How Long Does Botox Last? Lifespan by Area and Dose
Walk into any reputable clinic on a busy afternoon and you will hear the same two questions over and over: how many units do I need, and how long will it last? The first depends on anatomy and technique. The second depends on biology, dose, and the area you treat. After years in practice, across thousands of faces and just as many follow‑ups, I can tell you there is a reliable range for Botox results, with predictable exceptions that come from muscle strength, metabolism, and how you care for the treatment.
This guide breaks down the lifespan of Botox by area and dose, what to expect at each stage of your timeline, and how to nudge results toward the longer end without sacrificing natural expression. I will focus on Botox Cosmetic specifically, but the principles apply broadly to neuromodulators used for cosmetic injectables such as Dysport, Xeomin, and Jeuveau.
What Botox does and why duration varies
Botox is a purified botulinum toxin type A that temporarily blocks nerve signals to targeted muscles. When a muscle like the corrugator (the frown line muscle between the brows) stops receiving the “contract” command, the overlying skin relaxes and creases soften. This is a pharmacologic effect with a biological life cycle. Nerve terminals sprout new connections over time, and the muscle gradually regains function as those connections overcome the temporary blockade. That regrowth window is the reason results fade.
Three variables drive how long Botox lasts: the size and activity of the muscle, the dose that reached that muscle, and your body’s rate of uptake and recovery. Heavy frowners and intense lifters tend to burn through results faster than someone with a softer baseline. Forehead and crow’s feet areas usually run shorter than the glabella because the muscle fibers are thinner and the doses are smaller. Things that do not meaningfully change duration include the brand of reconstitution fluid and the position you sleep in the first night. Things that sometimes change duration include high‑intensity exercise frequency, significant sun exposure soon after treatment, and the skill of your injector in placing the product where it needs to act.
The typical Botox timeline, in real life
Most patients feel nothing for the first 24 to 48 hours after a Botox procedure. Somewhere between day two and day four, you start to notice “stickiness” in the treated muscles. A frown doesn’t bite into the skin as deeply. Crow’s feet don’t fan as widely when you smile. The full effect settles by day 10 to day 14. This two‑week mark is the right time to assess symmetry and plan a touch up if needed.
From there, the clock runs. You keep your best look from roughly week 2 through week 8 or 10, depending on the area. Slowly, small movements return. Most patients describe a gentle thaw, not a switch. Around the three‑month point, you will see the earliest lines start to reappear in dynamic movement. By month four, many are ready for a repeat. Some hold to month five or even six, especially in the glabella or masseters. A small percentage metabolize faster and need maintenance at 10 to 12 weeks to keep results steady.
Duration by area and dose
Glabella (frown lines between the brows) is the workhorse area and often lasts the longest because it’s treated with a higher dose in a compact muscle group. The FDA‑approved dose for Botox Cosmetic in the glabella is 20 units, typically placed into five injection sites. In practice, 20 to 25 units covers the majority of patients. With that dose, most people enjoy 3.5 to 5 months of softer frown lines. Strong muscle patterning, like a deep 11 etched over years, can shorten that to about three months unless you increase the dose or stack a series over time. Consistency helps: repeated treatments before the muscle fully returns often train the area to rest longer, stretching the interval little by little.
Forehead lines (frontalis) are more delicate. Treat too heavily, and you weigh down the brows. Treat too lightly, and the lines persist. Typical doses range from 8 to 16 units depending on forehead height and strength. Expect 2.5 to 4 months of relief. The forehead wears off sooner partly because we dose conservatively to protect brow position, and partly because the frontalis is thin and broad. It is also highly expressive, and regular lifters, especially teachers, runners, and people who speak with their brows, see return of movement a bit earlier.
Crow’s feet (lateral canthi) show best results early, with a brightening effect in smiles. Dosage varies from 6 to 12 units per side. Lifespan usually sits at 3 to 4 months. Photodamage and thin skin can make the lines look like they return earlier, even if the muscle is still suppressed, which is why realistic expectations matter for crow’s feet in patients who have spent decades in the sun.
Bunny lines (fine crinkles along the sides of the nose) respond well to small doses, often 2 to 4 units per side. Duration is typically 2 to 3.5 months. It’s a small muscle with a tendency to recruit as other areas are relaxed, so you might notice bunny lines more after your first round to the glabella and come in for a touch up.
A brow lift effect is possible with careful placement above the tails of the brows and relaxation of the brow depressors in the glabella. The lift is subtle, measured in millimeters, and lasts as long as the surrounding treatments, usually 2.5 to 4 months. Overtreating risks droopy eyelids in susceptible patients, so this is an area to trust a conservative, experienced hand.
