Botulinum toxin, which comes in the form of the original BOTOX® Cosmetic, Xeomin and Dysport, is a godsend for many with wrinkles. In the past, wrinkles could only be treated with surgery like a browlift or facelift but now, surgery can be pushed off for longer.
Botox (including all brands), relaxes the muscles in the face that contribute to wrinkles. It works best for the “11’s” in between the eyebrows, the forehead wrinkles and the “crow’s feet” formed when squinting the eyes. Aside from where it can be used, one of the first questions patients ask is how long does is last?
After treatment, Botox starts working in one to three days and hits its maximum effect after a week. From there, it seems to last from three to six months. So what determines if you’re on the three-month or six-month end of the spectrum? Lots of factors.
Factors that can affect how long Botox continues to work include: how it is mixed (how many units are used); your unique physiology (how deep your wrinkles/how strong your facial muscles are, and how your body reacts to the injections); how many times you’ve had Botox consistently injected into the same area (long-term application can make it last longer); and how and where the Botox is injected.
Because everyone is different, it’s impossible to say exactly how long Botox will work for any given person—but a board-certified plastic surgeon with experience injecting Botox should be able to give you a better idea of how long it will last for you if you make an appointment and give them a chance to examine the area in person. Ultimately, though, you won’t know exactly how long your Botox injection will last until you try it for the first time. Luckily, the effects don’t disappear overnight; they wear off gradually, and muscle movement slowly returns. Once you start to see wrinkles returning in the mirror, check your calendar to see when your last treatment was and book again!
