Muscle Recruitment from Botox?

Question

Can you advise if Muscle Recruitment will diminish before the Botox wears off or will it stay in the duration period UNTIL the Botox wears off? I rather opt not to get re-injected within the 2-week check-up period upon my initial injection, but I'd still like to know, for future references, what my options are. Thank you so much, Doctors, for all your help.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

This means that so long as there is BOTOX effect (4-6 months depending on dose) there will be muscle recruitment activity in response to your particular treatment.  As the effect of the treatment diminishes, the effect of secondary muscle recruitment will also diminish and eventually disappear along with the primary BOTOX effect.

Ron Shelton, MD · Answer

When one set of muscles become relaxed after Botox injections, it can happen that adjacent muscles become more active to compensate for the inactivity of the treated muscles. Sometimes this is seen near the lower eyelid after Crows feet are treated in the outer eyelid area. It also is seen when the middle lower forehead between the eyebrows (glabellar region) is treated and the mid lower forehead contracts and pulls up more causing more of a peaked eyebrow.  Usually this compensation goes away in a few weeks, much sooner than the full effect of the treated muscles.

Michael R. Menachof, MD · Answer

I assume what you mean by muscle recruitment is that your result is not exactly what you had hoped for. While the Botox did soften the lines it was supposed to, you now have other lines, elevations, or droopiness in the surrounding area that you didn't anticipate. While no one wants to have to get re-injected in the first 2 weeks, you have to remember why you had the injections in the first place. You didn't get Botox just because you wanted a line or wrinkle to disappear, you had it done because you wanted to look better. If you have had some "recruitment" then my guess is that the overall appearance is not "better". A little bit more Botox should solve this problem. You have already invested time, money, and energy into your injection in order to look better. Why avoid a few more units of Botox when you could be happy with your results now, not 3 months from now. Go back to your injector. Not only will they be able to fix the problem, but they will learn from it as well. Next time, they will be better able to get what you want with a single visit.

Curt Samlaska, MD · Answer

Botox for treatment of wrinkles works by paralyzing the muscle groups that cause the wrinkling to occur. Treatment is selective. In other words, we target specific muscles, such as the vertical frown lines (glabellar region). Paralysis of a set of muscles might lead to recruitment of other muscle groups in an attempt to reproduce the conditioned activity treated by the botox injections — resulting in more prominent muscle activity and resulting rhytides (facial lines or wrinkles) in adjacent regions. This most frequently is observe in the adjacent forehead regions on either side of the "11s," and is often associated with the Corrugator supercilii muscle. A few units of Botox in this muscle often solves the problem.

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

I do not understand your question exactly?  Soemtimes when using Botox, other local muscles may be recruited in your attempt to elevate or move the muscles treated.

Muscle Recruitment from Botox?

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Answer: Botox recruitment of the forehead, glabellar regions

Answer: Botox recruitment of the forehead, glabellar regions

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Answer: Botox question

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Muscle Recruitment from Botox?

Answers (9)

Answer: Botox recruitment of the forehead, glabellar regions

Answer: Botox recruitment of the forehead, glabellar regions

Answer: Botox question

Answer: Botox question

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Botox

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.