Will Wrinkles Return If You Stop Botox Treatment?
Many patients who visit Dr. DeMars at his Portland plastic surgery office have questions about Botox injections and how they work. One common question is, “will wrinkles return if you stop Botox treatments?”
To answer this question, it’s best to start with some background. Botox is a liquid injected in small amounts using very tiny needles into the muscles of the face that create facial expression. When these muscles are flexed, usually in a subconscious manner, they move and bunch up the skin. Over time this causes the development of the lines we call wrinkles. It is those lines that are removed or reduced with the chemical Botox. When Dr. DeMars injects Botox into the muscles causing horizontal forehead lines, the vertical frown lines above the nose, or into the crow’s feet wrinkles, the muscles stop working for several months. If the muscles cannot flex, the lines are not made and the facial skin looks smoother, fresher, and more youthful.
There are other lines on the face and during the evaluation of each patient Dr. DeMars will point out which lines are caused by gravitational changes or by sun damage so he can inform his patient if those lines will not be corrected by Botox. Other modalities such as laser, filler products and facial peels may be required for some of the changes and rejuvenation surgery such as facelift or eyelid lift may be required by others. Each of Dr. DeMars’ patients will receive an individualized plan for their rejuvenation treatments.
Prior to the injection Dr. DeMars discusses how the Botox works, that it takes 4-7 days to see the results, and that the effects normally last 14-16 weeks for most patients and then the muscle function gradually returns and recreates the wrinkles. At that time the next injection will start the process over again.
If you do not have Botox injections on a regular basis, as the muscle function returns the wrinkles will return about the same as they were before. However, if you get Botox injections regularly, (about three times per year), the wrinkles can gradually be reduced.
For a personal evaluation of this treatment and any of the other facial rejuvenation treatments offered by Dr. Ronald DeMars, please call the office at 503-253-3458 in Portland to schedule your appointment.
