During this column, I’ll use the term “Botox” because it’s a well-known brand, but there are actually two very similar products out there besides Allergan’s Botox. Dysport® and Xeomin® are both on the market, and many aesthetic physicians use all three interchangeably.
Botox, is a purified toxin that paralyzes the muscles that repeatedly contract and cause wrinkles. Botox eliminates your ability to contract the treated muscles which pulls on the skin over it. Without that constant pull, wrinkles that are already present—which are really “repetitive use injuries” resulting in dermal cracking—can heal. And if you don’t have wrinkles already, paralyzing the muscles means that they cannot pull on the skin so the dermis never cracks and the wrinkles never form. Therefore, starting treatment before wrinkles form can limit their development and reduce the treatments needed later.
Most people don’t realize that the cosmetic version of Botox only has FDA approval for treating the lines between the eyebrows. But for over a decade, the horizontal lines of the forehead, as well as crow’s feet, have been successfully treated. It’s no wonder that millions of people in the United States get Botox every year to fight wrinkles as it is affordable and effective.
Although it’s a well-known and fairly simple treatment, there are some things about Botox you may not know. While Botox injections are relatively simple, the treatment still needs to be done by a trained and experienced medical professional. If the injections are too deep, too low, or in the wrong spot, you could have negative side effects, like a droopy eyelid.
The process of getting Botox is quick and simple. The practitioner will make a few injections in the area being treated. Many patients report minimal pain, and there may be some initial mild redness, swelling, or bruising. When done correctly, in injection amount and technique, Botox will give you a more youthful look. Typically, the results take a few days before they start to show and full effects are not seen for up to two weeks.
In some cases the Botox can spread too far and impact muscles it wasn’t intended to. That can cause effects like a droopy eyelid. If you have a complication from Botox or aren’t happy with your results, the only thing you can do is wait it out. It will wear out, it just takes time.
How long Botox lasts varies widely by individual. It also depends on the areas treated, and how many units were injected. On average, Botox remains effective for about four months, but some patients swear that it wears off after two to three months, and others state that it is effective for five to six months. Some of this is due to continued and consistent Botox treatments, which result in an increase in longevity of the Botox. That’s because repeated use can cause a gradual relaxing of the muscles; the less active they are, the less they work to create wrinkles.
