- Botox is one of the most common non-invasive cosmetic procedure performed today
- Most patients begin to notice an effect three to five days after their injections, with full results becoming visible after 14 days.
- When injected for cosmetic purposes, Botox lasts four to six months on average, but you can expect the effects of your first treatment to wear off faster.
How does it feel when Botox first starts working?
Botox is a neuromodulator that relaxes the muscles and prevents them from working at full capacity. Once Botox begins to take effect, usually three to five days after treatment, you should feel no discomfort or abnormal sensations.
In cases where too much Botox has been injected into a muscle, patients may experience a feeling of heaviness at the injection site. This is more common in the forehead area due to the paralyzation of the frontalis muscle, which runs along the forehead and is used to raise the eyebrows.
As we age our eyebrows naturally drop as a result of gravity and the loss of tissue elasticity. To compensate for this, the frontalis muscle contracts to “re-elevate” the brows. Over time, this can cause forehead lines to develop.
Injecting the frontalis muscle with Botox to eliminate these lines must be done with caution, as the brows could otherwise end up in a very low position.
It’s important to note that even when the right amount of Botox is injected into the forehead, the eyebrows can be affected and drop, causing a temporary “hooding” of the eyelids.
More pronounced Botox-induced eyelid drooping can also occur if the toxin is injected too low on the forehead, causing it to diffuse downward and affect the levator muscle, which is used to open and close the eyes. When this happens, medications such as Naphcon or Iodipine can be used to alleviate the drooping. Unfortunately, nothing will reverse eyelid drooping entirely other than waiting for the Botox to wear off.
Expert injectors tend to dose first-time users conservatively and then increase the dosage during later sessions if necessary. When performed by an experienced professional, you should feel no discomfort once the Botox sets in.
» If you’re curious about how Botox feels, read this patient’s account of her first Botox treatment.
How long will it take before I see results?
Understandably, many first-time patients eagerly anticipate the results of their Botox treatment. Some feel disappointed when they learn that the effects are not immediate.
Most patients begin to notice an effect three to five days after their injections, with full results becoming visible after 14 days. This somewhat delayed onset is due to the time that it takes for the body to start reacting to the botulinum toxin. For this reason, most surgeons recommend that patients come back after a fortnight has passed to check on their progress.
There are other factors that figure in the onset of Botox. Individuals with particularly strong facial muscles may take longer to see and feel the treatment’s effects.
If the wrinkles in your skin are already deeply etched, or you get your first Botox injection later in life, it’s unlikely that Botox alone will smooth the lines completely. For very deep lines, it can take up to a year of Botox before the area starts to look relaxed. Sometimes a dermal filler may also be necessary to plump out the deep corrugations in the skin.
First-time users are often compelled to undergo Botox to look their best for an important event or vacation. It is important to plan to have your first consultation and injection session at least two weeks before the special occasion so you can enjoy optimal results.
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How long does Botox last?
As a first-time Botox user, it’s important to be mindful that your first experience is not likely to result in optimal, long-lasting results.
It can take multiple Botox treatments before your muscles become conditioned and respond to the botulinum toxin. Results last longer after several sessions, as the skin has more time to regenerate the collagen it needs to fill in those lines and wrinkles.
When injected for cosmetic purposes, Botox lasts four to six months on average, but you can expect the effects of your first treatment to wear off faster. You will likely need to schedule your second appointment two or three months following your first session.
Factors affecting how long Botox lasts
As the onset of Botox varies in different patients, so will the procedure’s longevity. There are several factors that can affect how long Botox lasts.
- Dilution of the dosage
Typically, Botox is diluted with 1 to 3 ccs of saline solution. There can be a variation in the dilution depending on the area being targeted.
A more concentrated solution results in a more exact treatment, while a more diluted treatment allows for the diffusion of the Botox into surrounding areas that could benefit from migration of the product.
Unfortunately, some less scrupulous injectors may over-dilute their dosage of Botox, meaning the patient does not receive the full benefits of the treatment. This is why it’s so important to have Botox administered by a reputable injector, as opposed to beauty spas or Botox parties that cannot guarantee the quality of their product.
