How Does Botox® Work?
Every facial expression you make contracts the muscles found under the skin, leading to lines and wrinkles over time. Common areas for treatment are smile lines, the forehead, and around the eyes. Botox® injections smooth lines and wrinkles by temporarily blocking the nerve endings in the muscles, causing the muscles to relax. The relaxed muscles allow for the skin to become smoother because they are unable to contract. Botox® injections are not harmful to the muscles or their nerves because the injections wear off after three to four months. After the injections wear off, your muscles will resume as normal and your wrinkles will start to come back.
While Botox® injections do temporarily relax the muscles in the skin, you will still be able to perform your daily facial expressions.
How Long Does Botox® Take To Work?
The length of time that Botox® takes to work depends on the number of units injected and how deep the lines are in the areas that will need treatment. In the forehead, for example, the average amount of units is range from 10 to 30. The provider determines the amount needed on an individual basis and takes into account how deep your wrinkles are and how the areas will respond to treatment.
Botox® also needs time to bind to the muscle nerves and block its natural response of contracting the muscle. The skin may feel tighter in response to the Botox® injections working, which you may feel for a week or two.
According to Healthline, Botox® generally takes up to 3-4 days to see the reduction of lines and wrinkles. The maximum result of Botox® injections can be seen around 30 days after treatment. Results can last up to four months. After a certain amount of time, the muscles do regain normal function as the Botox® wears off. Many people schedule multiple appointments to maintain their results from Botox® treatment.
