Getting the most out of Botox.

You just got your first Botox injections and 2 weeks later, you’re loving the results! You’re now wondering if there are ways of prolonging this smoother, youthful look, or wondering how long it will last. Botox usually lasts between 3 to 6 months, depending on the area and how heavily it is used. Then it’ll be time for a top-up. But how exactly can your Botox last 6 months rather than 3?

Botox will last 3 months if…

This is mainly due to individual factors that your doctor will advise you on in the consulting room. Each person’s face is different, and so is the strength of their muscles. So it’s hard to exactly pin down. But some factors that will aid to Botox only lasting 3 months are:

Very Deep Wrinkles / Lines
Mature Skin
You have lower elasticity in terms of your skin type
You’re a smoker
You don’t have a good skincare regimen (if any)
You’re in the sun too much and too often, without protecting your skin (with sunscreen or a hat)

Although you can extend the time of Botox by taking great care of your skin, the effects will still gradually wear off since Botox is not a permanent solution. But as time passes, and you have more botox, the less frequently you will need to come in to get injected. This is because Botox freezes certain muscles which causes them to weaken over time and will result in fewer lines.

How often can I get injected?

This is a great question. Usually if it’s the first time we’re treating you, we don’t know how many units exactly will cause your muscles to freeze. This is why we suggest coming back after 2 weeks, since the full effect will be in place. Even then, we may not always inject again based on the results. The main reason for this is it puts you off cycle by 2 weeks. The part of your face that was initially injected will “unfreeze” 2 weeks prior to the touched up part of your face.

This is why we suggest you don’t top up your Botox until the 3 months are up and we can start fresh, knowing that you will likely need more Botox the 2nd time around. Over time, you will find that you will be able to maintain your Botox results with treatments spaced further apart than when you initially started.

Will I ever build up a tolerance to Botox?

You can build up a tolerance to antibiotics so can you build up a tolerance to Botox? It is very unlikely, there is a small portion of people that can develop antibodies that combat the effects of Botox. This means as time goes on, the Botox will become less and less effective. But this only affects 1% to 3% of patients.

Should men get Botox?

Men should get Botox if they feel the need to smooth out some of the wrinkles on their forehead and nasal labial folds. There are ways to keep the “ruggedness” without needing to keep all the additional deep lines that come with it. Dr. Dawood would be more than happy to discuss how to prevent your face from looking too overdone. The best course of action is always to appear natural and yourself, just redefined and more relaxed.

Learning more about Botox:

We provide many resources on our blog if you’d like to know more about Botox. Botox is a safe method to reduce lines and wrinkles and if you’d like to know more about this non-surgical option you can always schedule a consultation with Dr. Dawood who will be able to tell you what Botox and other skin rejuvenation treatments would be great for you!