Because Botox is a form of a toxin produced by a bacteria, the body can sometimes develop an immune response to the injections. This will cause the body to break down the Botox injections quickly so that they are no longer effective.
Because you'll be moving those specific muscles less when they are under the effects of BOTOX, they may weaken to a very small degree over a long span of time. Many people actually see this side effect as a bonus: People who keep up with routine BOTOX appointments find their results last longer with regular use.
BOTOX resistance is a situation in which a patient either has built up antibodies against the botulinum toxin, or happens to metabolize the BOTOX drug exceptionally quickly. As a result, for these patients BOTOX injections provide underwhelming results, a very short-lived effect, or no effect at all.
According to a representative from Allergan, the company that makes Botox, "Occasionally some patients may develop an immune response to BOTOX/BOTOX Cosmetic that may reduce the effectiveness of treatment." They note that the protein complex in their product may stimulate neutralizing antibodies in some patients.
The most common reason that Botox does not work is that not enough was given. Botox is not a one size fits all treatment and the same dosage does not work for everyone. Some individuals may need additional Botox to reach an effective level of muscle weakness. The Botox may also be old, overdiluted, or fake.
There is no definite age when you should start BOTOX®—it's more about the state of your skin, and everyone's timeline is different. For wrinkle treatments, it's best to start when you notice forehead lines, frown lines, or crow's feet even when your expression is neutral.
You can receive the treatment as often as once every three months, however, in your twenties, you likely do not need the treatment with that frequency. For most patients, small doses every six to eight months will suffice for the prevention of deep wrinkles in your twenties.
“When an area of the face is frozen with absolutely no wrinkles, you can assume the person has had a date with a needle.” "When you look at a photo and see an area of the face that is extremely smooth and shiny," Rusher says, "that can be an indicator that the person may have had Botox."
Botox has the advantage of being around longer, making it a trusted brand. This means that most patients interested in injectables would opt for Botox. However, Xeomin is just as effective at reducing wrinkles in areas like eyebrows, the forehead, and around the eyes.
The results from Botox last anywhere between 2-6 months; the average result lasts about 3-4 months. Why does Botox eventually stop working? Your body makes new neurotransmitters all the time, so the “blocking” effect of Botox gradually wears off as these chemicals start circulating in your body again.
If you want to prevent the earliest fine lines from becoming full-blown wrinkles, preventative Botox can be the solution. Botox is approved for patients who are 18 years and older and most experts agree that patients in their mid to late 20s and early 30s are at a good age for preventative Botox treatment.
Compared to Botox, dermal fillers are just as effective. More importantly, the results last longer. However, the duration of the effects of dermal fillers still varies mostly on the type of filler. Some may last as long as Botox, while other types of fillers can last for more than a year.
Botox comes in dosages between 50 and 100 units per vial. Some practitioners say they inject an average of 10 to 30 units into the forehead. Allergan, the manufacturer of Botox Cosmetic, suggests a dosage of 4 units each in five sites on the forehead, totaling 20 units.
Dysport® is BOTOX®'s most well-known competitor. Unlike BOTOX®, which takes five to seven days to act, Dysport® can create visible results in as little as two days. The active ingredient in Dysport® also contains smaller molecules, so you may need less product if you choose Dysport®.
You may think that the cost of Botox is not worth it. However, Botox has both short-term and long-term benefits. Botox doesn't only reduce wrinkles and stop ageing but also offer medical benefits. On a short-term basis, Botox can immediately improve the appearance of your lines.
When someone is receiving too much treatment with anti-wrinkle injections, the skin can become extremely smooth and the light bounces off in a uniform way. So, the skin appears shiny, which is why it can look 'frozen'.
“Pillow face” is a direct play on the puffy, unattractive result of using too much facial filler or transferred fat. Another term often used to describe this overfilled look is “chipmunky.”
Typically, the effects of Botox last for up to three to four months. Therefore, the recommended treatment is once every three to four months. Nonetheless, if your facial muscles begin to train themselves to contract less, the period of time for each treatment may be extended longer than three or four months.
"If you do too much Botox on your forehead for many, many years, the muscles will get weaker and flatter," cautions Wexler, adding that the skin can also appear thinner and looser. Moreover, as your muscles become weaker, they can start to recruit surrounding muscles when you make facial expressions.
Dysport is much more diluted and spreads quickly compared to Botox. This makes it great for larger surface areas like the forehead. Botox is much more potent, making it amazing for small areas and pesky wrinkles like Crow's feet.
Overall majority of patients are very satisfied with the result and outcome of having Botox treatment in their 40s. An added benefit is that the effect of Botox may actually help slow down the need for surgical procedures.
Patients in their 60s can enhance their appearance with help from an aesthetic expert like Dr. Mizuguchi. With today's cosmetic technology, patients of all ages can have facial rejuvenation with injectables. The primary aim for patients over 60 is to soften lines while maintaining natural-looking results.
After the age of 35, it may be too late to benefit from the preventive capacity of Botox®, especially if you have a very expressive face or fair skin, are genetically predisposed, or have unhealthy lifestyle habits such as using tan beds, overexposing yourself in the sun, or smoking.
In general, most people should have Botox injections once every four months is usually an ideal frequency for this treatment. But because everybody has a different body, you may need your injections more or less frequently.