If you've tried Botox and it hasn't given you the results you were hoping for, it's important to talk to your healthcare provider. They may be willing to re-inject it for free if you didn't get the desired outcome the first time. If it happens again and you're still determined to have a wrinkle-free face, consider seeing another healthcare provider. Reach out to your current provider first and explain your situation. A reputable injector will want to know if you're not satisfied with your treatment and will work with you to ensure that you get the results you want.
If you don't feel comfortable going back to the same provider, seek a second opinion or switch to an MD injector before investing in more BOTOX. Bring a record of your previous treatments to your new provider, including when you last had BOTOX, where your injections were done, and how much was given. This information will help them design a safe and effective treatment plan. Studies have also looked into how age and frequency of treatment can affect a person's ability to develop resistance to Botox. If that's the case, then you can thank your incredible immune system, or you can try to learn to accept those little lines of expression, or consider trying one of the many alternatives to Botox.
When the Botox bottle is opened and mixed, it must be used within a specified period of time, otherwise its effects may decrease. Minimize risk by choosing an experienced provider with a proven reputation for achieving excellent results with BOTOX, preferably a doctor with extensive training in aesthetic medicine, such as a board-certified plastic surgeon. Botox and the homologous brands Xeomin (recently launched) and Dysport share the same active ingredient, botulinum toxin, which works by paralyzing facial muscles and mitigating the contraction of muscle fibers, thus smoothing wrinkles. Most of the time, when BOTOX seems to be less effective for a patient, it's not true resistance to BOTOX. BOTOX resistance is a situation in which a patient has accumulated antibodies against botulinum toxin or metabolizes the drug BOTOX exceptionally quickly. Instead, a BOTOX treatment plan plus injectable fillers to plump your skin can help you maintain a youthful appearance and your natural facial expressions. If you haven't yet experienced what BOTOX Cosmetic can do for you and how it can powerfully but naturally reverse the signs of facial aging, I encourage you to see me for your next treatment.
The risk of this happening is much higher in salons and other non-medical or quasi-medical facilities, as only licensed doctors can obtain authentic BOTOX or Dysport. According to those who do recognize the phenomenon of Botox resistance, the numbers are low: between 1 and 3% of patients who receive injections will develop toxin-blocking antibodies. In one study, these patients received AbobotulinumToxin for cervical dystonia, while those who received cosmetic Botox did not report an immune response. True BOTOX resistance is quite rare. Clinical trials by manufacturers showed that no more than 1.5% of patients developed any “neutralizing antibodies” against the drug. If you have deep lines that are present at rest when you're not using your muscles, you won't be able to get rid of those wrinkles with Botox alone.
Keep in mind that the success of Botox injections largely depends on the technique, and it's also quite possible to get a “bad” batch that isn't fresh (and therefore less effective). So how do you make sure that the BOTOX you're paying for actually gives you the results you want? The simple answer is to trust an experienced injector to get a reasonable number of units at the right injection points.
