Each year, more and more people undergo BOTOX® Cosmetic injections for anti-aging and wrinkle reduction. There are more BOTOX® injection procedures performed each year than facelifts, which is a testament to the effectiveness of non-surgical facial rejuvenation. Dr. Paul G. Pin is proud to provide people in the greater Dallas, TX area with numerous non-surgical options to fight the signs of aging.

The results of BOTOX® injections are apparent within a few days of treatment. That’s quick, but there may be something patients can do to make the benefits of BOTOX® therapy appear even faster. Let’s go over the basics of BOTOX® and then look at a study on improving the speed of outcomes.

How BOTOX® Cosmetic Works

BOTOX® injections stop muscle contractions in the injection site. This prevents the appearance of dynamic wrinkles in those parts of the face, helping you look years younger in the process.

Dynamic wrinkles are the lines that are only visible when a person makes certain facial expression. These dynamic wrinkles include crow’s feet, frown lines, forehead furrows, and laugh lines. Thanks to BOTOX® Cosmetic, these lines won’t be visible for several months.

When Do BOTOX® Injection Results Usually Appear?

For most patients, BOTOX® injection results should start to be noticeable about 72 hours after the injection treatment was performed. The final results of BOTOX® injections will be apparent about five to seven days after treatment. This can vary from patient to patient, but the wrinkle reduction benefits will be apparent after about a week.

The BOTOX® Injection/Facial Exercise Study

The Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology conducted a study involving 22 women who got BOTOX® injections for forehead wrinkles. Half of the women in the study were asked to perform facial muscle exercises four hours after BOTOX® Cosmetic treatment. The other women were a control group and performed no facial exercises after treatment.

The facial exercise involved the women raising and lowering their forehead muscles as if they were surprised, and then pressing their eyebrows together as if they were squinting. The patients in the exercise group performed three sets of 40, with a 10-minute rest between sets.

The Results of Facial Exercise on BOTOX® Cosmetic Results

The women who performed no facial exercises after BOTOX® injection treatment noticed results after three to four days. This is normal. By contrast, the women who performed facial exercises after BOTOX® injection treatment noticed results after just two or three days.

While the difference was roughly 24 hours, that is a significant improvement in seeing results from BOTOX® Cosmetic. While the facial exercises sped up the early outcomes of BOTOX® injections, the results still lasted about six months as usual.

Should I Do Facial Exercises after BOTOX® Therapy?

While more research has to be done with a larger group of subjects, doing facial exercises after BOTOX® injections won’t hurt. Be sure to stick to the three sets of 40 outlined above, and to rest your face for 10 minutes between each set.

Learn More about BOTOX® Injections

For more information about BOTOX® injections and whether or not they are the right option for your anti-aging needs, be sure to contact an experienced cosmetic plastic surgeon. Dr. Paul G. Pin and his team are here to help you look and feel great.