How long does it take BOTOX® to work? Our Little Rock-based Dermatology Group of Arkansas team knows that questions like this—“Why are my BOTOX® results taking so long?” and “Why doesn’t BOTOX® work right away?”—are familiar to many people who are considering wrinkle injections.
The primary ingredient in BOTOX is a neurotoxin derived from a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. Used in very small, purified doses, it relaxes facial muscles as a way of making moderate to severe facial wrinkles less noticeable. The injections are very shallow, made just beneath the surface of the skin in the target muscle. One of the main advantages of this procedure is getting fast results. However, the results for this treatment won’t show instantly. The effects will begin after a couple of days, and then the maximum effects are typically seen 10 to 14 days later. Most patients will notice some improvements within around three to four days after their injections, but the timeline for results will vary depending on several factors.
The results for botulinum toxin treatments will show up faster when they are used for finer lines, such as crow’s feet at the corners of the eyes and small forehead lines. The medication may work more slowly on deeper or more etched-in lines, like wrinkles on the forehead or between the eyebrows. The concentration of the product and the way it is injected into the muscle will influence the final results.
The reason for the “wait” is because it takes time for the muscle to absorb the neurotoxin, after which the chemical will stop or weaken the muscle contractions causing the wrinkles. It takes a short while before the protein tells muscles to “shut off” and the chemical acetylcholine is silenced. The area that was treated will soon appear to be smoother and more refreshed.
If at first you don’t think the treatment gave you the results you want, wait for the full 10 to 14 days for it to settle in.
Our Little Rock-based team at Dermatology Group of Arkansas will explain more about how injectable treatments can soften wrinkles—and what to expect in terms of timelines. Call us at 501-227-8422 or 1-800-225-8422 or submit a contact form online and schedule a consultation.