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How Long After a "Botox Brow Lift" Does It Take Corrugator Muscles to Regain Full Strength?

asked 10 months ago by Live and Learn in Oshawa, ON
Latest answer by Ronald Shelton, MD
Question viewed 440 times
Tags: lift, longevity, wear off

I've been told 3 to 4 months for Botox to wear off, in some cases less time than that. However I was wondering what to expect during that time frame. Whether that's when the muscle is back to normal, or if that's only when some strength begins to return to it? I'm ultimately concerned about when I'll be able to move the inside of my eyebrows on my own.

15 answers to How Long After a "Botox Brow Lift" Does It Take Corrugator Muscles to Regain Full Strength?

When do frown lines return after Botox?

Most patients demonstrate approximately 3-4 months duration of effects. However, those that consistently use Botox or Dysport will begin to benefit from a longer duration as the muscles begin to cooperate and require less treatments. Contrary to what some mistakenly believe, the effects gradually wear off over time so as to continue to lend to a natural appearance. Effects of the treatment will not dissipate over night. If a patient is not obtaining the mininum... more

Harold J. Kaplan, MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.celibre.com

How long before Botox to forehead effects wear off?

Botox effects last between 3-4 months and the duration is affected by the dose of Botox that was injected. The supercilli muscles are weakened with a glabellar Botox injection and will slowly return to their normal function within the 3-4 month timeframe. Actively attempting to contract the forehead (frown) will speed up the process and cause new neoromuscular junctions to form more rapidly.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Botox longevity

Your brow function will return completely anywhere between 3 and 6 months. You will notice slow return of some muscle function before this. Most patients return for treatment before the effects of Botox are completely reversed in order to maintain brow shape and prevent further wrinkling.

Betty Kim, MD
Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon

Botox begins like a light switch, ends like a dimmer switch

Botox commonly takes effect within 5-7 days after treatment. It is similar to a light switch turning off the electricity to the lights. Then over the course of 3-4 months, the Botox effect is like a dimmer switch, slowly returning function to the forehead. Often people note the return of movement long before all the Botox has worn off, and patients often return to maintain the full effect during that time. At 4-6 months most of the effect is gone.Botox is dose dependent as well, that is, the... more

Edward Szachowicz, MD, PhD
Minneapolis Facial Plastic Surgeon

How does the effect of Botox wear off?

Botox works by binding to a receptor in the muscle to block nerve impulses. Once it is bound, the receptor stops working and nerve impulses to the muscle fail to cause the muscle to contract. This process does not reverse. What happens is that the body makes new receptors. Once enough new receptors are in place, the muscle will start contracting, first weakly, and then with greater strength until it reaches full strength. What this means is that the speed at... more

Joseph Campanelli, MD
Minneapolis Facial Plastic Surgeon

Full function returns around 4 months after Botox

Granted, some patients will have less duration of effectiveness than others while some will note that the botox will work longer than four months but this is rare and not much longer. When patients tell me there botox is still working between the eyebrows and its been six months and I ask them to scrunch their eyebrows together, I see full function. What happens is that many individuals are able to retrain their habits while having the effect of Botox and when it wears off they... more

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

Botox Brow Lift

In about 4 months, the Botox would probably need to be repeated to maintain optimal lifting of the brow. With that said, many people find that the more treatment series they have, the larger the interval needed between sessions -- with habitual use of Botox, it's possible that the brow lifting effect may last several months longer.

Deborah Sarnoff, MD
New York Dermatologic Surgeon

Botox longevity

Usually Botox will last about 3-4 months but by about 4 months, the muscle function is pretty close to normal.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

How long does Botox work

I've found that gradually, over 2-5 months (average is 3 months), you will notice a slow return of function. This depends on the location, the product used, and the dose. Eventually you will have full function of the muscles involved. (Over many treatment cycles, the results may last longer).

Michelle Spring, MD
Marina Del Rey Plastic Surgeon

Return of Muscle Strength after Botox

It typically takes between three to six months for the effects of Botox to wear off. This will vary dramatically between patients depending on their dose, the size of the muscles, and the individual sensitivity to the treatment. Since normal function returns gradually, you may be pleased to see that the function you are waiting to return may come back sooner than you think.

Mitchell Schwartz, MD
South Burlington Dermatologic Surgeon

dorsetstreetdermatology.com

Botox Longevity

There is some variation in how long the effects of Botox last in the corrugator muscles (brow area) and in other areas. Generally speaking the effects will last for 4-6 months. This, of course, assumes that an adequate dosage of Botox has been injected and that it has been injected with a proper technique. After several Botox injections (if they are done as soon as muscle action returns), the muscles sometimes tend to fatigue more and the effects of the Botox will last a... more

John Whitt, MD
Louisville Plastic Surgeon

Yes the muscle gradually returns to fully normal function.

The biochemical effect of BOTOX are gone by 4 months. However, there is a bit of muscle retraining so we fudge this time frame by saying 4 to 6 months. The process is gradual. Generally my patients find that one day they notice by looking in the mirror that their treatment has worn off. I do not find I need to send them reminder cards that the treatment has worn off.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Corrugator

lot of what you ask is dose and location related. Using the Allergn doses and location for glabellar lines, the time to recovery can vary fron 2-6 months. The return wikll be gradual but complete. I suggest you repeat before function competely returns

David A. Bray, Sr., MD
Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Botox

Botox can take anywhere from 3-6 months to wear off. You will get some initial return of function before full function.

Michael L. Schwartz, MD
West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

Length of Botox effect

It all depends on the dosage and spread of the original Botox treatment. If the treatment was adequate to treat the entire Corrugator, the treatment typically last 3-4 months with a linear reduction. With subsequent treatments, the effect should last longer. Good luck!