
How Long Does Botox Take to Work? A Breakdown by Area
Botox is an excellent non-surgical aesthetic procedure that helps enhance your facial beauty and improve imperfections. From smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles to more popular treatments like “brow lifts” and “jaw slimming,” Botox is a promising way to age gracefully and maintain youthfulness. Additionally, Botox can effectively improve conditions such as migraines and TMJ.
Thinking of getting Botox and wondering how long it takes to work? Read on to learn all about Botox, how long it takes to work for different areas of the face, and more.
How Does Botox Work?
Botox injections temporarily relax muscles in the face and give you a smoother, more youthful appearance. First, a doctor injects Botox into the muscle under your skin to help it relax. This paralyzes the muscle so it cannot contract. As a result, this allows you to have natural facial movement, such as when you smile or raise your brows, while enjoying a wrinkle-free appearance. The effects of Botox last up to 4 months. However, this depends on your body’s response and how much time has passed since your last treatment.
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How Long Does It Take for Botox to Work the First Time?
Generally, Botox injections work one to three days following your first treatment. However, the length of time it takes for Botox to work the first time depends on numerous factors. These include the area you are treating, the volume of the injection, and the amount of physical movement after treatment.
According to most studies, it takes about 2-4 days for Botox to work and for noticeable results to treat wrinkles and fine lines. However, this also depends on how deep the lines and wrinkles are. For other Botox treatments, such as facial slimming or migraine relief, results are not immediate and take weeks before achieving the full effect.
How Long Does It Take Botox to Work Between Eyebrows?
On average, Botox takes about 3-4 days to work between the eyebrows. Also known as glabellar lines, these wrinkles are vertical lines or furrows in the region between the eyebrows and above the nose. Glabellar lines occur naturally over time with facial animation when we communicate. When low doses of Botox are injected into this area, it paralyzes muscle activity and reduces glabellar wrinkles.

How Long Does It Take Botox to Work in the Forehead?
The length of time that it takes for Botox to work on the forehead depends on numerous factors. On average, Botox takes 3-4 days to produce noticeable results on the forehead. However, you can expect to see the full effects of Botox 10 to 14 days after the procedure. One factor that impacts how fast Botox will work in the forehead is how deep the vertical or diagonal wrinkles and lines are, to begin with. The results take longer if your forehead lines are deeper and more pronounced.
Another factor that impacts how quickly forehead Botox will work is the size of the forehead muscles. Injecting Botox into larger, stronger muscles like those in the forehead takes longer to weaken them. Therefore, results take longer to kick in.

How Long Does It Take Botox to Work for Crow’s Feet?
Within 24 hours of injection, you can see improvement in your crow’s feet lines. More significant results are visible within 2-3 days. Typically, it takes about 3-6 weeks for wrinkles to relax with Botox fully. It is important to note that the finer the lines and wrinkles are, the faster the Botox will work. Therefore, you can expect to see results more quickly in crow’s feet lines.

How Long Does It Take Botox to Work for Migraines?
Botox is licensed for chronic migraine treatment. Chronic migraine is defined as 15 or more days of headache per month, with at least eight of those days being migraine. Based on studies, migraine treatment with Botox reduces headache days by an estimated 38 days per year and greatly improves the quality of life.
Botox is injected into different areas around the head and back of the neck when treating migraine. The recommended dose is between 155 to 195 units of Botox. This is generally administered as a series of 0.1 mL (5 units) injections to about 35 areas around the head and back of the neck. Regular follow-up treatment is required to sustain results.
The effects of Botox for migraines take up to 2-4 weeks to be noticeable. However, it is important to note that the timing varies for everyone. You may experience relief within a few days of getting Botox injections. However, it can also take a few weeks. It is important to note that the full effects of Botox for migraines take up to 3-6 months to develop.
How Long Does It Take Botox to Work for Facial Slimming?
It typically takes 4 to 6 weeks. Facial slimming is achieved by injecting Botox into the masseter muscles at the back of the jaw. As a result, this softens the jaw angles and creates a slimmer jawline. Similar to the forehead, the masseter muscle is a larger muscle compared to the other muscles of the face. Therefore, the results of Botox for facial slimming take longer to work.
How Long Does It Take Botox to Work for TMJ?
You will start to feel improvements within a day or two of treatment. However, it takes several days before you notice a big improvement in TMJ symptoms. In one study, TMJ symptoms improved in 90% of participants.* That being said, Botox is a highly effective way to help relax the muscles in your jaw and provide pain relief from TMJ.
Now that you know more about how long it takes for Botox to last, learn how long Botox results last!
Experience Botox in Huntington, New York
Botox injections are an effective solution to consider if you want to achieve a more youthful appearance by reducing your crow’s feet and similar wrinkles, slimming your face, or lifting your brows. Additionally, if you struggle with chronic migraines or TMJ, Botox is a successful way to manage pain and improve your quality of life. Learn more about the benefits of Botox by reaching out to North Shore Medical Wellness today. We are a respected provider of Botox treatments in Huntington, NY, with years of experience.
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us by calling (631) 438-8184 to book a consultation or contact us online. We look forward to helping you age gracefully with a treatment plan tailored to fit your needs.
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*By submitting this form you agree to be contacted via phone/text/email. Reply ‘STOP’ to opt-out of marketing at any time
Sources:
1. Botulinum toxins for the prevention of migraine in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018.
2. Prospective analysis of the use of OnabotulinumtoxinA (BOTOX) in the treatment of chronic migraine; real-life data in 254 patients from Hull, UK. Headache Pain. 2014.
3. An Evaluation of Use of Botulinum Toxin Type A in the Management of Dynamic Forehead Wrinkles – A Clinical Study. Journal of Clinical Diagnosis Res. 2016.
4. Botulinum toxin type A for the management of glabellar rhytids. Clinical Cosmetic Investigation of Dermatology. 2010.
5. Type A botulinum toxin in the treatment of chronic facial pain associated with masticatory hyperactivity. Journal of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery. 2003.
6. Onset, longevity, and patient satisfaction with incobotulinumtoxinA for the treatment of glabellar frown lines: a single-arm, prospective clinical study. Clinical Intervention of Aging. 2013.