How Long Does Botox Last?

When it comes to non-surgical anti-aging treatments, Botox is one of the most well-known treatments in the world. Ideal for treating moderate to severe fine lines and wrinkles on the face, this treatment works by injecting a special neurotoxin directly into the muscles of the face to smooth the appearance of wrinkles. At Sule Facial Plastic Surgery Clinic in Dallas, TX, we know that this amazing injectable treatment can produce long-lasting results for most people.

How Long Does Botox Last?

Like most other injectable treatments, the results of Botox are intended to be temporary solutions to age-related concerns. In general, you can expect the results of this neurotoxin to last for three to four months at a time. For most people who want to maintain results, this means you will have at least two to three treatment sessions a year.

Other Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Factors Determine How Long Results Last?

Several factors will determine how long the results of your treatment will last. For example, where the injections are made will dictate how quickly the injectable formula will break down; injections in more mobile areas of the face, such as around the mouth, will deteriorate more quickly. Your age may also determine how long your results last since mature skin tends to have deeper wrinkles that require more upkeep for the desired aesthetic goals. Other factors that may determine how long your results will last include:

Sun Exposure

Unprotected exposure to the sun is the skin’s number one enemy, especially when it comes to injectable treatments. When your skin is exposed to UV rays, the sunlight will cause the formula in your skin to deteriorate more quickly, which can mean that your results won’t last as long as intended. Wearing adequate sun protection during the daytime can help maintain your results – or even make your results last longer.

Lifestyle

When it comes to how your lifestyle habits influence the longevity of your results, two important factors are often overlooked – stress and exercise. Experiencing continual high stress produces stress hormones in the body that cause the formula in your skin to break down more rapidly. It’s worth noting that stress can also cause tense muscles in other areas of the face, which means you may be developing wrinkles in areas that are not treated.

Exercise also affects the way your body breaks down this formula. Because Botox will take several weeks to be metabolized by your body, you must manage your overall body metabolism well if you want your results to last for the expected length of time. When you exercise too strenuously, you will increase your metabolism and that may cause the results of your treatment to dissipate more rapidly.

Skin Care

Aside from using adequate sun protection, there are other skincare habits you may want to adopt to make sure the results of your treatment last for as long as possible. For example, patients who use anti-aging skincare products tend to see results that last a bit longer than patients who do not. Anti-aging products typically contain retinol, collagen, or hyaluronic acid, all of which encourage skin rejuvenation that can help you look younger.

2. How Does This Treatment Work?

While Botox is a type of injectable treatment, it’s important to note that neurotoxins and dermal fillers are different aesthetic treatment methods that accomplish different tasks. While dermal fillers are used to restore skin volume and fill in the appearance of lines and wrinkles, neurotoxins take a different approach. A neurotoxin works by relaxing the muscles in the face, which then smooth out the appearance of wrinkles.

The neurotoxin used for this treatment is a purified form of botulinum toxin, which is known to block the communication between motor neurons and the brain. When this communication is blocked, the muscles in the face can no longer receive instructions for how to move – and without movement or tension in the muscles, wrinkles become less visible.

3. Will Your Face Be Frozen?

No, this injectable will not cause your face to appear frozen. Although many people believe that they will no longer be able to make facial expressions after this treatment, the truth is that your face will still be able to move, but the degree of movement will be different. Overall, this treatment will make your facial expressions more subtle and less extreme.

This treatment will also not affect areas of the face that have not been treated. In general, neurotoxin injections have very little “spread”, which means the formula does not spread from muscle to muscle after injections are made. In other words, the injections are incredibly localized and will not cause any “freezing” of unintended treatment areas.

4. Will Your Face Be Numb?

No. This is another common misconception people have about this treatment. You will still be able to feel your face after your treatment is complete. This is because the neurotoxin used for this treatment only affects muscle neurons, so the neurons in your face that are used to detect sensation will be excluded from the results of this treatment.

5. What Is This Treatment Like?

The most important thing to remember about neurotoxin treatments is that they aren’t painful or scary – and they are actually considered to be safe for most people. During your treatment, small injections will be made into targeted muscles in the face to limit facial movements that cause wrinkles. At your request, we can apply a topical numbing cream before your treatment so you can be comfortable for the duration of your session.

