Does Botox start to loosen slightly after a few weeks?

Hello and thank you for your question.  Yes, for some, Botox does tend to feel stronger/tighter at around the 7 day mark but then lets up a bit after a few weeks.  In general, Botox lasts about 3 months with results gradually fading over the last few weeks.  Best of luck.

Hi Lauren. It's not abundantly clear what it means for Botox to "loosen" after injection.  Once Botox takes full effect, the feeling associated with that full effect tends to remain very consistent for weeks afterward.  When the Botox starts to wear off (8-16 weeks), normally patients will describe a loosening feeling because the muscles start to wake up. 

The effects of Botox depends on the amount injected as well as the location. It’s full effect starts in 10 to 14 days and  should last at least three to four months 

Thank you for your question. It is common for Botox patients to feel like the treatment area is “tight” for the first week or so, but after two weeks, this feeling usually subsides. So to answer your question, yes, it feels like it loosens up after two weeks once the Botox has settled into the muscle and any swelling has subsided. Good luck!

Yes, full results of botulinum are at about 2wks because of the full mechanism of action of Botox relaxation on the muscle, and swelling from injection resolving.

Botox is in full effect at two weeks from injection date and then the effects gradually fade over a 3-4 month period.  Some patients who claim to feel the "tightness" at the beginning state it starts to resolve after a few weeks.

Thank you for your question Lauren92390. I understand your concern. Botox is a purified protein used to address wrinkles associated with facial expression. When injected into the skin Botox will relax the muscles and smoothen out the overlying wrinkles. The most common areas of treatment are in the upper face. These include the horizontal lines seen on the upper forehead when one raises the brows, the vertical lines seen between the brows when one frowns (frown lines), and the crow's feet seen around the eyes when one smiles.It is difficult to make an assessment without a formal exam in the office where I can view the skin in multiple angles and observe wrinkles formed with facial expression. However, I hope the information provided here is useful.The pivotal studies demonstrated that the peak results are seen 14 days after the treatment and most people enjoy their results for 3-4 months. At that point, a maintenance treatment is recommended. While some people start to see results as early as the next day, it can take two weeks for full results so patience is important. We have our patients return two weeks after their treatment to assess their results via photographs. At that time additional units may be added if necessary.It is unclear what is meant by "loosen" and "flexible." As mentioned above the full results are seen at the two week point, which is the best time to assess the results.With any injection, there are risks such as pain, bleeding, bruising, redness, swelling, tenderness, and infection. We take special precautions to minimize these risks such as using a painless technique. We also treat bruises with a laser as early as the next day. Bruises usually resolve within two weeks if untreated. After a laser treatment bruises usually resolve in 1-3 days, but may still take two weeks for full resolution. In addition to these risks, with Botox there is also a risk that the product spreads or diffuses to nearby structures. Spread to nearby muscles can lead to side effects such as the temporary appearance of droopy eyelids or a temporary asymmetric smile.

After a Botox treatment, I recommend that my patients avoid heat exposure, alcohol consumption, and strenuous exercise for 24 hours and not lie down flat for four hours. This is because all of these activities may possibly lead to the movement of the product and consequent side effects such as droopy eyelids. Although there have been no definitive studies shown that these actually occur and some physicians do not provide such aftercare instructions, in the absence of data I err on the side of caution and recommend that my patients avoid such activities.

Please consult with a doctor for specific recommendations. Good luck!

Yes, full results of botulinum are at about 2wks because of the full mechanism of action of Botox relaxation on the muscle, and swelling from injection resolving.Best. Dr Brecht Seattle, Wa