Botulinum toxin injections such as Botox, relax the muscles in your face to smooth out lines and wrinkles. However, they are not a permanent solution to younger looking skin, with results generally lasting 3-4 months.
As we age our body produces less collagen and elastin and so the skin loses its elasticity and firmness, becomes thinner and less hydrated. This leads to the formation of wrinkles.
Wrinkles may be present at rest (static wrinkles) or appear with repetitive muscle movement (dynamic wrinkles).
If left untreated, overtime dynamic wrinkles which appear from natural muscle activity, will become static wrinkles. Facial movements like squinting, frowning, or laughing cause temporary lines that eventually can become permanent wrinkles. Common treatment areas include crow’s feet, forehead lines, and frown lines.
Anti-Wrinkle Injections such as Botox are an effective treatment for dynamic wrinkles as they work by blocking a signal from the nerve to the targeted muscle and so prevents the muscle from contracting, thereby reducing muscle movement and so prevent the lines from appearing.
If Botox is used early enough it can prevent the dynamic lines developing into static lines.
Keep reading to find out more about the length of time that Botox is active in the body and, the duration of its effects.
When does Botox start to work?
Botox works by blocking a neurotransmitter, acetylcholine (ACh) at the neuromuscular junction (the junction between the nerve and the muscle).
By inhibiting the release of Ach, Botox interferes with the nervous impulses to the muscle preventing it from contracting.
The effects of antiwrinkle injections are not immediate. The neurotoxins take time to block off the nerve impulses to the muscle and this generally starts to take effect in 3-5 days. This corresponds with the amount of time that it takes for the botulinum toxin to bind with the motor nerve terminal and block the release of ACh and for the ACh already present in the body to be used up.
However, it is not uncommon to see your full and final results for 7-14 days, but this will vary from person to person and can depend on:
- Your age
- Your muscle mass/thickness
- The volume of injection
- The type of product used
- Your overall skin condition
- The area being treated
- Your level of physical activity after the treatment
As it can take the full 14 days for the toxin to have full effect, your Botox review is never carried out prior to two weeks as you need to ensure that the Botox has had full effect before you make any ‘tweaks’. The prevents the risk of overtreating an area.
It is always better to underdose on the first session and add any touch ups that may be required in two weeks, than over treat in the first session. This is especially important for first time users who do not have the experience of how their body will react to the toxin.
How long does Botox last?
The effects of Botox don’t last forever. Eventually, the action of the neurotoxin will wear off as the body is constantly creating new neurotransmitters and so the nerves will again be able to send signals to the muscles to contract.
New connections to the motor nerve terminal generally start within 28 days after the treatment and this is why Botox wears off gradually.
A further Botox treatment is then needed to re-establish the effect. In general, Botox lasts 3-4 months.
This again will vary from person to person, as every will create new neurotransmitters at different rates. Some people will find that Botox lasts longer, in the 4-6 month range, or shorter, in the 2-3 month range. It is also common for Botox to wear off quicker for first timers but may last longer after the second treatment. This is because the effects of Botox can build over time, as your muscles become more conditioned to the botulinum toxin.
Therefore, it’s important to be aware that the first time you have Botox the results may not last as long compared to when you are several treatments down the line.
After several sessions, if you keep on top of maintaining the effects of the toxin, the skin has more time to repair through natural collagen production and so soften any static lines and wrinkles. You may then find that the treatment lasts longer and follow up sessions will become less frequent.
However, everyone has a unique experience and results will vary.
The length of time Botox lasts is dependent on how long it takes for the nerves to regenerate and establish a connection with the muscles. This is influenced by factors such as metabolism, muscularity and your overall skin condition, along with stress, sun exposure/sun damage and high intensity work outs.
Patients with naturally more animated facial expression and muscle activity may find a more rapid decrease in the effects of Botox. Botox may also last longer in different areas of the face.
There can be some miscomprehension regarding the effects of Botox and how long it is active in the body. Hopefully this article is helpful in explaining the effects so you can plan your treatment accordingly.
Please contact us for a free consultation to discuss the most appropriate treatment for you.