Botox works by blocking a signal that travels from your nerves to a specific muscle. This blockage will prevent the muscle from contracting, which can have a direct result on things like fine lines and wrinkles where the product is injected. By experiencing less pull on your skin, this can make you look younger while also preventing the formation of future wrinkles and lines. When considering a Botox procedure, you’ll want to consider the areas that you’re looking to treat. It’s common to wonder if you should start now or wait a few more years when signs of aging are more prevalent. You probably are wondering how long these results are going to last. This isn’t a permanent procedure, and you’ll likely need to go back for future injections if you’re interested in maintaining your new appearance.

What Determines Your Results?

There are a number of factors that can determine what your results look like and how long they’re going to last. In general, Botox injections should last about three to four months. Let’s take a look at what can affect your results.

Experience

When you’re having Botox injections performed, it’s imperative that you’re working with an experienced professional that knows what they’re doing. The Botox needs to be injected in specific spots for optimal results that will last a while. If it’s placed in the wrong areas, you can end up with partial facial paralysis or numbness in your face. Improper application could also result in very short-term results that need to be re-applied too frequently.

Quantity of Product

The amount of Botox that is injected will be determined by the location where it’s being applied. The amount may also be determined by your current appearance. If you’re younger, you usually require a lot less product that someone who is above the age of 50. The more product that is used, the longer your results may stick around. Some of the commonly treated areas of the face and the amount of Botox that is used include:

Area around the mouth: 3 to 6 units

  • Chin: 2 to 6 units
  • Eyebrows: 2 to 5 units
  • Forehead: Anywhere from 10 to 30 units, depending on the size of the area treated

The Area Treated

There are a number of areas that you can treat with the use of Botox. These areas include forehead lines, lines across the bridge of the nose, frown lines, crow’s feet, brows, neck and the area in between your eyebrows. When you’re treating an area of the face that shows emotion (like the areas around your mouth when you smile), a small amount of product is used as much as possible so you can still smile and look natural. When this is the case, you may be looking at results that are closer to the four-month mark rather than the full six months. Other areas can accept more product, which lengthens the time frame for your results.

Your Lifestyle

Living a healthy lifestyle can absolutely impact your Botox results and how long they last. A healthy lifestyle is considered to be one that follows a healthy diet, regular exercise, no smoking, limited alcohol use (if any) and a good sleep schedule. Stress maintenance is also important. Something to keep in mind is, the more that you use Botox, the less effective it may become if your body start to experience an immunity to the neurotoxin that’s used. If your lifestyle includes Botox for many months or years, you may need to change up the product that’s being used in order to achieve the same results.

When Should You Start?

Botox injections are used to minimize different signs of aging like wrinkles and lines. Some of these issues can appear as early as your 20s, depending on factors like genetics and lifestyle. If you’re noticing signs of aging in your 20s, start Botox early on can help prevent very deep creases and lines that can be very difficult to treat later on in life. Prevention is always your best option when it comes to skin care and aging.

The FDA has approved the use of Botox for cosmetic purposes after the age of 18. This product generally isn’t needed that early on in life, but it’s safe. It has been used for medical purposes at this age however, as a method of preventing migraines or to treat excessive sweating under the arms.

If you’re older and have never used Botox, it’s not too late to start. Just keep in mind, you may need more neurotoxin injected in order to see results, or your results may not last beyond about four months at a time. If you’re not happy with the duration of your results, there are other products that you can inquire about. For example, Xeomin is a similar injectable product that is based off of the botulinum toxin. It can be used in people who have developed a Botox tolerance or would like their treatments to last longer.

If you’re ready to start receiving Botox treatments to improve your appearance and promote a more youthful glow, reach out to the experienced and knowledgeable staff at Vesper Gray Med Spa. We would be happy to schedule you for a consultation so you can learn more about the benefits of Botox. We can provide you with more information on the injections, how long they should last you and when you should get started once we conduct an initial evaluation. We look forward to helping you improve your self-esteem and putting your best foot forward!