You’re ready to rid yourself of the stubborn lines on your forehead, but how long exactly will your Botox treatment last? This is a question we always address in our consultations, and the answer really comes down to science. Sit back and relax while we give you the cliff notes version of your neurotoxin, how it works, and how long you should expect to see results.
What is Botox?
Botox is the best thing since sliced bread. It can reverse signs of aging to include deep and fine lines, and even improve overall integrity of the skin by minimizing pore size. Botox is a neurotoxin (trigger word, we know), and has been deemed completely safe by the FDA for 20 years when dosed appropriately. Full disclosure, we are well aware that the idea of injecting a neurotoxin into your body can be intimidating and even off-putting. We’re here to help you understand the way it works, and put your mind at ease. After all, knowledge is power. Individuals who are afraid of Botox may just not have enough information about it. Let’s dive deeper into the mechanism of action (aka how it works).
How does Botox work?
When we inject neurotoxins of any kind into the targeted muscles, the goal is essentially to freeze those muscles to prevent their movements from creating deep expression lines. Common areas to treat are the forehead, 11 lines (between the brows), and crow’s feet (the area around the eyes). Click here to read about our 5 fav areas to treat w/ Botox. Botox works by temporarily sitting in front of targeted receptor sites that receive messages from our brain telling them to move. For example, we use our frontalis (the muscle in our forehead) to lift our eyebrows when we’re surprised. This can cause horizontal expression lines that can become permanent over time. After a Botox treatment, this muscle is relaxed and the lines are softened and prevented from deepening.
How long does Botox last?
Botox is an FDA-approved neurotoxin, which means it has undergone extensive research regarding the safety and use. Studies have shown that Botox and it’s sister neurotoxin, Dysport, last between 90-120 days. Our bodies naturally metabolize these compounds, and overtime your muscles will return to full movement. It is normal to begin to see minimal movement return around 6-8 weeks after treatment, and full movement back by the 3-4 month mark.
How often should I receive treatment?
The answer to this question depends on your goals. If your goal is to maximize results and eventually require less neurotoxin, we recommend coming in every 3 months to ensure you never quite reach baseline. The more consistent you are with treatment, the smoother your fine lines will be. We discuss your goals in depth at your consultation and/or first appointment. For a detailed guide to your first appointment, read here!