Treatment appointments can usually be completed within 30 to 40 minutes, depending on how many areas of the face are being treated. The amount of formula used for your treatment will be determined by the severity of your age-related concerns, although most people don’t require more than 200 to 400 units for a single session.

6. How Soon Will You See Results?

Most people will be able to see the results of this treatment within three to five days, although some people may require 10 to 14 days to see the full results of this neurotoxin. The results for this treatment generally have a slower onset as the body responds to the neurotoxin. It’s common for your initial results to feel more “frozen” than the results you will experience about two to three weeks after your treatment, but this will wear off as your muscles acclimatize to the neurotoxin.

7. How Frequently Should You Have Treatment?

For most people, because the results of this treatment will last for three to four months, it’s ideal to have regularly scheduled appointments two to three times a year or roughly every four months. If you notice that the results of your treatment are lasting longer than four months, then you may be able to postpone your next treatment until your results begin to wear off.

You must wait for your results to deteriorate before having another treatment appointment, as this will help you avoid building a tolerance to the neurotoxin treatment. We can help you determine the best treatment frequency for your skin concerns and your skin condition.

8. Will Your Wrinkles Completely Disappear?

Although this injectable treatment is used to smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, it’s not considered a magic eraser that can eliminate wrinkles on the face. If your goal is to erase wrinkles, then a dermal filler may be a better solution for you; if you want to soften the appearance of wrinkles and prevent new wrinkles from forming, then Botox is an ideal option.

Perhaps one of the best uses for this neurotoxin treatment is as a preventative measure to stop wrinkles from becoming more severe. Because this treatment stops the movement of muscles in the face, it also stops wrinkles from worsening in dynamic facial areas, which can significantly slow the aging process.

9. How Should You Prepare for Treatment?

Neurotoxin treatments are simple enough that you will not need to prepare for them the same way you might prepare for a laser treatment, but there are a few things you will need to do before your appointment to have successful results. For example, you will need to avoid any blood-thinning or anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, for at least three to five days before your treatment. We will provide you with more detailed preparation instructions after your consultation.

10. Will You Need Recovery Time?

No, most people will not require any recovery time after this treatment. In fact, because this is a minimally invasive non-surgical treatment, most people go right back to work after their treatment. The lack of any downtime is one of the more appealing aspects of this treatment.

11. What Should You Avoid After Treatment?

The most important thing to do after your treatment is to allow the neurotoxin to “settle” into your muscles. This means that you should avoid laying down for at least four to six hours after your appointment and that you should not rub your skin for at least 12 to 24 hours. You should also avoid using hot water or harsh chemicals on the face, as this could also interfere with the way the product settles in your skin.

12. Where Can You Use This Treatment?

When this injectable treatment was first released, it was primarily used to relax the appearance of wrinkles on the upper face, such as the forehead and the areas between the eyebrows. However, this injectable has recently been used in novel ways, such as smoothing lines around the nose and mouth, relaxing tense neckbands, and even relaxing the upper lip to reduce a gummy smile. Please speak with us about all possible areas of treatment during your consultation.

13. Can You Undo Results?

Unlike a dermal filler, you can’t undo the results of this treatment by removing the formula in the skin. For neurotoxin treatments, you have to wait for the formula to break down naturally over time. This is one of the reasons why first-time users are encouraged to use this treatment for subtle rejuvenation so that patients can measure how much they like the results of the treatment.

14. Who Are Good Candidates?

If you are an adult who would like to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and you are not allergic to the ingredients in this treatment, then you are probably a good candidate. Women who are currently pregnant or breastfeeding should not use this treatment. If you have never used this treatment before, you may need to complete an allergy test before your first appointment.

Enjoy Effortless Long-Lasting Results With Botox

Although the results of this neurotoxin treatment aren’t permanent, the long-lasting results are still appealing for many patients who want to reduce deep lines and wrinkles on the face. If you think this treatment may be an ideal solution for your age-related concerns, contact Sule Facial Plastic Surgery Clinic in Dallas, TX to schedule your consultation today.