Under‑eye crinkling can soften with micro dosing, 1 to 3 units per side, although not everyone is a candidate due to risk of weakening the lower lid. When appropriate, expect a short window, often 2 to 3 months, and understand that filler or skin tightening may be better suited if creping is the primary concern.
Lip flip uses 4 to 8 units to relax the orbicularis oris so the top lip gently everts. The effect is chic and subtle, but it is the shortest lived of the facial uses, typically 6 to 10 weeks. The muscle works constantly when you speak, sip, and smile, which speeds recovery.
Chin dimpling (peau d’orange) improves with 6 to 10 units to the mentalis. Duration averages 3 to 4 months. This is one area where a touch too much can tug the lower lip, so precise placement and patient selection matter more than squeezing out an extra few weeks of longevity.
Jawline slimming and TMJ relief through masseter injections have a different curve. The masseter is a large, powerful muscle. Doses range widely from 20 to 40 units per side for aesthetic contouring, sometimes higher for bruxism or TMJ symptoms. For slimming, you see changes in 4 to 6 weeks as the muscle gradually reduces in bulk, and the visible contour can hold for 4 to 6 months, occasionally longer if you continue treatment. Functional relief for teeth grinding often lasts 3 to 5 months between sessions, with cumulative benefit over two to three rounds.
Neck lines and bands (platysmal bands) are often treated with 20 to 60 units across multiple points. The result is a modest softening of vertical cords and, in select patients, a nefertiti‑style lift of the jawline where downward pull is softened. Lifespan generally spans 3 to 4 months. This area benefits from pairing with skin tightening or biostimulatory treatments if the goal is neck rejuvenation rather than only band relaxation.
Underarm sweat reduction (hyperhidrosis) lasts far longer. Doses range from 50 to 100 units per underarm, and many patients enjoy 6 to 9 months of dryness, sometimes more. Palms and soles behave similarly, though the treatment can be more uncomfortable and may require higher doses.
How dose shapes duration
Dose matters, but it isn’t linear beyond a point. Think of it as a curve with diminishing returns. Moving from 10 units to 20 in the glabella almost always adds both strength and longevity of effect. Moving from 20 to 30 may add a few weeks for heavy frowners, but not a full extra month for everyone. Overdosing the forehead doesn’t produce a longer result so much as a heavy brow. Experienced injectors talk about “effective dose” for your muscle and expression pattern. We hold the forehead dose at a level that preserves your brow position, and we load more into the depressors if needed to balance pull rather than chasing months of paralysis up top.
For preventative Botox or baby Botox, the goal is to reduce crease formation without freezing expression. Lower doses still work, but they typically shorten the duration. Expect 8 to 10 weeks of prevention in early rounds, stretching to 10 to 12 weeks as the habit of overusing the muscle breaks.
Brand differences: Botox vs Dysport vs Xeomin vs Jeuveau
Patients often ask whether switching brands makes results last longer. The honest answer is that differences are modest and technique trumps label. Dysport units are not equivalent to Botox units, but when dosed appropriately, onset can feel a touch faster and spread can be slightly broader, which some injectors prefer for crow’s feet or larger areas. Xeomin is a naked toxin without accessory proteins, which can be useful in rare cases of antibody concerns and performs comparably in most cosmetic areas. Jeuveau often behaves like Botox in both onset and duration. If one brand seems to fade faster on your face after two or three tries, a switch is reasonable, but most people see a similar 3 to 4 month arc across the board when the dose and placement match the anatomy.
First‑time Botox and the second session effect
The first time you have Botox injections, it can take a session or two to calibrate: how your frontalis pulls, how your corrugators fire, how your smile recruits crow’s feet. I typically see the second treatment last longer than the first even at the same dose, because we fine‑tune placement and because you learn not to fight movements that no longer serve you. A teacher of mine used to call it “unlearning your frown.” Patients who return around the 12 to 14 week mark for their second appointment often report the third round stretching into the 16 to 18 week range in the glabella, with forehead and crow’s feet trailing by a couple of weeks.
Factors that shorten, or lengthen, your results
Metabolism varies. Highly active patients sometimes feel effects wear off sooner, especially in small areas. This is not guaranteed, but I plan for the possibility. Strong muscle mass in the face, especially in men, demands higher units for the same duration. Smoking and heavy sun exposure are unkind to collagen and can make lines look like they return even while the muscle stays quiet.
