How long does Botox last?

How long does Botox last? What determines how long it will work for me?

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13 answers to “How long does Botox last?”

A: Botox lasts around 3 months usually

John P. Di Saia, MD

Hello, Usually, Botox lasts about 3 months, but in people who have had it many times before, the results can last less time. It might also not last as long when overly diluted or old.

A: 3 months Give or Take

Stephen Prendiville, MD

Botox lasts for 3 months give or take.  Patients who return for treatment before signs of muscle activity return, (and who continue to do so over the course of several years) tend to develop greater longevity from the product. The best idea for a patient is to become educated on the dose (in units) that... more

A: Botox lasts longer the more you use it

Tracy Kuykendall, MD

Botox is one of the cosmetic treatments I enjoy most. Almost every patient is happy! Most of my long-term users notice that the more they use it, the longer it lasts. This is because if you do not use your muscle, it actually decreases in size (making it harder to make those frowns!)

A: BOTOX longevity

Benjamin Barankin, MD

Botox longevity depends on a few things, but typically lasts 3-6 months. After having BOTOX several times in a row, most people find BOTOX to last approximately 6 months. As well, the more units of BOTOX injected, the longer the BOTOX lasts to some degree. 

A: Botox longevity

William  Bruno, MD

Botox is an injectable chemical that can diminish the appearance of facial wrinkles for approximately 3-4 months.  It works by weakening the muscles of the forehead and eye area (crow's feet) thereby relaxing the overlying skin in those areas making the appearance of wrinkles less deep.  Although... more

A: Botox lasts for 3-4 months

Steven Hacker, MD

Botox typically lasts for 3-4 months but there is always some individual variability. Also, there is a separate theory that over time, repeated treatments results in a duration of effect lasting longer than 3-4 months.  

A: Botox has a variable duration of action in different people

Scott Trimas, MD

Botox has a variable duration of action in different people. The average duration of action is about 3-4 months, however, it can last up to six months especially in the forehead  area and the region between the eyes. In some areas such as arround the crows feet of the eyes typically three to four months... more

A: Botox Duration

Michael Coverman, MD

Botox typically lasts 3-6 months. Factors affecting this are injection technique, dilution, and the size, thickness and activity of the muscles causing wrinkling or frowning. Habitual frowning worsens wrinkles! I usually use 30 units per area, thus the actual dilution is less important than the final... more

A: Botox injections typically needed every 3-4 months to maintain results

Richard A. D'Amico, MD

Botox usually lasts 3-4 months in most patients. Subsequent treatment as the Botox wears off will help to maintain your results of your initial Botox injections.

A: Many factors influence longevity of Botox results.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD

The duration of Botox may vary tremendously as does the onset. The textbook answer will be 3-5 months but let me make some additional comments. I have some patients that state it lasts 6 months. The onset may be 3-5 days but I have observed patients that it works within 24 hours. People will sometimes become... more

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Comments

Kitty Lou
1 post
14 Aug 2008

I had Botox from a Board Certified Plastic surgeon and have had horroble results. It was for crow's feet. The injections "froze" my upper lip. No movement when I talk or smile. I look hideous and my plastic surgeon just shrugs it off as no big deal. None of the websites tell you about this side effect. It's been 14 weeks and it's barely shown an inprovement. Stay away from this disgusting drug!

Teresa Boxell
7 posts
18 Aug 2008

I have had botox for many years, but still it only lasts 2 to 3 months, usually the eye area is first to return. I have tried many beauty places but my local hospital has the best results. When you go to beauty clinics they do not use enough and on occasions i have only had a few lines diminish and it lasted 4 weeks, so be careful not to get ripped off. I strongly recommend your local hospital as the nhs never rip you off.

NotLuke
11 posts
5 Feb 2009

I had my 1st botox treatment 7 weeks ago. I noticed major movement in my forehead (along with increased wrinkles) last week. I was always one with expressive facial movements. So I was not surprise to see the increased movement so soon (not surprised, but I am disappointed.) I am scheduled for another treatment tomorrow. I am having only the forehead done, since the crowsfeet and glabella show little motions. My injector did warn me that as a new user of Botox, I should expect a quicker return of motion.

lhaney
156 posts
1 Dec 2007

Length of results will depend on each individual. Most people have the benefits of Botox for approximately 3-4 months. Some people will have beyond 4 months. If you are having less than 3 months, you should discuss this with your practitioner to determine if the dosing is correct. Keep in mind that the use of Botox is now being valued by the younger generations that see this as an excellent method to prevent future wrinkles by starting early. Regular use of Botox with appropriate dosing will ultimately lead to possibly longer lasting effects. The key concept is to consider another treatment when the muscle movements start returning.

Michael Sinclair MD
141 posts
21 May 2008

If you look at the package insert from Allergan, you will see that when trained investigators examine the glabellar lines (frown lines) of patients treated with Botox, they see the follow ing results: At 7 days, 74% have a good result At 30 days, 80% have a good result At 60 days, 70% have a good result At 90 days, 48% have a good result What this means is that about 30% of the patients need more Botox after 2 months! Furthermore, keep in mind that different areas tend to recover (Botox wears off) faster than other areas. The Glabella area usually gets the most Botox because the muscles are bigger. The effect in this area tends to last the longest. In the area of the forehead and crow's feet, much less Botox is used. These areas tend to start moving before the Glabella. You can't just increase the dose in the forehead and crow's feet to make it last longer. Too much Botox in the forehead can cause the eyebrows to drop. Too much Botox in the crow's feet area can lead to double vision and droopy eyelids. If you are one of the people that seems to get only 2 months of effect from Botox, you may be able to increase the duration by getting more frequent treatments for a while. Frequent treatments can allow the muscles to atrophy (get skinny and weak). This is similar to what happens to an arm or leg that has a cast on for a few months. As the muscles get thinner and weaker, the recovery will take longer, which will make the Botox look like it is acting longer.

Rosemariek
13 posts
15 Mar 2009

I have Botox regularly but what concerns me and what I was not aware of is that the vial must be watered down so to speak by your Dr before use, so how do you know if the Dr is not weakening the Botox too much and therefore you must keep coming back more often than really necessary.

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