How To Make Your BOTOX Last Longer

With its capability to almost instantly transform your face and reduce deep lines and wrinkles, BOTOX is one of the most popular injectable products on the market today. Like many cosmetic treatments, the effects of BOTOX are temporary and require ongoing treatment – usually in four to six month intervals – to maintain the results. It is only natural, then, for patients to ask, “How can I make my BOTOX last longer?” The expert team at Body+Beauty Lab in Philadelphia, PA is committed to providing the highest level of patient care and helping you extend the life of your BOTOX between treatments as much as possible.

To understand how the results of BOTOX can be preserved between treatments, it is important to first know some of the science behind this popular injectable.

What Is BOTOX?

Though it is injected into the face, BOTOX is not part of the family of injectable fillers. Rather, it is an FDA-approved medication that is designed to attach to the nerve endings and prevent contractions in the underlying muscle, effectively relaxing the muscle. With the muscle technically paralyzed, it is unable to contract, ultimately smoothing out deep lines on the surface of the face. BOTOX does not address the skin's elasticity, texture, or firmness, but the experienced and knowledgeable team at Body+Beauty Lab can combine your Philadelphia, PA BOTOX treatment with fillers and other techniques to target these issues and enhance your overall results.

Why Does BOTOX Wear Off?

The visible effects of BOTOX are temporary, usually lasting about four to six months. However, the medication itself is permanently bound to the nerve endings. Over the course of several months, the body actually grows new nerve endings – ones that have not been exposed to BOTOX – to begin stimulating muscle contractions again. Ongoing BOTOX injections are necessary to reach these new nerve fibers each time they are generated. So, while the medicine never truly “wears off,” the results are not permanent.

The expert providers at Body+Beauty Lab understand a patient’s investment in Philadelphia, PA BOTOX and are highly committed to helping them extend the life of their results for as long as possible between injections. Here are a few steps you can take to achieve longer-lasting BOTOX results:

Follow Post-Injection Instructions

The minutes immediately following BOTOX administration – and the next 48 hours – play an important role in extending the life of your results. Your experienced injector will make specific recommendations on post-treatment care and activity, but one widely accepted practice is to make highly expressive facial muscle movements immediately after the injections. Smiling, frowning, yawning, and being overly expressive helps to distribute the medicine more evenly within the treated areas. These movements are not harmful, but take care to avoid rubbing or massaging the face, as this can cause migration of the medicine to other areas which are not meant to be treated, sometimes resulting in unwanted facial paralysis. Your provider may also recommend sleeping on your back or in an elevated position for the first night or two following your treatment.

Avoid Sun Exposure

Whether you have had BOTOX injections or not, minimizing your exposure to the sun is always a good rule to follow. Sun damage causes a wide array of skin problems, from cosmetic flaws to cancer, but one of the most common issues attributed to sun exposure is fine lines and wrinkles. These superficial wrinkles are not responsive to BOTOX treatment which targets deep lines caused by muscle contraction. Avoiding the sun is one of the key ways to preserve a more youthful appearance and healthy skin.

Pair BOTOX With Other Injectables

Another way to enhance your results and to feel like you may be able to go a little longer between treatments is to pair your BOTOX with other procedures or injectable fillers. The professional team at Body+Beauty Lab is proud to offer the latest treatments and state-of-the-art technologies to help you achieve the results you have always wanted. The practice also offers alternative injectable wrinkle relaxers, like Jeuveau and Xeomin, that can help with the appearance of dynamic wrinkles. 

Some patients may opt to add dermal fillers such as Restylane and Juvéderm in addition to BOTOX, which increases volume below the skin to correct depressions and improve fine lines throughout the face. When dermal fillers are combined with BOTOX, it is referred to as a liquid facelift.

The providers at Body+Beauty Lab can recommend a treatment or combination of treatments that will best fit your needs after an initial consultation.

Choose The Right Provider

Without a doubt, the most important thing you can do when seeking Philadelphia, PA BOTOX treatments is to select a qualified provider. Experience, knowledge, and expertise are paramount when it comes to appropriately assessing and treating patients to maximize the chances of a successful and ideal result.

With a multitude of powerful tools and modern treatments at their disposal, Body+Beauty Lab in Philadelphia, PA can transform your look, boost your confidence, and help restore a more youthful, vibrant appearance in as little as one treatment. If you are considering BOTOX or another injectable facial treatment, call our office to schedule a consultation today.