How long does Botox last?

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by Dr. Steven Wallach

Botox is one of the most popular cosmetic injections on the market for many reasons. It’s effective, safe, relatively inexpensive, and offers numerous benefits if you want a younger more vitalized face.

In this article, we define what Botox is, what it treats, how long Botox lasts, and the importance of choosing a qualified plastic surgeon to administer your Botox treatments.

What is Botox?

The bacterium Clostridium Botulinum naturally creates a neurotoxin called botulinum toxin or Botox. This toxin is known to block communication between nerves and muscles, creating a type of temporary paralysis. When it’s used as a cosmetic injection, Botox stops the nerves from communicating with the muscles in your face, making your skin appear more youthful and rejuvenated.

What Kind of Wrinkles Does Botox Treat?

Botox treats some of the most common types of wrinkles and fine lines, including dynamic and static wrinkles. Dynamic wrinkles occur as a result of continuous movement. In other words, they’re the wrinkles that are distinct to the way you smile, laugh, frown, scowl, and much more. These are otherwise known as crow’s feet, smile lines or marionette lines, laugh lines, and so forth. Static wrinkles occur over time and from exposure to harmful substances and elements like the sun, and they can also occur when dynamic wrinkles go untreated.

Is Botox a Long-Term Treatment?

Botox typically last 3-4 months, but many patients have had Botox injections last up to 5 months and longer. The duration of your Botox results depends on your unique skin, body, and facial movements as well as your habits and how well you take care of your skin. The duration of Botox is actually one of the benefits, because if allows you and your surgeon to adjust your approach to cosmetic injections. For example, if you’re not happy with the way certain parts of your face move or don’t move after Botox, your surgeon can modify his or her application as you receive maintenance injections.

How Do I Choose a Qualified Surgeon for Botox?

The most important factor to take into account when you’re considering Botox is selecting a board-certified plastic surgeon who has a reputation for safe and gold-standard aesthetic results.

Moreover, it’s important to choose a board-certified plastic surgeon because he or she will have Botox injections down to an art. This means they will be able to treat your wrinkles while maintaining the natural aesthetic of your face instead of giving you an overly tight and pinched look.

The Recap

Botox is a neurotoxin that blocks communication between the nerves and muscles in your face, causing your wrinkles to minimize and become smoother. It is a relatively safe and effective treatment if you seek a board-certified plastic surgeon, such as Steven Wallach, MD, who will gladly discuss how Botox can help you as well as any concerns you may have.