I Think my Botox Injections Didn't Work, Is This Possible?

asked 6 months ago by Kato Potato
Latest answer by Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS
Question viewed 166 times
Tags: no results, not working

On Friday, I got 38 units injected into my forehead, crows feet, and area between my eyebrows. It's been over 72 hours and I see no effects. I've had Botox 2 times before. The 1st time I got 45 units and the 2nd time I got 30 units... which I felt was more natural. This time I went to a different doctor (I moved) and she gave me 40 units. I called her and she said to come in on Friday and she'll reinject me, as much as needed. But I'm scared! Why didn't it work?? Can I get 80 units and be OK??

6 answers to I Think my Botox Injections Didn't Work, Is This Possible?

Botox didn't seem to work

Botox is an extremely common treatment in the United States with roughly 5,300,000 procedures performed in 2010 according to the ASPS. Every injector probably administers the medication a little differently. For moderate to severe frown lines, I typically start with 20 units total and make five separate injections each with 4 units. I prefer to use 16 units for forehead lines, and another 16 units for the crow's feet. It usually takes a day for the medication to start... more

Kelly Gallego, MD
Sioux City Plastic Surgeon

www.drgallego.com

Botox Injections

Please wait at least two weeks before assessing whether or not your Botox treatment has worked. 38 units to cover the three areas you described is not a lot of material. It is possible that you will need more, but please wait the two weeks before making that decision.

Sheri G. Feldman, MD
Beverly Hills Dermatologist

Can Botox "not work?"

I would not recommend getting more Botox until you have waited a full 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, return to your doctor for re-evaluation. Very occasionally, we have people complain that it "didn't work"--sometimes we notice it was from the same lot number. Usually when I see patients who complain that it "didn't work," it has worked; either they just need a touch-up, or they weren't looking at the right area on their face. It is safe to get 80 units,... more

Theda C. Kontis, MD
Baltimore Facial Plastic Surgeon

facialplasticsurgerymd.com

Botox Injections Didn't Work

It will take another week to ten days to determine the maximum benefit of the treatment. The efficacy of botox can be impacted by the technique, storage, and dilution of the product. Therefore, 40 units in experienced and expert hands will go further than 40 units in inexperienced hands. If you wait for the two weeks, it would be safe to get additional units when you return.

Kris M. Reddy, MD, FACS
West Palm Beach Plastic Surgeon

www.drkrisreddy.com

Wait more before having Botox reinjected

Botox can take up to two weeks, and even more to have the peak onset of effectiveness. If you get more Botox injected before the peak effect occurs, then you may have more of a relaxation effect than you wish. A reasonable wait is between one and two weeks, and unless a patient is very asymmetric, and needs an urgent readjustment, I prefer to have patients wait two weeks. Of course some patients need more units than others. Other variables are if the Botox was diluted a while ago... more

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

Botox did not seem to work

Botox can take 2 to 10 days to work. I would not get any more injections without waiting 10 to 14 days. I usually use 20 units in the frown crease, 20 units for the forehead and 24 units for the crows feet.. So you definitely did not get a lot of units if you had all 3 areas injected. Another thing to ask is do they save their Botox? If so ...how old was the bottle? Botox is it's most potent if mixed the day you receive the injetions.

Esta Kronberg, MD
Houston Dermatologic Surgeon

www.estakronbergmd.com

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