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Botox
SEATTLE

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Your Expression, Just Softer

In the world of cosmetic injectables, nothing has quite the name recognition that Botox does. While it is often incorrectly lauded as a panacea for all skin aging concerns, this neuromodulator holds its own in halting facial wrinkles in their tracks—or preventing them from forming in the first place. Read on to find out exactly how Botox works and how long you can expect those results to last.

What is Botox?

Botox is an FDA-approved prescription medicine injected into muscles to temporarily improve the appearance of both moderate to severe frown lines and crow's feet lines in adults. This botulinum toxin injection works by blocking nerve signals to the targeted muscles, smoothing out dynamic wrinkles and preventing the formation of deeper facial wrinkles caused by repeated expressions.

At A Glance

Cost Priced per unit; total varies based on the number of areas treated
Downtime Zero; return to your day immediately after injections
Pain Level Very low; feels like a quick, tiny "mosquito bite"
Duration 10–15 minutes for the Botox treatment session

What Can Botox Be Used to Treat?

Botox Cosmetic addresses both cosmetic purposes and medical conditions across the body.

  • Upper Face: Smooths horizontal forehead lines, vertical frown lines (glabellar lines) between the brows, and crow's feet around the eyes.
  • Perioral Area: Corrects a "gummy smile" or treats the upper lip to create a subtle "lip flip."
  • Neck Rejuvenation: Relaxes the platysma bands (the vertical bands or vertical bands connecting the jaw to the neck) to sharpen the profile.
  • Medical Purposes: Beyond anti-aging, botulinum toxin type A is used for chronic migraine, cervical dystonia, and excessive sweating. It is even utilized for overactive bladder, urinary incontinence, and lower limb spasticity.
blonde botox patient model in a white tank top touching her face and smiling softly

What Are the Benefits of Botox?

Botox injections remain the global gold standard for non-surgical rejuvenation due to their clinical efficiency.

  • Proven Safety: As the most studied botulinum toxin product, its safety profile is backed by decades of clinical trials and dermatologic surgery data.
  • Natural Looking Results: When administered by experts, the toxin precisely targets forehead muscles without affecting the rest of your expressions.
  • Preventative Care: Regular treatment stops fine lines from etching into the skin as permanent, static wrinkles.

Am I a Candidate for Botox?

Ideal patients are adults looking to soften dynamic wrinkles or prevent aging signs before they become deep-set. However, I will turn away patients receiving Botox if they have neuromuscular conditions like Myasthenia Gravis, as botulinum toxin products can interfere with essential facial muscles. For safety, we also disqualify anyone currently pregnant or breastfeeding, as the toxin produced by the bacteria has not been cleared for these cases. If you have an infection at the injection site, we’ll have to postpone your session.

blonde botox patient model touching her face with her fingertips with her eyes closed
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Your Botox Treatment

We describe the sensation honestly: it feels like a very brief, sharp "pinch" followed by a sensation of mild pressure. Because we use ultra-fine needles, the discomfort is fleeting. We carefully map your facial muscles to ensure the botulinum toxin is placed exactly where it will be most effective. While the name “neurotoxin” may be intimidating, the purified doses utilized for cosmetic use are highly controlled and safe.

Recovery After Botox

Botox is truly a "no-downtime" treatment, meaning you can return to your day immediately without anyone knowing you’ve had a cosmetic procedure. Aside from a few tiny bumps at the injection site that vanish within 20 minutes, there is no visible swelling. To ensure the toxin stays in the treated area, do not lie down flat for four hours. This prevents the product from migrating toward the nervous system or causing unwanted muscle weakness.

Botox Results

Patience is required, as the botulinum toxin type A needs time to settle. You might notice a slight "tightening" in three days, but the full effect on severe frown lines takes about 10 to 14 days. These results generally last for three to four months, after which muscle movement will gradually return. While most common side effects like swelling are mild, serious side effects such as vision problems, drooping eyelids, or breathing problems are extremely rare when treated by a professional.

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Cost of Botox

We charge by the unit because every face has a different "strength" profile. If you have very active forehead muscles, you’ll naturally need a higher dose than someone coming in for a light, preventative "sprinkle" to keep fine lines at bay. During your consultation, we’ll give you an honest breakdown of exactly how many units it will take to reach your goals. We also work with financing partners like Cherry and CareCredit to help make routine maintenance for facial wrinkles fit your budget.

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Why Choose Kucumber Skin Lounge?

Since 2010, our founders, Nadya Kozlova and Shay Sim, have focused on real skin health rather than chasing every seasonal trend. We’re actually the only med spa in the Pacific Northwest that runs its own internal training academy, which means our injectors aren't just following a manual—they are mastering the art of facial anatomy. We vet every botulinum toxin product and energy-based device ourselves to make sure they actually deliver the refined, natural results we’re known for. For us, the "Kucumber standard" means 20 years of clinical experience go into every single injection.

Botox Frequently Asked Questions

You might see some minor swelling, redness, or a tiny bruise right at the injection site, but these usually vanish quickly. A small number of patients mention a temporary headache or feeling slightly under the weather for a day, which is a normal way the body sometimes reacts to the toxin.

While things like trouble swallowing, vision problems, or allergic reactions make the news, they are extremely rare. These complications usually happen when the botulinum toxin is placed poorly and migrates.

It actually can. While we focus on the cosmetic side, Botox is also FDA-approved to treat overactive bladder and urinary incontinence.

There has never been a confirmed case of food poisoning (botulism) from Botox Cosmetic when used at the recommended dose for facial wrinkles or crow's feet lines.

If it is your first treatment, we recommend waiting a full 14 days. If the muscles still have too much movement, a small "touch-up" can be performed.

A Revolution in Recovery Care

Viktor Michael formulas are proven to rapidly reduce the appearance of post-injection imperfections.

Hidden Agenda Serum: Shake gently. Begin using three days prior to treatment. Continue using morning and night, three to four times daily, until symptoms fade. Apply generously to the injection site and surrounding area, avoiding eye contact. Continue using in between injection cycles for best skin health results. Plug into your favorite skin care regimen, and for best results, pair it with Ciao For Now mask.

Ciao For Now Mask: Use Ciao For Now mask on clean, dry skin within a few hours post injections. Apply a generous amount onto the skin with upward strokes over the entire face, avoiding eye contact. Leave on for 15 to 20 minutes and gently rinse with lukewarm water. Apply as often as needed.

To maximize the cooling effect, refrigerate between uses. For best results, follow with Hidden Agenda Pre & Post Care Serum.