We expect botox to last three-four months. This is accurate when dose meets lifestyle factors and anatomy perfectly. Sometimes botox may feel like its not lasting very long if it doesn’t meet the three-four month mark. Part of that is that when it starts to fade, it doesn’t just go from frozen to full-movement overnight. Botox tends to be strongest two-three weeks after being injected and muscles gradually regain movement over the next couple months – but some factors may contribute to fast fading tox. Here are some reasons why you may not be getting expected duration out of your treatment.

Your Dose is Too Low

Dose equals duration. Although some people prefer a lower dose because they may like “extra” movement, a stronger dose will have increased longevity. Stronger doses do mean being closer to “frozen” initially but this also means it’ll take longer for muscles to regain movement. At LARA, we like to meet a certain threshold where you get great longevity while looking natural. If you opt to have a lower than recommended dose, your treatment will certainly fade quicker.

Increased Workout Intensity

“Will working out make my tox fade faster?” Yes – high intensity workouts will increase your metabolic state and increase likelihood of metabolizing tox more quickly. This is no reason to stop working out, it just means you may need a stronger initial dose and start taking zinc supplements.

Oxidative Stress – sun exposure, smoking, inflammation

Sun exposure, smoking, and excessive alcohol can cause oxidative damage. Essentially, this is when cells are in a state of inflammation and aren’t getting sufficient oxygen or nutrients for repair. In the skin, oxidative stress damages the skin barrier resulting in dryness, fine lines, and discoloration. If you have underlying skin issues, botox will simply just not look as good as it does on healthy skin. We recommend limiting UV exposure, smoking cessation, and repairing the skin barrier to maximize results of neurotoxin.

Lack of Zinc

Zinc supplements have been shown to increase botox longevity by up to 30%. Results of clinical trial showed that 92% of participants taking zinc saw botox take affect more quickly and last longer. Start taking a few days before your injections. You can read more about that here.

Potential Resistance

If you were getting great results with botox at some point but it’s no longer producing the same results, it could simply be a combination dose or lifestyle changes. However, if results are not improving despite increasing dose, it could be a sign that you’ve developed a resistance. Most botox brands have proteins added to them during the manufacturing process. Initially, your body responds to botox but after repetitive use, it may develop a resistance to proteins attached to botox. To eliminate the risk of developing resistance, we recommend Xeomin as it does not contain additional proteins like other brands of neurotoxin. Those who may already have resistance to classic botox may respond better to Xeomin as well.

Lara Clinic | Leslie A. Reap, MHS, PA-C