On the flip side, good aftercare helps the early phase. Avoid heavy pressure, saunas, and vigorous exercise for the first 4 to 6 hours. Stay upright and let the product bind. None of this transforms a 3‑month result to 6 months, but it preserves precision in the first days. Longer term, a maintenance rhythm helps most. If you like living in that sweet spot, plan your Botox appointment every 3 to 4 months for dynamic areas and every 4 to 6 months for masseter or hyperhidrosis. On a budget, target the glabella first. Soften the down‑pullers and let the forehead work lighter at a dose that keeps your brow lifted.
Units, costs, and planning value
“How many units do I need?” is best answered in person, but ranges give a starting point. Glabella often requires 20 to 25 units, forehead 8 to 16, crow’s feet 12 to 24 total, bunny lines 4 to 8, chin 6 to 10, lip flip 4 to 8, masseter 40 to 80 total, neck 20 to 60 or more depending on bands. Pricing depends on your market, your injector’s experience, and clinic overhead. You will see per‑unit pricing, package pricing, or per‑area pricing. In many US cities, Botox price per unit falls between 10 and 18 dollars. Per‑area pricing can look higher but sometimes includes touch ups at two weeks. If you are comparing Botox specials or deals, ask whether follow‑up is included and who performs touch ups. Cheaper is not a bargain if it comes with poor placement or no post‑care.
A quick example from real practice: a woman in her early 30s with moderate frown lines, mild forehead lines, and early crow’s feet. We treat with 22 units in the glabella, 10 in the forehead, and 12 for crow’s feet. She enjoys strong results for about 3.5 months and schedules repeat sessions seasonally. In her mid‑40s, we add 0.5 cc of hyaluronic acid filler into the etched glabella line at one session, and suddenly the Botox seems to “last” longer. It’s not that the toxin works longer, it’s that the crease no longer shows up as quickly when the muscle returns, which buys her both time and smoothness.
Natural results do not mean short results
There is a persistent myth that natural looking Botox fades faster. You do not need to choose between subtlety and longevity. You do need to choose an injector who understands vectors of pull, balances the upper face, and doses where you need it most. Natural looking botox often means keeping the outer brows lively while relaxing the glabella, feathering the forehead instead of painting it still, and using micro dosing for delicate areas like under eyes or the lip flip. That kind of plan can still last a solid three months and often more where the dose supports it, especially in the frown lines.
Combining Botox with fillers or skin treatments
Botox relaxes dynamic wrinkles. Dermal fillers replace volume and support static lines etched at rest. If your goal is youthful appearance beyond movement lines, consider sequencing. Treat the movement first, wait two weeks, then place filler into areas that remain creased or deflated. The combination of botox and fillers often makes both treatments feel longer lasting because they address different mechanisms. Skin texture concerns, pores, and oil control may benefit from micro botox, diluted toxin placed superficially, but be realistic: this is a niche technique with subtle effects and a shorter window, typically 6 to 10 weeks. For skin tightening and collagen building, energy devices and biostimulators stand in a different category entirely.
Risks, side effects, and when to call
Most Botox side effects are mild and temporary: a small bruise, a tender spot, a headache on day one or two, or a sense of heaviness for a few days as you adjust. Rarely, toxin can diffuse to neighboring muscles and cause droopy eyelids or asymmetric smile. This is not dangerous, but it is frustrating, and it can take several weeks to resolve while the effect wears off. Good technique lowers the odds. If you notice eyelid heaviness, call your provider. Eye drops can help lift the lid marginally while time does the rest. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have certain neuromuscular conditions, skip Botox. During a Botox consultation, your injector should review contraindications and your medical history, including migraines or TMJ if that’s part of your treatment plan.
Realistic expectations by area
It helps to anchor expectations. In photos, Botox before and after images look dramatic for the glabella and crow’s feet in the first month. The forehead looks open and calm. By the third month, movement returns gradually, not all at once. Lip flips are charming for eight weeks and then the lip slides back to baseline. Masseter slimming builds with repeat sessions and can hold for months even as muscle function returns, because atrophy lags behind nerve recovery. Underarms stay dry far longer than facial areas. None of this means your treatment failed early. It means you are in the expected window.
Maintenance strategy that works in real life
A lot of patients prefer a low drama routine. Set your Botox appointment every 12 to 16 weeks for dynamic face areas if you like consistent smoothness. If you are aiming for long lasting Botox with fewer visits, prioritize the glabella and masseter, and accept that the forehead and crow’s feet might have a little more motion between sessions. If you are a beginner, try three rounds spaced evenly across a year. That gives you a clear sense of dose, response, and rhythm. If budget is tight, talk openly with your injector. A targeted plan often looks better than a diluted sprinkle everywhere.
