In tabloid speak, there were lots of 'wow-worthy' looks at the Emmys this year. Sarah Pidgeon, Florence Pugh and Odessa A'zion to name three of my favourites, but the celeb who 'wowed' me most was Selena Gomez.
The Rare Beauty founder wore a dazzling gold dress paired with a face of Rare Beauty makeup (obviously) and her trademark dark hair long and loose in goddess waves.
© NBC via Getty ImagesDespite her flawless appearance, internet detractors were quick to critique the 34-year-old, with Reddit users questioning whether her appearance (which they deemed 'different' to usual) could be the result of recent Botox.
"What people seem to be responding to most strongly in these photographs is the asymmetry around the eyes," Dr. Omar Tillo, plastic surgeon and Medical Director at CREO Clinic, says of the commentary.
© Variety via Getty Images"One eye appears slightly more closed than the other, and because the eyes are such an important reference point when we recognise a face, even quite a small difference can make somebody look surprisingly different."
Selena has never shied away from sharing that she has Botox. In 2024, the former Disney star came across a video on TikTok which saw a content creator speculate on the work Selena had done, forcing the Only Murderers in the Building actress to reply in the comments. "Honestly, I hate this. I have Botox. That's it. Leave me alone,".
Allowing Botox to settle
While Selena hasn't shared that she's recently had a Botox top-up (and nor should she have to!), anyone who has ever had the neuromodulator injected will know that it takes a while to "settle" and can leave you looking different to usual.
I've had friends FaceTime me a couple of days post-injection, fretting about their 'vampire brows' that appeared permanently raised.
I always reassure them, "Don't worry, it'll settle," and I'm always right, but I've never really understood *why* it takes time. All I know is that I'd never recommend a pal get it done before a big event, be it a wedding, or indeed the Emmys!
© Variety via Getty ImagesHold off on judgement
On why we shouldn't judge our Botox results in the first few days post-treatment, Emma Wedgwood, Medical Director of Wedgwood Medical, explains: "There can be a short period where one area appears to respond slightly faster than another, so it's important to allow the full treatment to develop before deciding whether anything needs adjusting."
Plastic surgeon and founder of Quttainah Specialized Hospital, Dr. Adel Quttainah, adds: "I normally tell patients not to analyse their face too closely during that first week. Things may not look completely balanced until the treatment has had time to fully take effect, usually by around two weeks."
Aesthetic Nurse and founder of ALTA Medi Clinic London, Anastasia Koles, agrees: "I wouldn't judge the result too early. The muscles are responding gradually, and different areas can sometimes take effect at slightly different rates."
But does Botox actually 'settle'? Apparently not, according to Wedgwood.
Does Botox settle?
"When people talk about letting Botox 'settle', what they really mean is allowing enough time for the treatment to take effect and for the final result to become apparent," she explains.
"Botox doesn't physically sit in the tissue and then settle into position in the way people sometimes imagine. Instead, it works by temporarily reducing the nerve signals to the muscles we have specifically targeted, which reduces their movement."
© Getty ImagesShe explains that this process happens gradually and that most people will start to notice a change within the first few days, but the effect continues to develop over the following one to two weeks. "This is why I generally assess the final result at around the two-week mark.
"When we tell patients to give their Botox time to 'settle', we are really asking them to allow the treatment time to work. It is less about the Botox moving or settling into place and more about allowing the targeted muscles to gradually respond to the treatment."
How does Botox look as it 'settles'?
On day one, you generally won't see much difference, according to Wedgwood. "You may have a little redness, slight swelling or tiny bumps at the injection sites, but these usually disappear quite quickly.
"The muscles themselves will still be moving normally because the Botox hasn’t had time to take effect. Over the next few days, you’ll gradually notice the treated muscles becoming less active.
"As that happens, dynamic lines (the lines created by repeated facial movement) begin to soften. Depending on the areas treated, the forehead may look smoother, frown lines less pronounced and crow’s feet softer when you smile. By around day 10, the result is usually much more established, although I generally allow the full two weeks before assessing the final outcome."
When to have Botox before an event
Wedgwood says that for someone who has had Botox before and knows how they respond, she would recommend having treatment at least two weeks before an important event.
"This gives the treatment time to take full effect and allows us to assess the result and make a small adjustment if needed."
© Getty ImagesKoles says that three- or four weeks pre-event is the sweet spot. "Although the treatment generally reaches its full effect by around two weeks, giving yourself a little more time means any minor bruising or swelling has completely disappeared and the result has had time to settle naturally."
Selena never shies away from calling out the critics, so I'm sure we'll hear from her soon if she wants to address the people being unkind online, but I suspect she'll rise above it, safe in the knowledge that she's happy with how she looks.
