Botox® should last three months right? Maybe four if you really stretch it.
Some of you are reading this like, pshh, I’d be lucky to get two months out of mine.
And it’s true. For some people Botox is only effective for up to two months. For others it is completely ineffective.
Why is that?
We picked the brains of our providers and medical director, Dr. Marlin Gill, to uncover the key reasons that some people’s Botox® may not be lasting and if there’s anything we can do to make it last longer.
We know this is the last thing you wanted to hear, but the general rule for Botox® is dosing equals duration.
So how much do you need?
According to Dr. Gill, initial dosing (how many units you receive at your first ever Botox® treatment) is determined by ‘label’ and dependent on area. This is the general dose requirement or recommendation from the product manufacturer according to the results of their FDA trials.
For example, the recommended dosing for glabellar lines is 20 units. So at your first Botox® appointment for glabellar lines, you will most likely receive 20 units in that area.
Experienced injectors will start general dose requirements, and adjust according to their own evaluation of the client.
Dr. Gill explained::
“During the exam you can see how each person’s muscles move and get a sense of how strong they are which helps predict the needed dose. Then we follow up to evaluate the individual’s response and adjust the dose accordingly.”
He makes a point to follow up with his clients about two weeks after their first treatments to get a sense of results and whether or not the dosing needs to be adjusted.
If your Botox® isn’t lasting, consider increasing the dose (number of units).
Unfortunately, some people metabolize product faster than others, which decreases the effective duration.
There are a few reasons for this:
For fast metabolizers, the solution is to either increase the dose, or get treated more frequently.
Dr. Gill also notes that sometimes receiving more frequent treatments can increase the cost compared to increasing the number of units. Experiment to find which method works best for you.
Some people are, for whatever reason, simply unresponsive to Botox®.
The solution? Switch neuromodulators.
Botox is just one of many neuromodulators.
Another option is Xeomin®. Botox® and Xeomin® are both neuromodulators and both work through the same mechanism of action. However, they have a slightly different molecular structure so some people to respond better to one versus the other.
Add Revox 7 to your skin care routine.
Revox 7 is a skin care serum from Revision Skincare. Think of it as a topical neuromodulator.
Revox utilizes peptide technology to reduce the nerve signal to muscles and produce a relaxing effect that softens facial lines and wrinkles, very similar to how neuromodulators work.
Regardless of the reasons your Botox isn’t achieving its desired effects, you have options. So talk to your provider, and be patient figuring out what works for you.