How Long Does Botox® Last?

Your facial expressions communicate your emotions to the world and contribute to the unique person you are. Over time, they also cause wrinkles. Botox® targets facial muscles that cause lines and wrinkles, to give your skin a smoother appearance.

What is Botox®?

Botox® is an FDA-approved product used for preventing and treating facial lines and wrinkles. It has also been approved for many medical purposes, such as hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), muscle spasms, and migraines. Botox® treats lines around the eyes, brows, mouth, and more, to give you a more relaxed appearance. It can help almost anyone bothered by expression lines, even mild lines, and can even help prevent them from worsening. 

How Does Botox® (Botulinum Toxin) Work?

Botox® belongs to a class of injectable treatments known as neurotoxins or neuromodulators. They use a compound called botulinum toxin in extremely tiny amounts. Botulinum toxin works by acting on targeted facial nerves. It stops these nerves from sending signals to your facial muscles, allowing the muscles to relax and stop forming wrinkles. Your body will eventually clear the botulinum toxin away, allowing the nerves and muscles to return to normal without any permanent effects. 

How Long Does Botox® Last?

You can expect to see your Botox® results develop within three to seven days. You will notice your frown lines or other wrinkles become smoother and less noticeable in the days and weeks following treatment. Botox® results usually last between three and four months. We recommend scheduling regular maintenance treatments to keep your results over time. 

What Can Botox® Treat?

Botox® works on most areas where lines and wrinkles form as a result of movement of facial muscles, including: 

• Lines around the eyes (crow’s feet)
• Lines between the brows (glabellar lines or the 11s)
• Forehead lines and creases
• Lines and wrinkles around the mouth and mid-face
• Vertical lip lines (smoker lines)
• Horizontal neck lines (tech neck)

Botox® can also be used for a non-surgical brow lift, reducing a gummy smile, smoothing a dimpled chin, and more!

In some cases, your expert injector may recommend dermal fillers in combination with Botox® to achieve certain results. Dermal fillers can treat lines, wrinkles, and contour deficiencies caused by skin laxity and facial volume loss. 

Is There Any Downtime With Botox®?

People love that they can get their Botox® injections on their lunch break and go right back to work. There is no downtime, and you can return to your usual activities. You should avoid rubbing your face for several hours after treatment and avoid intense exercise for the remainder of the day. While not likely, minor spots of bruising or swelling may occur, but will subside within a few days.