How long does it take for BOTOX to work? The results of BOTOX typically begin to appear within a few days after the injection. However, the full results may not be visible for about 1 – 2 weeks, so it is important to wait an adequate amount of time before seeking a touch-up treatment.
The first “true” results will be noticeable within 24 to 48 hours – when you'll see a softening of wrinkles. Why does Botox need a couple days to start working? Botox freezes your muscles by stopping the release of acetylcholine. It takes awhile for your body to “use up” the acetylcholine that's already circulating.
The reason for this delay is due to the time it takes for the body to start reacting to the Botox after it's been injected. Because of this, we like to have our patients come back after two weeks to check on their progress.
Botox Touch-Up After Two Weeks
Patients who undergo Botox injections should expect to see the full treatment results after 14 days. However, if patients notice minimal changes or no changes in their facial appearance within two weeks, a Botox touch-up can be performed.
Botox injections do not work instantly, but you can expect to see positive results quickly from your treatment. Most patients observe significant improvements in the appearance of their skin after just 3–4 days. Patients can expect to see the full effect around 14 days after their botox injection.
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.
You may start to see results in as little as 24 hours, although the average time is three days. However, some patients may not see results for as long as five days. The maximum results of Botox can be seen within two weeks. One Botox injection can last up to four months.
Simple facial exercises shortly after injection get quicker results by one day. Summary: For people who can't wait the three or four days for the wrinkle smoothing effects of botulinum toxin (Botox) injections to kick in, a new study shows facial exercise after the injections speeds the change in appearance by one day.
It's highly recommended that you move your face around a lot after getting Botox. This includes smiling, frowning, and raising your eyebrows. It's similar to facial exercises, minus the touching. Facial movement may look — and feel — silly, but it actually helps the Botox work better.
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'.
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.
Drink Coffee
You should also avoid coffee before Botox. This is because coffee contains caffeine, which may trigger your blood pressure and increase the likelihood of bruising during the procedure. For this reason, you should avoid coffee and other beverages containing caffeine at least 24 hours before the treatment.
The only person you never need to tip is a doctor, even for aesthetic treatments like Botox (another reason to only get injections from a dermatologist or plastic surgeon). At the end of the day, all of these stylists, aestheticians, and technicians live off their tips, so be sure to help them after they've helped you.
Avoid heat exposure for 24 to 48 hours, which includes hot showers, tanning beds, hot tubs, and saunas. While alcohol consumption after Botox is not usually a risk, it is recommended you not drink alcohol for 24 hours as a precautionary measure. Alcohol is a blood-thinner, so it could potentially exacerbate bruising.
Botox starts to work immediately, but it does not reveal its results immediately. You can generally expect to start seeing the results of your treatment 48 to 96 hours after the medication is administered.
It takes approximately 5 – 7 days for patients to notice BOTOX injection results. Treatment results can last up to 3 – 4 months, depending on the patient and adherence to recovery recommendations.
A successful Botox treatment in the forehead should still result in the patient having some ability to move their forehead. However, remember that to prolong the lifespan of your Botox, try your best to minimize movement in the forehead for the next few months.
"After receiving Botox, a patient may unconsciously attempt to re-create the facial expressions in the area where treatment has paralyzed their facial muscles, "said Dr. Becker. "What can happen is that other, nearby muscles compensate--this can have the effect of actually creating new wrinkles."
The appearance of vertical lines after Botox is due to its unique utilization and weaving. The corrugator muscle is responsible for creating the inter-brow number "11" creases. Once these muscles are crippled, the brain recruits the orbicularis oculi to produce the same expression.
You haven't waited long enough for BOTOX to take full effect
One of the benefits of BOTOX is that it works quickly—but not instantly. While many patients notice fewer wrinkles in as little as 48 hours, it is normal to take up to 10 days for full effects to realize. In other words, you may need to be patient.
Answer: Botox takes a while to work
Once the muscles stop contracting, the lines can take quite a while to disappear in some patients. If you continue to maintain the inability of the muscles to contract by having repeat Botox before the muscle wakes up ( around 3 to 4 months), the lines should continue to improve.
So what could be the reasons behind Botox not working on forehead wrinkles? Some of the most common ones involve not getting enough Botox units for your skin issue, Botox not being injected correctly, or it could also be that some wrinkles are at a certain depth and could only be corrected so much.
There is no upper age limit for people who want to have Botox. In fact, many women enjoy the refreshed look they can get from Botox and complementary treatments when they are in their 60s or older.