Botox is one of the most popular cosmetic treatments, and over 11 million people have treated wrinkles with it around the world. Nevertheless, to get the most out of this injectable medication and ensure your safety, you should receive these injections from qualified, experienced medical professionals, like our staff at Gold Skin Care Center in Nashville, TN.
You should also learn everything you can about this treatment, including how long it takes to work and how long the results last. The scope of this blog post is to provide you with enough information to determine whether this treatment may be appropriate for you.
How Soon Does Botox Start to Work?
It can take anywhere from three to five days for this injectable neuromodulator to start working. However, it can take up to two weeks before you can enjoy the full benefits of treatment. It can take up to five days before you start to see the results of the treatment because the medication must be worked into the treated muscles. It can take up to two weeks to see the final results of the treatment because your muscles don’t react to the medication right away.
Since it can take a couple of weeks before the final results of one treatment session are apparent, we recommend that our clients come in after two weeks for an evaluation so we can determine if follow-up doses are necessary.
Other Factors Affecting How Quickly the Treatment Results Become Apparent
There are also other factors that affect how quickly you can expect to see the final results of your treatment. For instance, it takes longer to see the final results of treatment if you have strong facial muscles. However, there’s no need to worry if you have particularly strong facial muscles. Eventually, the medication will take full effect. If you’re older or have exceptionally deep wrinkles, you may need multiple treatment sessions to achieve the results you desire.
Moreover, you may need other anti-aging treatments, like dermal fillers, to perfect your appearance. If a college reunion or wedding has you thinking about smoothing away lines and wrinkles, you must schedule a consultation right away and receive your injections at least two weeks in advance of the special occasion so your muscles have time to respond to treatment fully. You can typically expect to see the full results of treatment when you are treating milder lines.
How Long Do the Results of Treatment Last?
The durability of the results of treatment is different for everyone because the results of the treatment depend largely on how an individual’s muscles respond to the drug. Additionally, the results of treatment will last longer after repeated sessions. When this drug is used to treat cosmetic concerns, the results usually last between four and six months after one session.
However, there is a chance that the results will fade sooner if you have never received a neuromodulator treatment before. Commonly, people schedule a follow-up session two or three months after their first session to ensure they maintain their results.
Other Factors That Affect the Longevity of the Treatment Results
As previously mentioned, the durability of the treatment results varies from individual to individual. Numerous other factors also affect how long the results of a treatment session will last.
How Diluted the Dose Is
One of the most significant factors affecting the durability of the treatment results is how diluted the medication is. Depending on the strength and size of the muscle being targeted, this drug may be diluted with saline solution. The smaller the targeted muscle is, the less diluted the solution is. When the medication is more diluted, it can spread to surrounding muscles that may also benefit from relaxing.
Less-than-reputable clinics provide drugs that are too diluted. They have people coming in for several follow-up treatments because the diluted drug isn’t effective enough to give them their desired results after one session. That’s why it is crucial to seek treatment from a reputable, experienced provider rather than going to a beauty spa or your friend’s Botox party.
How Fresh the Solution Is
This medication comes in a frozen, powdered, concentrated form. A sterile solution of salt and water is added to this powder before the injections to create safe, effective doses of the drug. You will enjoy the longest-lasting results if you receive a solution that was mixed no longer than 24 hours before your treatment.
However, it can be used safely, albeit less effectively, for up to 14 days. When you receive injections from a reputable provider that provides regular injections, you can rest assured that the drug has been mixed no longer than 24 hours prior to your treatment.
Your Metabolism
The efficiency of your individual metabolism also affects how long the medication will continue to provide your ideal results. The more efficient your metabolism is, the sooner the medication will be eliminated from your body. Therefore, if you have an exceptionally high metabolism, you will need more frequent treatments.
If you have an exceptionally low metabolism, you will need to come in for fewer treatments each year to maintain your ideal results. As a general rule of thumb, if you are an athlete, you probably have a high metabolism due to having more muscle mass than the average person so you are more likely to need more frequent treatments than someone who doesn’t work out regularly and has a sedentary job.
The Size of the Muscle Being Treated
The size of the muscle targeted for treatment also affects the durability of your results. When you treat small muscles, like the muscles around your eyes, the results last longer than when you treat larger, stronger muscles, like the muscles in your forehead. Again, the durability of treatment varies from person to person but the results of treating smaller muscles usually last 34% longer than the results of treating larger muscles.
The Dose Used
The larger the dose used, the longer the results of the treatment will last. One of the reasons first-timers experience results that don’t last as long is because it is important to use a smaller dose so the muscles aren’t accidentally “frozen.” Once we have a better handle on how your muscles react to the injectable, we can give you a larger dose that will last longer without affecting your ability to emote.
How Old You Are
The older you get, the more inelastic your skin becomes and the less collagen it produces. This causes certain types of wrinkles to appear that highlight the wrinkles caused by excessive muscle movement. When your skin is inelastic and not producing enough collagen, the results of your neuromodulator injections will fade faster.
Is There Any Way to Make Your Results Last Longer?
Although individual results vary, there are a few things you can try to extend the durability of your results.
Take Zinc Supplements
The neurotoxin used in this injectable medication needs zinc to work. If you take Zytase or a multivitamin with zinc in it in the days leading up to your treatment, you may get your results to last longer as the treatment will be more effective.
Don’t Exercise Immediately After Your Injections
Remember, exercise increases your metabolism and a high metabolism will eliminate the drug quickly. If you engage in vigorous physical activity as soon as your treatment is over, your muscles may metabolize the drug before it has had a chance to take effect. For the best chance at durable results, let at least 24 hours pass after your treatment before you do anything more than moderate exercise.
Schedule Regular Appointments
As we mentioned before, it is not uncommon for people who have never had a neuromodulator treatment to experience results that don’t last as long as they should. To help your results last as long as possible, schedule regular treatments. Remember, if you have any concerns or questions about how long the results of your treatment are lasting, you are more than welcome to reach out.
What Is Botox?
Botox is the brand name of a drug with the active ingredient botulinum toxin type A. This medication is safe and effective when administered in small doses to erase lines and wrinkles and treat many medical conditions.
This results in happiness, health, self-confidence and improved quality of life. It works by preventing some of the electrical impulses from reaching the nerves that control muscle contractions. What results is temporary paralysis that relaxes the muscles responsible for certain wrinkles and folds so you can enjoy a smoother, more youthful appearance.
What Are the Most Common Applications?
The facial regions that are most commonly targeted for treatment include:
- Crow’s feet around the eyes
- Forehead lines
- Wrinkles and lines around the mouth
- Deep lines around the nose
It can also be used to treat a number of medical conditions, such as excessive sweating. Although this treatment is most commonly used to relax facial muscles, it can also treat excessive sweating of the underarms, pelvic region, feet and hands. Furthermore, this drug can be used to treat medical conditions that result in regular uncontrollable muscle spasms.
Schedule Your Appointment Now
We take pride in offering the best products to help our clients achieve their beauty and wellness goals. Botox is a safe, effective injectable that starts to work in just three to five days and usually provides ideal results in a week or two. Call Gold Skin Care Center in Nashville, TN today at 615-461-5006 to learn more about this life-changing treatment and we can help you achieve your beauty and wellness goals.
