More than 1.5 million Americans a year get Botox, making it one of the most popular cosmetic procedures going. With the procedure comes many questions when considering Botox Los Angeles; is it safe, what does Botox do, and how long does Botox last, to name only a few.
We’ll be answering all these questions and more in this article, with a particular focus on the latter. For a simple answer, for most people, Botox lasts between 3 to 4 months. However, much of the duration of Botox is dependent on a variety of factors like age, injection site, and the type of Botox used.
The good news is there are many things you can do to extend the duration of your Botox treatment. We’ll be covering everything you need to know in this article.
What Is Botox?
Let’s start by clarifying what Botox actually is because there are many different types of Botox that are FDA-approved for cosmetic treatments.
Botox is the brand name for Onobotulinumtoxin A. For the science geeks out there, this is a neurotoxin procured from Clostridium Botulinum. The four main types of FDA-approved treatments from these are:
- Botox
- Xeomin
- Dysport
- Jeuveau
How Does Botox Work?
All the products above work in a similar way. They block a signal that travels from a nerve to a targeted muscle, so it won’t contract. This is why many people struggle to frown soon after receiving Botox forehead treatments.
The reason for this is simple: every time we frown, laugh, smile, or make any facial expression, we pull on the skin. Over time, this caused the skin to wrinkle and stretch. Using Botox slows down this process.
All this is relevant to the duration of Botox because though each product delivers a similar result, they all have different levels of duration. Much of this depends on where the Botox is used.
Where Can You Get Botox Injections?
Botox is most famously used for reducing, smoothing, and preventing facial wrinkles. On the face, the most popular injection sites are on the frown line (the Glabella), the forehead, and the crow’s feet. Other facial injection sites include:
- Above hooded eyes
- Under the eyes
- Around the mouth
- On the chin
- Jawline
- Neck
- Jaw angle (to prevent teeth grinding)
Another popular use of Botox is in the armpits. This can reduce excessive sweating, as well as sweating during exercise. These treatments tend to last between 3 to 6 months.
Those who have signs of aging on their hands and feet can also get injections to reduce these wrinkles too.
For ease, we’ll focus on explaining the different factors around how long Botox might last for a facial treatment.
How Long Does Botox Last?
The first thing to know about the duration of Botox is your treatment won’t kick in straight away. You’ll start to see results anywhere between a few days to up to two weeks after your treatment.
As we said in the introduction, for most people receiving Botox facial treatments, the average time between treatments is between 3 to 4 months. However, this varies depending on a range of individual and external factors, such as:
- Your metabolism: your body chemistry is a big factor in how fast you process Botox.
- Your age: the elasticity of your skin makes a big difference in how long Botox lasts; the older you get, the more frequent your treatments should be.
- The size of your wrinkles: those with fine lines won’t have to get treatments as often as those with deeper wrinkles.
- The treatment area: forehead and frown line injections tend to last longer than around the mouth.
- Your activity level: if you work out a lot, you’ll be contracting your muscles more often, which will make Botox wear off faster.
- Your facial expressions: some people are naturally expressive and move their face a lot more; for these people, Botox will wear off faster
- The type of Botox: not all Botox is made equal; you should visit a reputable cosmetic center to ensure the Botox is properly stored and manufactured
- The skill of your cosmetic surgeon: accuracy and skill is necessary to inject Botox exactly where it’s needed, so you’ll also need an experienced cosmetic provider.
As you can see, there are many factors at play as to how long your Botox treatment will last. However, there’s some great news for those looking to have regular treatments. The more frequently you receive Botox treatments, the longer the effect will last between your treatments.
There’s more good news, too, because there are many things you can do to extend the duration of your Botox treatment.
How to Make Botox Last Longer
One of the first things you can do to make sure your Botox lasts as long as possible is to ensure you’re seeing an experienced cosmetic practitioner. You’ll see the maximum effectiveness from your Botox treatment if your practitioner is using the appropriate dosage with precision.
After your initial treatment, you should avoid strenuous exercise and heat for at least the first 24 hours. So swerve that hot yoga class and no saunas!
From here, a lot of extending your Botox treatment duration involves looking after yourself. In particular, your skin!
You should avoid the sun and sunbeds as both of these cause premature wrinkles. If you can’t resist, make sure to wear sunscreen on your face, neck, and hands every day. Botox doesn’t work on sun-damaged skin as these wrinkles don’t involve the underlying muscles treated.
Having a great skincare routine will also help your treatment last longer. Stay hydrated with plenty of water and moisturize both in the morning and in the evening. This will keep your skin looking plump and free of wrinkles.
Similar to this, eating right can improve the health of your skin. Eating a well-balanced diet that meets your nutritional needs and avoiding processed junk food can help.
There is some research that suggests the effects of Botox can be extended with zinc. A study showed those with lower zinc levels needed more frequent treatments. Adding a zinc supplement to your diet is worth a try if you think you’re low.
Of course, frowning a lot will cause your Botox to wear off faster, so reduce the stress levels in your life. Just like smoking (which you also shouldn’t be doing!), stress accelerates the aging process.
Get a Free Quote for Your Treatment
For the majority of patients, Botox lasts between 3 to 4 months, but this is dependent on a variety of individual factors. This period between treatments will extend as you receive more treatments.
Now you know the answer to how long does Botox last, you’re better informed to get your own treatment. For a free, no-obligation quote from one of our experienced cosmetic practitioners, get in touch.