What’s the longest it could take Botox to work? Is your doctor feeding you BS when they say it takes MONTHS for Botox to start working?
And why doesn’t it work in some cases?
Have you received Botox for facial wrinkles, creases or lines – were told that it should start working in two to 14 days – but then, after 14 days, everything still looks the same?
Absolutely no improvement whatsoever? It’s one thing when there’s a noticeable improvement, though the lines are still visible.
However, what if there’s NO reduction in the visible crinkles or lines where the Botox was injected?
- Forehead lines
- The vertical crease between the eyebrows
- Crow’s feet: the wrinkles on the outer part of the eye
These are the three most common sites for Botox treatment.
“My doctor said it takes several months for Botox to begin working.”
If your doctor tells you this, he or she is trying to save their butt instead of simply admitting they made a mistake with the injection.
The Botox had no effect on your wrinkles – and at none of the three injection sites?
“This is likely to happen when not enough Botox is injected,” says Javad Sajan, MD, a board certified cosmetic surgeon with Allure Esthetic in Seattle, WA.
Dr. Sajan explains, “Based on the size of a patient’s features, severity of wrinkles, etc., they may require more units to see adequate treatment.
“Additionally, Botox only provides correction to dynamic wrinkles (wrinkles formed when performing specific movements) and not static wrinkles which are present at all times.
“In short, either not enough Botox was injected or the wrong procedure was done.”
What if your doctor keeps insisting that Botox can take months to begin working?
To save face, the doctor who performed your treatment may tell you to smile wide or crinkle your forehead as though frustrated.
They may then point out that the Botox is working because your muscles appear paralyzed.
But when you look in the mirror, you see unchanged wrinkles.
Thus, the issue isn’t whether or not your muscles appear to be paralyzed (or at least, that’s what the physician is telling you), but that there is no visible reduction in the lines.
What if the doctor keep repeating that “it can take months”?
“This is inaccurate,” says Dr. Sajan.
“While it is true that patients may see better results after repeated treatments, patients should see results from Botox injections within two weeks of treatment (though most will see it before then).”
In fact, the maintenance frequency for Botox is once every three or so months.
This doesn’t make sense if it takes “several months” for it to begin showing results.
The neurotoxin normally takes three to four months to clear out of the system – meaning, after this time period, you’re ready for another treatment.
Advice for the Frustrated Patient
Dr. Sajan says, “I would recommend first returning to the original provider to discuss options.
“Usually, injecting additional units is not a problem for most injectors or doctors (though this is case-by-case).”
You may have ended up with an untrustworthy provider.
If your efforts with the provider have led to a dead-end, then Dr. Sajan recommends seeking treatment from a different provider.
In fact, if your doctor tells you that it takes months, let alone “up to a year” for Botox to work – this is your cue to waste no further time and money with that provider. This is false information, whether your creases are deep and static or whether it was your very first injection.
Dr. Javad Sajan
