How Often Should You Get a Botox® Touch-Up?
Botox has been one of the nation’s most sought-after aesthetic procedures since it gained FDA approval for cosmetic use in 2002. If you’re worried that wrinkles like brow furrows and crow’s feet are making you look older than your age, you might be considering getting Botox injections to minimize these wrinkles and revitalize your appearance without surgery.
If you’re thinking about trying Botox for the first time, you might have some questions about whether this treatment is right for you. As San Francisco’s leading dermatologists, we’re happy to provide answers.
How Does Botox Work?
First, it’s helpful for you to understand how this product can make such a significant impact on your appearance and self-confidence. Repetitive motions like frowning, squinting, and smiling create what we call dynamic wrinkles. When you’re younger, your skin can bounce back from these, but eventually, these lines will start permanently etching themselves onto your face.
Botox consists of a highly purified form of the botulinum toxin. When we strategically inject it into the muscles around your forehead, eyes, and eyebrows, it blocks the nerve signals that cause those muscles to contract. Once the Botox takes effect, you’ll notice those wrinkles gradually softening and becoming less distinct.
How to Maintain Your Long-Term Botox Results
While Botox can temporarily block muscle contractions, the effects are not permanent. You’ll probably start to notice wrinkles beginning to return around three to four months after your treatment, depending on factors like your lifestyle choices and how many units of Botox your injector used.
After you have a reasonable idea of how long Botox lasts for you, we can help you create a maintenance plan that includes when to return to our San Francisco office for touch-up treatments. Our goal is to ensure your anti-aging results are consistently natural-looking.
However, you should also know that over time, Botox use will help “train” your muscles not to make wrinkle-forming facial expressions. As the product gradually wears off, you’ll be more conscious of habitual movements that create unwanted lines. When that happens, you might be able to wait a little bit longer between maintenance appointments.
What Else Should You Know About Botox Injections?
Botox results don’t immediately appear. If you still see troublesome wrinkles a couple of days after your appointment, that doesn’t mean you need a touch-up right away. Your full results might not be visible until a week or so after your treatment, so we recommend scheduling your appointment strategically if you’re getting Botox in preparation for a specific occasion like a wedding or a class reunion.
When choosing where to get Botox injections, you should understand that your choice in provider matters. This treatment’s enduring popularity has led many underqualified people to advertise their services as Botox injectors, even if they have not specifically trained in facial anatomy and skin health. Therefore, while Botox treatments at a salon or day spa might seem convenient, that doesn’t mean they are safe.
For the best results, only trust a board-certified dermatologist to provide your Botox injections. At Dermatology Medical Group of San Francisco, our physicians perform all injectable treatments. Allergan, which manufactures Botox, has also trained all the dermatologists on our team to understand how the product works to smooth wrinkles by preventing muscle contractions. For your personalized Botox consultation, contact us today.