Maximize Your Botox Results: 7 Tips for Longevity

As we age, we all develop frown lines, crow’s feet, horizontal forehead lines and other wrinkles in areas with frequently used muscles. It's a normal part of aging! Wrinkles develop over time due to several factors: collagen breakdown, hormonal losses, cellular changes, damage by free radicals and muscle movement among other factors. Over time as these facial muscles are used and become stronger, the overlying skin creases becoming more pronounced and form wrinkles.

Facial aging is inevitable. But you can delay the signs to keep you looking young and refreshed for longer. Botox, a potent neuromodulator, is a great way to slow down and help reverse these signs of aging. However, the effects of Botox do wear off as it is naturally degraded by the body. Botox injections are not permanent. Everyone is different however, results typically last anywhere from 3 to 4 months. So what are some things you can do to improve and prolong your Botox results?

"You cannot make anti-wrinkle treatments last longer but you can help to extend the length of their effect”.

Tips to Improve and Prolong Your Botox Results

While there may be some things out of your control, following these seven tips will help you maximize your Botox results.

1. Precisely Follow the Post-Botox Treatment Instructions

Strenuous exercise and intense heat increase blood flow. Post-treatment, this and massaging or applying pressure to the treatment areas could potentially spread the Botox to an unintended area, reducing its effectiveness and longevity at the intended injection site. Additionally, relaxing an unintended muscle could result in temporary eyelid drooping, an asymmetrical smile, or other undesirable effects. So it is very important that you strictly follow the post Botox treatment instructions to decrease the likelihood of any complications and for optimal results.

For the first 4 hours, do not lie down, you could accidentally apply pressure to the treatment area with your pillow. It may help to sleep on your back in a slightly elevated position for the first-night post-injection. For the first 24 hours, avoid strenuous exercise, massaging or applying pressure to the treated areas. After your treatment take a rest day or do a low-intensity workout, but remember to keep your head upright. For the first 72 hours, avoid intense heat including saunas, tanning beds and steaming hot showers.

Botox Post-Botox Treatment Instructions Oshawa

2. Prioritize a Good Skincare Routine

Wrinkles in the skin develop because of muscles contracting causing the skin to fold. The stronger the skin, the less likely it is to fold. To help strengthen skin, incorporate collagen-boosting ingredients in your skincare routine like retinol, peptides, AHAs and BHAs and never forget to moisturize.

Using a good-quality facial moisturizer is essential to keeping your skin smooth. Moisturizers containing hyaluronic acid can be particularly beneficial for keeping your skin looking plump and healthy.

In addition, because free radical damage can sabotage your skin and the Botox you’ve received, be sure to use an antioxidant serum every day to keep your skin protected.

Topical antioxidants, which contain vitamin C, help protect the skin from damaging free radicals, most notably caused by UV rays and pollution. Together with a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen, these antioxidants give your skin more effective protection than a sunscreen with SPF alone.

3. Limit Sun Exposure and use a Broad Spectrum SPF

So why should you be using a Broad Spectrum Sunscreen instead of your typical SPF?

SPF only measures how much sunscreen will protect you from UVB rays, the type that causes sunburn. Only Broad Spectrum Sunscreens also protect you from UVA rays, the type that causes suntan and skin aging. Remember, UVB = burn, UVA = aging. 

UVA exposure is the biggest cause of premature skin aging. It degrades skin collagen, causes discolouration, and leads to advanced aging. It is responsible for 70% of skin aging. If you're serious about defying skin aging, then you should be prioritizing sun protection!

Additionally, Botox is ineffective against wrinkles and lines caused by sun damage as they aren’t caused by muscle movements. On top of this, sun damage causes an inflammatory response within the cells which can also break down your Botox, reducing its effectiveness and minimizing its lifespan.

Let's not forget about the potential health risks. Overexposure to both UVA and UVB rays can lead to skin cancer in all skin types and ethnicities. This is why you need to use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that can help protect your skin against both UVA and UVB rays.

Canada does not require that sunscreens offer any UVA protection, so look for a sunscreen that is labelled "Broad Spectrum" or "UVA Protection".

The Broad Spectrum Sunscreen I use and am obsessed with is by TIZO.

Limit sun exposure by avoiding the outdoors during peak UV hours. If you're like me and enjoy being outside, you can also protect yourself by wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sitting in the shade.

4. Avoid Smoking

Smoking, vaping, and anything with nicotine causes your collagen to break down, damage your skin cells, and reduce the effectiveness of your Botox injections. Not only will the original dynamic wrinkles appear more quickly, but smoking and vaping cause fine lines around the mouth and eyes that future injections can’t fix.

Avoiding nicotine can help you maximize your Botox results while reducing any smoking-related aging.

5. Reduce Your Stress Levels

Stress can cause you to scowl, frown, clench your jaw, and contract other facial muscles, strengthening the muscles that have been relaxed with Botox. This alone can cause the effects to wear off more quickly, but stress can also cause cellular damage.

Stress releases cortisol, the “stress hormone”, which triggers an inflammatory response within the body. Consistently high stress levels can cause the body to break down Botox more quickly while speeding the aging process.

Taking part in meditation, yoga, and other stress-relieving activities can help you maximize the life span of your Botox while reducing any stress-related aging.

6. Take a Zinc Supplement

Zinc is an essential mineral that plays a crucial role in many functions in the body, including wound healing and collagen production. Some studies have suggested that zinc may enhance the effects of Botox when used together.

The exact reason why zinc enhances the effects of Botox is not fully understood, but it is thought to work by improving the health of the skin and supporting collagen production. Zinc is known to play a role in the repair of damaged skin, and it is also thought to help strengthen and tighten the skin, which can make the results of Botox treatment appear more noticeable. It has been reported that Zinc can make the effects of Botox last up to 30% longer.

Some studies suggest that zinc supplements may help improve the healing process after Botox treatment, by reducing inflammation, helping to reduce the risk of infection and reducing the healing time.

It’s important to note that the studies on this topic are limited and more research is needed to fully understand the effects of zinc and Botox. As always, it is important to consult with your healthcare professional before starting any new treatment or supplement regimen. They will be able to evaluate your individual needs and provide the best advice on how to achieve the best results.

7. Be Consistent with Maintenance Treatments

Botox injections are not permanent. All patients are different however, results typically last anywhere from 3 to 4 months. Botox is a temporary procedure and at first, you may find that your treatment results will last approximately3-month 3 to 4 months. However, if you maintain your treatment appointments with the recommended frequency, the duration of your treatment results may last longer, 4 to 6 months or more.

Initially, we see our patients between the 3 month (12 weeks) and 4-month (16 weeks) period. We can create the best clinical results for you during this period. It is important to keep up with your Botox treatments during this period as we do not want the targeted muscles to regain their full strength. If you wait too long between treatments, static fine lines and wrinkles will return and treatment progression will be lost, therefore optimal results will be harder to achieve.

Because Botox requires a special technique to customize the injections to your muscular structure, it is important that your muscle activity recovers BUT that your skin is not creasing to the point from where you started.

Interesting in Booking a Botox Treatment in Oshawa?

At Aesthetic Nurse Katrena, we are committed to offering our clients accurate information and the best possible results. If you're thinking about Botox in Oshawa, we encourage you to schedule a free consultation with our experienced team.

We will work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan that helps you achieve your goals safely and effectively. Experience the transformative benefits of Botox at Aesthetic Nurse Katrena today.

Have any questions about Botox? Want to schedule a free consultation with Aesthetic Nurse Katrena? Contact us.