Botox is a non-invasive anti-aging treatment that has been used for decades to relax overactive muscles. It is an FDA-approved injectable muscle relaxant that can erase dynamic wrinkles from any region of the face. It can even be injected into overactive muscles elsewhere in the body. Today, our experts at SkinMD in Park, IL are discussing how you can make the results of this treatment last as long as possible.
How Can You Make Botox Last Longer?
Be Gentle With Your Face for Two Days
For results that last as long as possible, be very gentle with your face during the first 48 hours following your treatment. Do not exfoliate your skin or seek any cosmetic treatments that may irritate your skin. You may apply cosmetics, like lotion or makeup, but this must be done gently. You should also be careful to remove cosmetics gently during the first 48 hours following your treatment.
When you wash your face after your treatment, be sure to use a gentle facial cleanser and warm water. If you use body soap to wash your face, you may irritate your skin. You should use warm water rather than steaming hot water because excess heat should be avoided during the first couple of days after your injections.
Sleep On Your Back
Sleeping on your back will also help you enjoy better, longer-lasting results. Sleeping on your stomach or side will apply too much pressure to the treatment areas, affecting the results of your treatment significantly.
Exercise the Treated Muscles
Exercising the treated muscles will also help the results of this treatment last longer. Every four hours after your treatment, you should perform three sets of 40 repetitions of muscle movements with breaks between each set. This should be done on the day of your treatment and the day after your treatment.
As an added bonus, exercising the treated muscles will help you see the results of your treatment sooner. Typically, you can expect to see the initial results of treatment 72 to 96 hours after the injection session. Final results can usually be seen in roughly 10 days. When you exercise your treated muscles diligently, you can see your initial results in 24 to 48 hours. Also, you can expect to see your final results roughly seven days after your injections.
Schedule Regular Injection Sessions
You can also extend the longevity of your results by scheduling regular injection sessions. Permanent dynamic wrinkles appear because the muscles are too strong and active. When you receive Botox injections, your muscles relax. Instead of contracting constantly, they only contract when you want them to.
This lack of excessive contractions weakens them, causing them to atrophy just a little bit. The weaker your muscles are, the slower the medication will be metabolized. Therefore, your results will last longer. For continuous results, we recommend scheduling follow-up appointments approximately four to six months after the previous session so the medication has time to settle into the targeted muscles before the results fade completely.
Seek Treatment From a Reputable Provider
Seeking treatment from a reputable provider will also extend the longevity of your results. This medication comes in a frozen, concentrated, powdered form. Before it is injected, it is combined with a sterile saline solution. If you want your results to last as long as possible, your injections should have been mixed within the 24 hours leading up to your treatment.
This injectable muscle relaxant can be safely administered for up to two weeks after the solution is mixed. However, it will not be as effective or long-lasting as a fresh solution. When you seek treatment from a reputable provider, you can feel confident that the muscle relaxant administered is fresh and as effective as possible.
Don’t Exercise Immediately After Treatment
You should also refrain from exercise immediately after your injection session. The higher your metabolism is, the more quickly your body metabolizes the medication. When you engage in vigorous exercise, your metabolism increases significantly and can remain elevated for 24 hours.
To get the most out of your treatment and enjoy results that last as long as possible, refrain from exercise that is vigorous enough to make you sweat. Moderate exercise is okay during the first 24 hours following your treatment.
Limit UV Exposure
Finally, you can extend the longevity of your results by limiting your exposure to UV rays. Do not visit tanning beds, and do not sunbathe. Make sure you wear sunscreen every day regardless of how sunny it is outside. Clouds will not protect you from UVC exposure. Also, glass does not protect you from UVC rays. Make sure you put on sunscreen if you are going to be driving all day.
How Long Do the Results of Treatment Usually Last?
Although individual results vary, the results of Botox injections usually last between three and four months. On the other hand, if you take steps to increase the longevity of your results, you can expect your results to last for six months.
How Should I Prepare for My Treatment?
Get a Good Workout In
We recommend getting in a good workout before your treatment. Remember, you can’t engage in vigorous exercise during the first 24 hours following your treatment. Therefore, you need to get in a solid workout before your treatment unless you want to take a rest day. Your metabolism may be a little elevated, depending on the intensity of your workout, but it won’t affect the results.
Getting in a good workout, even if it is only moderate in intensity, is also a good idea because exercise increases your production of endorphins. Endorphins make you feel good and will help you relax if you’re a little worried about your injections. We assure you, the needle we use has such a fine gauge that you will not feel any pain during your treatment. Also, we can numb your skin before your session so you don’t feel anything at all.
Wear Sunscreen
You should also prepare for your treatment by wearing sunscreen diligently during the two weeks leading up to your treatment. If your skin is burned or otherwise irritated at the time of your appointment, it must be rescheduled. You can also mitigate the risk of skin irritation at the time of your appointment by applying preventative acne medication to your skin and taking antivirals if you have a history of acne outbreaks or oral herpes.
Stop Taking Certain Medications
There are also certain medications you should avoid leading up to your treatment because they may be contraindicative with the injectable muscle relaxant. For instance, you should avoid taking oral muscle relaxants and refrain from taking certain sleep aids. Also, you must stop taking anything that can thin your blood in the 24 hours leading up to your session. For instance, you should not take NSAIDs, MAOIs, fish oil, vitamin E, or garlic supplements.
Don’t Smoke or Drink Alcohol
It is also very important to neither smoke nor drink alcohol before your scheduled appointment. Both cigarettes and alcohol elevate your blood pressure which will affect your treatment.
Am I a Good Candidate for This Treatment?
We will advise you on whether you are a good candidate for this treatment during your initial evaluation. First, we will review your health history to ensure there is nothing that would preclude you from qualifying. For instance, this treatment is not appropriate for you if you are allergic to bovine protein. Then, we will assess your current health. You must be in fairly good health to qualify for this treatment. For example, you should be free from:
- Blood disorders
- Heart conditions
- Kidney disorders
- Pancreas disorders
- Liver failure
Once we have determined that you are healthy enough to receive this treatment, we will assess your cosmetic concerns. To qualify for this treatment, your cosmetic concerns must be caused by overactive muscles. Examples of cosmetic concerns that can be treated with this injectable muscle relaxant include:
- Forehead folds
- Sagging eyebrows
- Sagging jawline
- Crow’s feet
- Jowls
- Neck bands
- Lines around the mouth
- Nasolabial folds
Learn More Today
You can extend the longevity of your Botox results by being gentle with your face for 48 hours, exercising the treated muscles, and not smoking. If you think this treatment will benefit you, contact us today at SkinMD in Orland Park, IL to schedule your initial consultation. We also have convenient locations in Skokie and Evergreen Park, IL.
