

It’s pretty simple – getting Botox injections isn’t just for girls.

Many male celebrities have had Botox injections and nobody thinks of them as “women”. The reality is that when you hit the age of 30 (give or take) the lines start to appear and become increasingly more visible as the years go on.

And to be clear, there are things that you can do to prevent wrinkles from forming in the first place. But this requires that you partake in a number of men’s anti-aging approaches.

OK let’s move on. 

What does it cost?

During your first appointment, your doctor will likely do an consultation/examination. Together, both of you should decide on what areas need treatment. For a lot of men, the major injection sites include the eye area, the forehead and depending upon your situation, the hairline or check area. It just depends on your needs and where you are in life.   Costs can run the gambit. I have seen some people pay $400.00 for a treatment and others pay as much as $800.00

Generally speaking, Botox is charged by the vial or unit ($12 per unit, $15 per vial) It is also charged by treatment area, such as the area between the eyes or where frown lines appear (aka: Marietta lines). Bottom line – Botox isn’t cheap. And one point here – be very careful of anyone who is offering “cheap” treatments. This is your face dude, you know? That old saying “You get what you pay for” is big time true here!

Botox – What to Expect?

When you go in for your first Botox injection, you probably are going to be a bit nervous. I was during my first visit. This is very normal.

You can expect to do the normal stuff when you go in for a medical appointment, like completing forms and answering a bunch of medical questions about your past.

And if your Botox doctor is busy (like most good ones are) you can expect to wait. After your medical history is taken and all of the forms are filled out and completed, you will eventually be taken to a room that is designed for treatments.

Most modern doctor’s offices that offer cosmetic procedures try to offer a warm, inviting environment and avoid the clinical “white walls” or “hospital” look.

You will likely be asked to lay down on a table that is slightly inclined so that your doc can more easily access the areas necessary for the injections.

Many physicians (or the nurse) will offer you a ball to hold on to or some other device to squeeze during the injections.

I’ve gone so many times over the years that I no longer need to use this but for a long time, I did. To me, the procedure itself isn’t really painful. Instead, it is the weird sounds that you hear when the needle touches the skin and the Botox is injected into the muscle areas of the face.

There is a distinctive “squirt” sound that you will hear and the ball just helped me deal with it. Depending upon how much work you are having done, you can expect the process to last anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes, give or take. 

Does Botox Hurt?

I can only speak for myself but I personally do not think the injections hurt. When you get a Botox injection, there is a slight “pinch” that you will feel momentarily at the injection site (i.e. around the eyes, forehead). Some dudes say they experienced mild pain but really – I have to say it does not hurt.

One of the questions I had for my doctor was if it was cool to go to the gym after the procedure. He shared with me that it would be a good idea to wait at least 24-hours before hitting the weights or doing any real cardio. My doctor explained that my face needed some time to naturally heal and that going to the gym might metabolize the Botox product prematurely into my system, thereby wasting money and time.

And so what I am suggesting to you is to think about skipping your workout (including cardio) on injection day. One missed workout is OK.

Does Botox Really Work?

Again, I can only speak for myself but in my experience, I have been able to take off a good five to 10 years off my face thanks to Botox.

Now granted, there are other things all of us should be doing, like proper moisturizing, avoiding the sun and occasional firming masks.

But yeah, I personally think Botox works. I have also seen it do wonders for a few guys I know who were starting to develop wrinkles.

One guy I know who had some pretty bad “bags” under his eyes found that Botox helped to stop the bags from forming because the muscles were constantly tight.

FYI: If you are a man with dark circles and bags under your eyes, be sure to check out this “getting rid of dark circles” post for men.

How Long Does Boxtox Last?

Guys, it depends on each individual. Most dudes I know only need to go in 2x a year. There are some however who feel they benefit from more frequent visits, like every 4 months.

For the most part however, 2x a year is more than enough. Keep in mind that the result you see is temporary, meaning eventually the Botox will wear off. This means ongoing visits to the doctor to help keep your face from wrinkling out.

Are There Alternatives to Botox?

It’s perfectly natural to wonder about alternatives to Botox. Let’s be honest – if you can prevent having a needle placed anywhere your face, it’s probably worth it.

In my experience, the best alternative to Botox is preventing the need for it in the first place. One of the best ways to stop wrinkles, crags and sags from forming on your face is to engage in proper facial care techniques for men.

Now if you want something that provides general skin tightening while helping to remove impurities and wrinkles, you can try the Dead Sea Mud Mask. This one is good because it helps to naturally pull skin taught while encouraging balanced skin tone. 

Guys, don’t expect a miracle to happen overnight. It takes about 5-7 days for the Botox injections to “settle in” to the point where you will notice results.

Even then, the impact of Botox (if done correctly) should be subtle in nature. You will likely notice other people will remark that you look “rested” or “refreshed”. Some will say you look “good” or “different” but will likely not be able to pinpoint what has changed with you.

I will just emphasize here again that less is more when it comes to Botox. If you over do it, I am here to say that the shit will look totally plastic and fake.

Lastly, let me say that I am aware of the “horror” stories that exist for some people regarding Botox. This is why I am again suggesting that you do your homework and check your doctor out.

Avoid getting Botox treatments on the cheap or from someone who does not seem qualified to administer the shots. And again, ask questions.

I hope you found this article useful. It would be great if you posted your own experiences or thoughts about Botox here in the discussion area. I have included a poll as a way of gauging where guys are on this topic.

Thanks for stopping by Guy Counseling!