How Long Can I Expect Botox To Last?

As the most popular aesthetic treatment in the United States and around the globe, Botox® has been the go-to antiaging solution for long-lasting wrinkle reduction and prevention since the FDA first approved it as a cosmetic treatment over two decades ago. 

Given its popularity, chances are you know one or two (or quite possibly a few) people whose “good genes” get a little antiaging help from regular Botox boosts.    

If you’re ready to try Botox for yourself, you may be wondering what to expect. Our team at Manhattan Dermatology is here to fill in the blanks, explaining how Botox works, how long it typically lasts, and how it can help you reach your antiaging goals. 

A short tutorial on Botox Cosmetic

Botox Cosmetic is a therapeutic aesthetic agent made with small amounts of a highly purified botulinum toxin protein (type A) that’s been refined, diluted, and sterilized from the natural bacterium Clostridium botulinum.   

When we skillfully inject this neurotoxin into the dermal tissues over specific points of your face, it blocks the local nerve signals that cause your underlying facial muscles to contract. 

As Botox takes effect and your muscles start to relax, the skin that lies over them becomes noticeably smoother and less wrinkled. 

A customizable antiaging solution 

Botox is FDA-approved to treat dynamic wrinkles, or the deeper lines, wrinkles, and furrows that are the result of everyday facial expressions and repeated muscle patterns. Every year, over 4 million Americans use it to diminish the appearance of:

• Angry 11s, or the deep vertical furrows between your eyebrows 
• Worry lines, or the horizontal creases that mark your forehead
• Crow’s feet, or the web of laugh lines at the corners of your eyes 

Our Botox treatment protocol uses customized injections (dosage and placement) to deliver near-immediate results. In the hands of our skilled injectors, no one can tell you’ve had Botox. Your skin will appear softer, smoother, and naturally fresh, but your forehead and brow area won’t look unrealistically firm or frozen. 

In addition to providing standard wrinkle-reduction treatments, we use Botox to offer:

Wrinkle prevention

Younger adults who are getting closer to middle age can opt to use periodic Botox injections as a form of wrinkle prevention, stopping deep facial lines and creases before they emerge. 

“Brotox” for men

Botox isn’t just for women — plenty of men take advantage of this top antiaging treatment. 

Subtler “baby Botox”

Baby Botox uses a smaller amount of Botox to achieve a gentler, subtler outcome. It’s an ideal solution for people who simply want to soften the appearance of lines and wrinkles, rather than erase them.

All about your first Botox session

Botox treatments are safe, easy, quick, and painless. Completed in about 15 minutes, a typical treatment session includes three tiny injections to treat eye-area wrinkles, and five injections to treat forehead lines. 

Before getting Botox

Botox requires very little preparation. When you make your appointment, let us know about any medications you take. To avoid potential interactions, we may ask you to stop taking certain drugs (e.g., blood thinners, muscle relaxants, sleeping aids) for up to a week before your session.

During the procedure

The treatment itself is quick, minimally invasive, and painless. Most people report no discomfort during their 15-minute session, but we can apply a topical numbing cream prior to treatment if you’re worried about receiving injections.

After your treatment

Botox comes with no post-procedural downtime. You may resume normal activities right away. To keep the medicine from spreading beyond the treatment area, don’t lie down for four hours after your session, and don’t rub or massage the treatment area for 24 hours. 

Possible side effects, like redness and swelling at the injection site, tend to be mild and brief, resolving within a day or two. 

Natural antiaging results that last 

You can expect your Botox injections to take full effect in 24-48 hours, with results that last an average of three to six months. Most people see noticeable skin-smoothing results for a full three to four months before needing a touch-up treatment.  

Periodic Botox follow-up sessions can help you maintain smooth, youthful-looking skin for much longer. Why? Getting Botox consistently can train the targeted muscles to stay more relaxed, leading to longer-lasting antiaging results over time. 

Are you ready to find out what Botox can do for you? Our Manhattan Dermatology team can help. Call your nearest New York City office in Manhattan’s Murray Hill or Midtown East neighborhood today.