Here is a compact checklist many of my patients keep on their phones:
Timing: assess at day 14, plan maintenance at 12 to 16 weeks for face, 16 to 24 weeks for masseter, 24 to 36 weeks for underarms. Dose: glabella tends to need the highest cosmetic dose; forehead is conservative to protect brow; small areas trade subtlety for shorter duration. Aftercare: no heavy workouts or saunas for 4 to 6 hours; no rubbing the treated sites that day; keep makeup light for a few hours. Expectations: full effect by two weeks; gradual return, not a sudden stop; some areas like lip flip fade sooner by nature. Strategy: be consistent for two to three rounds; adjust units based on your real‑world wear time rather than a one‑size chart. Finding the right injector
Searches for botox near me produce a long list of options: med spas, dermatology practices, plastic surgery clinics, and boutique studios. Focus on the provider rather than the logo on the door. Board‑certified dermatologists, plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons, and experienced nurse injectors or physician assistants who specialize in aesthetics can all deliver excellent results. Ask about volume of cases, approach to touch ups, and how they handle complications. A botox certified injector with a steady hand and an eye for natural looking botox is worth more than a discount. If a botox clinic advertises unusually low botox price, ask whether the product is genuine and how many units are included. Honest answers and a clear plan matter more than botox offers that vanish after the first visit.
When Botox is not enough, or not the right tool
If your lines are etched at rest, especially on the forehead, relaxing the muscle helps prevent worsening, but it might not erase what is already there. In those cases, pairing with fractional resurfacing, microneedling with radiofrequency, or a small amount of filler spread superficially can improve texture. If your brows sit lower at baseline, a botox brow lift may offer only a tiny lift, and you could feel heavy if the balance isn’t perfect. Some patients with heavy lids do better with conservative dosing or even surgical consultation down the line. For smile lines around the mouth, botox for smile lines is rarely the primary tool; filler, skin tightening, and skincare offer more reliable benefit. For oily skin, acne, or pore reduction, toxin has niche roles, but skincare and procedures do the heavy lifting.
Special cases: men, athletes, and migraine patients
Men generally have stronger facial muscles and often require higher units to achieve the same degree of softening and duration. That does not mean a frozen look, just an adjusted dose curve. Athletes who train intensely may feel results wear sooner, though I have long‑distance runners who hold their glabella for four months like clockwork. For migraines, dosing is different from cosmetic patterns, guided by the PREEMPT protocol, and the goal is frequency reduction rather than wrinkle management. Many migraine patients notice a bonus of smoother frown lines as part of their medical treatment. If you are treating TMJ or bruxism, expect relief in 1 to 2 weeks with duration similar to masseter slimming, and be prepared for a repeat session before the muscle fully returns if symptoms flare.
My take on stretching results without overdoing it
If your aim is long lasting botox without heaviness, put your units where they count. Keep the glabella strong, feather the forehead, and do not be afraid of a slightly higher dose in the crow’s feet if your smile remains warm. https://www.youtube.com/@AllureMedical https://www.youtube.com/@AllureMedical Build a habit of maintenance before full return of movement. Protect your collagen with sunscreen and avoid smoking. Consider preventative botox earlier than you think if your habits create deep creases. Micro adjustments at day 14 can extend symmetry without adding a full session’s worth of units. If you are sensitive to any dip in brow stamina, tell your injector. Small, well‑placed areas can preserve a brow line without closing off your expressions.
What a full year of Botox can look like
A typical patient who starts in spring might schedule a botox appointment in April, return in July for maintenance, again in October before the holiday season, and then in late January or February once the winter pace slows. Over the year, the glabella stays largely smooth, the forehead holds a natural lift, and crow’s feet soften when you smile in photos. If we add a lip flip for a summer event, we plan it six to eight weeks in advance and accept that it will be gone by the time sweaters come out. If we decide on masseter contouring, we schedule two to three sessions six months apart and watch the jawline refine steadily.
Bottom line on longevity
Here is the distilled truth: Botox results typically last 3 to 4 months in most facial areas, closer to 4 to 6 months for masseter and 6 to 9 months for underarm sweating. Forehead and lip flip wear off sooner, glabella holds longer, and dose influences how long before movement returns. Technique, anatomy, and consistency matter more than brand hype. The best outcomes come from a tailored plan that respects your expressions, uses the right units in the right places, and follows a maintenance rhythm you can sustain. If you keep those pieces aligned, you can live in that window where you look like yourself, just better rested, most days of the year.