“Botox is an FDA-approved, non-surgical treatment to smooth wrinkles using a toxin that prevents muscles from moving for a limited time and addresses certain medical conditions, such as neck spasms, sweating, overactive bladder, lazy eye, and other conditions!”
Botox Overview
Botox is a brand name of botulinum toxin. This injectable medication helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines by blocking specific chemical signals from nerves to the muscles that cause muscles to contract. The shots of Botox are specifically used to smooth wrinkles and fine lines. Still, it also has some medical benefits, treating migraine concerns, reducing neck spasms, decreasing excess sweating (hyperhidrosis), correcting lazy eye and overactive bladder, and other conditions.
Many of us may have unclear knowledge about the botulinum toxin, Botox meaning, as the medicine in Botox treatment is made from the same toxin that causes a type of food poisoning called botulism. However, it is essential to note that only the purified form of botulinum toxin is used by licensed, certified practitioners who meet medical control standards and have both cosmetic and medical applications. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Botox injections for cosmetic and medical purposes. It is safe if used correctly and must be administered by a board-certified cosmetic surgeon.
How Long Does Botox Take to Work?
Botox usually starts showing noticeable results within 24-48 hours post-injection. The full results with significant improvement may take 10-14 days. Once the Botox gets completely set, fully binds to the nerve, and starts blocking muscle contraction, the prominence of wrinkles and fine lines is reduced. As far as the effects are concerned, the results of Botox may last for 3-6 months but can vary from patient to patient based on individual factors. Since botox naturally wears off over time, patients must attend the revision session to
maintain the effect as instructed by the board-certified plastic surgeon.
What factors can contribute to the longevity of Botox results?
Even though the effect of botox can last for 3-4 months, some patients may experience their botox lasting for more or less time than this. The longevity of botox results is based on the patient’s metabolic response and other factors that may influence the treatment to a certain extent. Moreover, the treatment area and the amount of botox injected can also affect the longevity of botox results.
Some factors that may influence the effectiveness of Botox include:
- Age
- Skin elasticity
- Metabolism rate
- Wrinkles depth
- Activity level
- Facial expressions
4 Tips to Make Botox Last Longer
#1. Avoid sun exposure
Always use SPF 30+ broad-spectrum sunscreen while stepping out to protect your skin from harmful ultraviolet radiation. Unprotected sun exposure can degrade your skin quality and reduce the effectiveness of Botox treatment, potentially leading you to need more frequent sessions than usual.
#2. Do not smoke
Avoid smoking cigarettes and all those products containing nicotine, such as vapes, as it may break down the collagen and damage the skin cells. Smoking habits can reduce the longevity of botox results and increase the need for more botox to meet the desired results. Moreover, fine lines around the mouth and eyes caused by nicotine are called smokers’ lines that Botox cannot fix.
#3. Avoid Rubbing Your Face
It is highly instructed to protect your treatment areas from unwanted rubbing, pulling, or tugging, at least for 7-10 days to help increase the longevity of botox results. Having unwanted pressure on the treatment areas, such as rubbing or exfoliation, can increase botox metabolism and decrease the longevity of results. It is also advisable not to resume facials or other energy-based treatments such as Morpheus8 for 1-week post-botox treatment, as these rituals may increase botox breakdown in the early days of treatment.
#4. Eat nutritious diet
It is good to take zinc supplements to make Botox last longer. It is better to avoid junk and processed food and instead incorporate food rich in antioxidants, fruits like blueberries, spinach, kale, and beets, nuts, green vegetables, and protein-rich foods like eggs, fish, lean meats, cottage cheese, yogurt, tofu, and healthy fat, such as Omega-3 fatty acids help prolong your botox effect.
Looking for Botox in Bangalore?
Please get in touch with Dr Karishma Aesthetics, Indiranagar, Bangalore, for more information. Dr. Karishma Kagodu can discuss other ways to address the more intense signs of aging based on your problem status. She specializes in surgical and non-surgical procedures, offering advanced cosmetic treatments such as brow lifts and facelifts for transformative rejuvenation.