- Freshness of the product
Botox comes in a frozen powdered form. Saline solution is added prior to injection to create the proper dilution. Ideally, Botox should be used within 24 hours of mixing as it tends to be at its most potent when it’s fresh.
Ideally, practices open and use vials of Botox on a daily basis, so patients get the best possible product. However, the solution can be used for up to two weeks after the Botox has been opened.
- Your metabolism
Athletes and very fit people tend to metabolize Botox at a faster rate, eliminating it more quickly.
- The area injected
Botox injected into areas with larger muscles — such as the frontalis muscle on the forehead — tend to last for shorter periods of time than injections into smaller areas — like crows’ feet. You can expect Botox administered to your forehead wrinkles to last up to three months, and Botox administered to crows’ feet to last at least four months.
- The dosage in the region that has been injected
Conservative doses of Botox result in movement returning to the muscle more quickly than heavier doses. For first-time users, however, it’s better not to over-inject in order to avoid a heavy or frozen look in the face.
- Your age
Older patients have less elasticity and decreased collagen production in their skin. This, in addition to deeper wrinkling, leads to the effects of Botox wearing off more quickly for older patients.
- Medical conditions
For certain medical purposes, such as the treatment of headaches, Botox may need to be administered with more regularity. Your physician will determine schedule depending on your specific health concern.
Can I make my Botox injections last longer?
There are also other long term and short term techniques to increase the longevity of your Botox treatments.
Short term methods
Zinc supplements have recently been discovered to help extend the efficacy of your Botox treatment. In a 2012 study, Houston-based oculoplastic surgeon Dr. Charles Sopokar reported that 44 patients who took a zinc and phytase supplement, called Zytase, four days before their Botox injections experienced better and longer-lasting results.
The rationale behind the study is sound, since the botulinum toxin belongs to a group of enzymes that are zinc dependant. Sopokar estimated that up to 50% of the population could be deficient in zinc. Since phytase helps the body to absorb zinc, the study concluded that Botox preceded by a course of Zytase can extend the longevity of treatments by up to 30%.
Retin-A wrinkle treatments can also assist in extending the effects of Botox. The combination of Botox with a topical retinoid cream can decrease the need for additional Botox units per visit, and potentially prolong the time between treatments. Retinoids can also be applied to parts of the face not typically treated by Botox.
Vigorous exercise immediately following treatment may metabolize the product before it has had adequate time to take effect. Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours after you receive Botox to give the proteins in the product time to affect the muscle and properly diffuse.
Exercising directly after a Botox treatment may also increase the chance of swelling and bruising at the injection sites, or migration of the product to other areas.
Long term methods
In general, regular treatments yield optimal longer-lasting results. A recent study revealed that administering Botox to a specific area on the face at regular four month intervals for two years causes the muscles to take an increasingly long time to recover, meaning that the effects of Botox lasted longer.
When you receive your first Botox treatment, your muscles are at their strongest. This means you require more units and more frequent visits when you first start using Botox.
Over time and with regular use, your muscles will become weaker with each visit, eventually decreasing the number of units you require and the frequency of your injections.
The most effective way to prolong the effects of your Botox treatments is to remain a regular at your injector’s office, and to receive injections before your previous treatment has entirely worn off. This will maintain the muscles in an atrophied state and keep wrinkles at bay.
Can I reverse the effects of Botox?
Sometimes, patients find that they prefer how they looked before Botox was administered, or experience unsatisfactory results due to poor injection technique.
Unfortunately, there is no way to accelerate the elimination of Botox from the system or reverse its effects. Botox must be metabolized at your body’s own natural rate.
If you are unhappy with your results because you feel that they are unbalanced, you can receive injections to other muscles and attempt to even things out.
Make sure you return to the injector who administered the Botox, and explain why you didn’t like the results. It’s often necessary to experiment until you achieve the outcome you are hoping for.
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