Botox injections are a great way to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles on the face. More than 2 million Botox cosmetic injections are given yearly but the effects don’t last forever. If you are considering Botox treatment to reduce frown lines or other wrinkles on your face, you may be wondering, “How long does Botox last?”

Botox is actually a naturally occurring “poison” from the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. It has been the study of much research because it is a known food toxin that causes severe gastrointestinal distress when consumed in large amounts.

Researchers found that when injected in tiny amounts, Botox causes a temporary paralysis to nerves and muscles within the face. This means that certain facial expressions that people perform constantly out of habit cannot be made. Constantly forming the same facial movements is responsible for creating lines on the face.

Botox can be injected into the forehead or over the bridge of the nose by a plastic surgeon to reduce constant frowning or eyebrow lifting. These expressions create deep lines on the forehead and between the eyebrows.

Botox will limit the ability to make these expressions and eliminate the constant creasing of the skin that has caused the lines. Over time, the lines will lessen and the skin will assume a more youthful appearance.

Botox can also be injected into the area around the nose and mouth by a cosmetic surgeon. This will prevent the further formation of lines that commonly form from the side of the nose to the corner of the mouth and may reduce the appearance of small “pursing” lines that appear from puckering the mouth.

Botox injections are also used to paralyze the sweat glands in the face, hands and under the arms. This will help to eliminate excessive sweating known as hyperhydrosis. Some physicians use Botox to treat other medical conditions such as migraine headaches and nerve spasms.

Botox cosmetic treatment can start to work immediately but some people do not see full effects for several days. The procedure will slowly begin to wear off after 3 or 4 months at which time you can go back for another treatment.

Some patients find that after several treatments, each Botox injection may last for 6 months or more. Another benefit of how long Botox lasts is that even after it actually wears off, the skin has regenerated some and the line appearances will be less deep.