Ask who is injecting you and what license they hold, which FDA-approved neuromodulator they recommend and why, how many units they plan and where, how the product is sourced and stored, and what happens if results look uneven at two weeks. The answers — not the price per unit — tell you whether to book.
Which questions confirm who is actually injecting me?
This is a prescription medical procedure, not a beauty service. The American Academy of Dermatology advises that botulinum toxin be injected in a medical office by a board-certified physician or an appropriately trained clinician under physician supervision.
So ask, in sequence: Who performs the injection? What license do they hold? Who is the supervising physician, and are they on site? Then ask how long that person has been injecting neuromodulators specifically — upper-face experience differs from lip experience. Learn more about our injectors and physicians.
Delegation rules vary by state and are revised periodically, so verify current Illinois requirements with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation rather than a clinic’s summary. Ask whether a licensed clinician performs a good-faith medical evaluation before the product is ordered for you.
Which wrinkle relaxer will they use, and why that one?
Six botulinum toxin type A products are FDA-approved for moderate to severe frown lines: Botox in Chicago, Dysport, Xeomin, Jeuveau (prabotulinumtoxinA, Evolus), Daxxify (daxibotulinumtoxinA, Revance), and Letybo (letibotulinumtoxinA, Hugel).
They are not clones. Dysport and Jeuveau are commonly described as showing early effect in two to three days; Daxxify labeling reports a median duration of six to nine months, versus three to four for most others. Results vary.
Then the revealing one: “Are units interchangeable between brands?” The answer should be no. FDA labeling states that units of biological activity cannot be compared to or converted into units of any other botulinum toxin product.
What should I ask about units and touch-ups?
Ask for the plan in writing: which muscles, how many units per site, and the total. Ask how it compares to labeled dosing — Botox Cosmetic’s labeled glabellar dose is 20 units, while Daxxify’s is 40 units on its own separate scale.
Then: “If I am asymmetric at two weeks, is reassessment complimentary, and is the added product charged at full price?” Get that in writing.
How do I verify the product is genuine?
Ask to see the vial and its labeling before reconstitution, and whether the clinic buys only through the manufacturer or an authorized distributor. In 2024, the FDA confirmed counterfeit Botox in multiple states, and the CDC documented harmful reactions in 22 people across 11 states — 11 hospitalized, four given botulism antitoxin — after counterfeit or unverified product, or injections by untrained individuals outside healthcare settings.
Also, ask how vials are refrigerated and whether needles are single-use.
What risks should they disclose before I consent?
Every FDA-approved botulinum toxin carries a boxed warning about the distant spread of toxin effect: swallowing and breathing difficulties reported hours to weeks after injection, which can be life-threatening. Your provider should raise this unprompted; the Botox Cosmetic prescribing information states it plainly.
A thorough intake asks whether you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a neuromuscular disorder such as myasthenia gravis or ALS, have responded poorly to a toxin before, or take aminoglycoside antibiotics. If nobody asks, ask why not.
What should I ask about before-and-after photos?
Request photos of the exact area you are treating, in consistent lighting at the same angle, both relaxed and fully animated. Dynamic wrinkles only reveal injection quality in motion.
Ask how many days after treatment each photo was taken, and whether that patient also had filler or laser treatments. If you are exploring combination options, learn more about our full range of injectable treatments. At Concierge Aesthetics & Plastic Surgery in Chicago, ask whether your own baseline images will be charted. Ready to get started? Contact us today to schedule your evaluation or ask about getting Botox in Chicago.
Use this as your consultation cheat sheet
|
Question to ask |
What a strong answer sounds like |
Red flag |
|
Who injects me, and who supervises? |
Names the injector, their license, and the supervising physician |
Vague “our team”; no medical evaluation |
|
Which product, and why this one? |
Name the FDA-approved product and tie it to your anatomy and goals |
No clinical reasoning; disparages other brands |
|
Are units interchangeable? |
“No — potency units are product-specific” |
“Same units, ours is cheaper” |
|
How many units, which muscles? |
Written per-site breakdown compared to labeled dosing |
Unit count withheld until after injection |
|
Where does your product come from? |
Manufacturer or authorized distributor; shows the sealed vial |
Won’t show the vial; online marketplace sourcing |
|
What are the risks and the touch-up policy? |
Explains the distant spread of toxin effect, plus a defined two-week reassessment |
“No real risks”; guarantees an outcome; no policy |
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I bring to a wrinkle relaxer consultation?
Bring a full list of medications and supplements, including antibiotics and blood thinners, plus any neuromuscular diagnoses. Add dates of past injections with brand and unit counts, photos of results you liked or disliked, and any event you are timing around.
Is it a red flag if a clinic will not put the plan in writing?
It is worth pausing on. A written plan listing product, muscles, units per site, and total cost is standard documentation. Verbal-only plans make it hard to compare providers, judge results objectively, or replicate a dose you liked on the next visit.
Can I be injected the same day as my consultation?
Often yes, provided a licensed clinician completes an evaluation, reviews your history, obtains informed consent, and captures baseline photos. Same-day treatment is a concern only when it is used to rush those steps. Asking to think it over should never be a source of pressure.
I was unhappy with the results elsewhere. What should I raise?
Say what specifically bothered you: heaviness, a dropped brow, asymmetry, or an effect that faded sooner than expected. Bring the brand, unit count, and date if known. Ask how the new provider would adjust placement or dosing, and how long to wait.
