How Often Should I Get a Botox® Touch-Up?

Botox® injections are among the most popular cosmetic treatments in the world, and for good reason. The injection is a minimally invasive, effective, and long-lasting way to improve your appearance. Getting maintenance touch-up treatments can extend your results. 

The providers at Dermatology Associates of Central New Jersey are highly qualified professionals who can advise you regarding the most appropriate touch-up schedule for you. In this post, we offer general guidelines about when and why you might want to consider a Botox touch-up. 

Why Botox is effective

Your wonderfully expressive face is a good thing! Unfortunately, decades of smiling, squinting, and other expressions lead to fine lines that you may not like. Smoking or spending too much time in the sun without protection can add to the problem. Botox can help reverse those issues. 

Botox contains a purified form of botulinum toxin type A, which is a neuromodulator. When it is injected, it gradually paralyzes the muscles that cause your fine lines by interrupting the signals from the nerves that tell those muscles to contract. Results are usually fully apparent within 7-10 days of treatment. 

The results

Everyone is different, but for most people Botox treatments are effective for about three to four months. In some instances, particularly after your first treatment, the effects fade more quickly. However, sometimes they last as long as four to six months.

Some of the reasons your treatment might last longer include: 

• An excellent provider
• Taking zinc supplements your provider suggests
• Using appropriate protection from the sun
• Regular Botox treatments

For most people, our team recommends having Botox treatments every three to four months to maintain optimal results. 

The beauty of the touch-up

If you notice that your lines are becoming noticeable before the recommended maintenance treatment, you may need a touch-up. Getting extra injections before your results diminish allows us to use fewer units of Botox while keeping your skin smooth.

Some people also find that a touch-up gets them closer to the results they expected. We always advise our patients to ease into Botox treatments. We don’t know how your skin will respond to that first treatment, so begin with less. If you need a touch-up treatment in a few weeks, we can help. 

You do want to wait for your full results to be apparent before scheduling a touch-up treatment, so you want to wait at least a couple of weeks. Then, if you think more will be better, call or schedule an appointment online at one of our offices in Old Bridge, Freehold, or Union, New Jersey.