How long does Botox last?

The length of time that Botox will last depends on a number of factors including:

• How it is mixed
• The patient's physical responsiveness to the product
• The method that Botox is injected
• How it is stored

For most patients, it will last 3-4 months.

Botox Cosmetic lasts a variable amount in each person. I usually tell my patients that it will last somewhere between 3 and 6 months.

People with heavier frown lines tend to have stronger muscles and in turn tend to see the motion of the muscle return quicker than those with less bulky muscles in the area between the brows. In some men and even some women with prominent muscles, it may only last 2-3 months.

You will typically see a return of the movement of the muscle prior to the deepening of the furrows caused by the contraction of that muscle. At that time, it is best to get back in for another treatment of Botox Cosmetic. This way you are not letting the furrows or lines to continue to worsen.

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.

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.