Botox takes time to work because it must reach the cellular level of the muscle in order to block the neurotransmitters in the nerve, eventually causing the paralyzation of the muscle. There are a couple of reasons that this timing varies from patient to patient: Area of treatment.
In general, you can see the effects of Botox as early as 3 to 4 days after an injection. Dr. Oscar Trujillo, a facial plastic surgeon at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, says most patients will see results within 10 to 14 days but should wait the full 14 days to see the maximum results.
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.
The muscle has to absorb the neurotoxin and the receptors must be triggered. This can take up to 10 days for full effects. This is why it takes Botox awhile to work. Muscles simply don't respond immediately to anything!
"Botox binds to receptors on nerve cells to relax muscles, and it is possible that exercise speeds this binding process," Alam explained. "For patients who need quick results, the exercise may be worth the effort.
Answer: Botox migration
The botox can migrate either at the time of injection or for a little while afterwards. The effect may only come on after days to 2 weeks later as the botox starts to work. The greater the volume injected the greater the risk of migration.
The three most common reasons Botox does not work are: too few units applied, the dosage was not increased in follow up treatments, and Botox can treat only muscular movement lines not resting lines. The most common cause of ineffective Botox results is that you did not get enough.
You haven't waited long enough for BOTOX to take full effect
In other words, you may need to be patient. If it has been more than 2 weeks and you are still not seeing the results you expect, consult with your provider.
How Soon Will I See Results After Botox? You should begin to see Botox treatments starting to work with a couple days. The effects will become stronger over the ensuing 7 to 10 days. The complete effect is generally seen two weeks after the injection.
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.
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.
What does Botox feel like when it starts to work? Immediately following your Botox injections, you may feel slight residual stinging from the injection. You may also notice a small bump at the injection site, a bit like a mosquito bite. No worries, these bumps will fade quickly.
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'.
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.
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.
"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.
It can take up to one week for the Botox to show full effect. I would recommend giving it some time. Following up with your provider would be the next best step if you still do not see a result after a week.
If you try Botox and it doesn't seem to work for you, talk to your healthcare provider. They may be willing to inject you again for free if you didn't get results the first time. If it happens again and you are still determined to have a line-free forehead, try seeing a different healthcare provider.
Botox® injections work well as a standalone treatment for mild to moderate frown lines. However, if the 11s are deep, Botox® alone may not be enough to reduce the appearance of forehead wrinkles. For the best results with deeper 11s, dermal fillers can be used along with Botox® treatment.
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.
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.
You will not see a change straight away. It takes about 2 or 3 days to start working, and 2 to 3 weeks to see the full effect.