How Often Should I Get Botox Treatments?

Botox has earned its reputation as one of the best cosmetic treatments for achieving a more youthful and attractive appearance. It is safe and non-invasive, without the need for downtime or recovery after the procedure. If you are considering Botox for reducing lines, wrinkles or other aesthetic imperfections, you may wonder how often you will need to receive treatments. Here is what you need to know about Botox injections and how you can maintain your results with routine treatments.

Botox: Neuromodulator Extraordinaire

Botox is categorized as a neuromodulator, which means it changes the way nerves communicate. Nerves send signals from the brain to control muscles – if you want to affect muscle movement, blocking this communication can paralyze or relax the targeted muscle. Botox is a neurotoxin that is created by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Neuromodulators work by blocking receptors and signals between the neurons, which is what Botox does when it is injected into a muscle.

Botox’s power is in its effect on muscles. With a tiny dose, it can “freeze” the movement of a muscle that creates an undesirable facial line, wrinkle or other effects. For example, when you scrunch your eyebrows together, the glabellar muscles contract, and the skin is indented into vertical lines. Over time, these lines become etched in the skin, the “11s” or frown lines that can make you look angry or older. Botox can be injected into the glabellar muscles to relax them, smoothing the frown lines.

Cosmetic Uses for Botox Injections

Botox is a neuromodulator that is used for many medical and cosmetic applications. It was first FDA-approved to control eye spasms and cross-eye conditions in the late 1980s, but it now is used for many different uses. Medical treatments include relief from migraines, hyperhidrosis, cerebral palsy spasms, cervical dystonia and more. Cosmetic treatments also vary greatly and may include:

–          Reduction of lines and wrinkles. Botox can smooth many types of dynamic lines or wrinkles that are caused by muscle movement. This includes frown and worry lines on the brow/forehead, crow’s feet around the eyes, bunny lines on the nose, and horizontal neck lines.

–          Lifting facial features. Botox can relax muscles that pull down certain facial features. This can include lifting the eyebrows (brow lift), nasal tip (correcting a droopy nasal tip) and upper lip (gummy smile treatment).

–          Facial slimming. Botox can relax the large jaw (masseter( muscles to shrink them in size. This can create a slimmer face and jaw, which can create a more feminine or heart-shaped appearance.

–          Smoothing neck bands. The vertical neck bands or cords can become pronounced with age. Botox can relax these muscles to create a smoother and more youthful neck appearance.

–          Other uses. More and more cosmetic uses for Botox are being discovered. The Botox lip flip can increase the volume of the upper lip and injections into the chin and jawline can help reduce dimples or the appearance of jowls.

Botox injections are often used in multiple areas to create the desired effects. But how often do you need these injections to maintain your appearance? It depends on what you want to achieve with your treatments.

Frequency of Botox Treatments

Botox is made from a neurotoxin which is a type of protein. This means that it can be broken down into amino acids over time. When Botox is injected into a muscle, it takes time to begin seeing the effects. Most Botox treatments begin to work in about 2-3 days, but some take up to a week to begin relaxing the muscle movement.

There are many factors that can impact how long the Botox effects last. The goal with most treatments is to use as little Botox as possible to create the desired result. Too much may cause undesirable results if the facial muscles cannot move as needed. A low dose of Botox usually can last about four months in most patients, but it may last less or more depending on where it is injected and on the patient.

Some people have longer-lasting effects from Botox, up to six months in some cases. This is due to their particular metabolism – their body may break down Botox slower than other people. For others, the effects may begin to dissipate in just 2-3 months. Some people may have better effects by using another neuromodulator like Dysport if their Botox results wear off too fast.

For most applications, Botox treatments are placed about 3-4 months apart. For controlling lines and wrinkles, most people in their 40s or beyond will need Botox treatment about three times a year. However, this frequency is not needed for everyone. Botox used by younger individuals for wrinkle prevention may only need two micro doses a year. Masseter reduction or facial feminization treatments may not need ongoing injections once the results are achieved.

How Can I Make My Botox Treatments Last Longer?

Botox is an investment in your appearance, and everyone would like to increase the length of the effects. There are some factors that can make Botox break down faster, which means more frequent treatments. To make the most of your Botox injections, always seek treatment from a medical professional like our expert injectors at Arcadia Wellness Center. You should also follow their advice to maintain your results which may include:

–          Do not rub the injected area for 48 hours after treatment. This can move and spread the liquid which can impact other areas and reduce the effectiveness of the treatment.

–          Reduce sun exposure. Sun exposure to the skin can result in faster absorption of Botox proteins.

–          Strenuous activities. People who are extremely active may notice that their Botox treatments do not last as long as they may break down the substance quicker as the muscles work harder.

–          Hydrate and protect your skin. Taking good care of your skin and body with proper moisturizing and hydration can help Botox last longer. Dry skin can lead to shortened Botox effects.

If you notice your Botox treatments are not lasting as long, talk to your injector about options for achieving longer-lasting results. Sometimes changing neuromodulators or dosage can make a difference, as well as following the previous suggestions to accomplish longer results.

Phoenix, AZ Botox Treatments

To get the best outcomes from your Botox treatments, you need an experienced injector to perform your procedure. At Arcadia Wellness Center, we have highly skilled injectors that understand the best techniques to create natural, lasting results for our patients. We use the smallest dosage needed to achieve the desired effects – each patient is different when it comes to the number of units needed for their treatment. Your appointments can be completed in about 15 minutes at our clinic in Phoenix and we offer a wide selection of other cosmetic treatments that can be used in tandem with Botox.

If you want to find out if Botox is right for you, come see our aesthetic team at Arcadia Wellness Center. We offer safe and effective Botox treatments that can help you look amazing at any age. To schedule your Botox consultation or treatment, you can contact us online or call us at our facility in the Phoenix, AZ area.