Freshen Up!

Monday, January 21, 2013

What if your Botox "doesn't work"?

You had Botox few times already and know what to expect, you see the same provider over the years, and suddenly just when you need it the most your results are not as good as before.
Botox, although usually predictable, is not an exact science. I personally had couple of cases of variations on the same patient that I've injected more than 5 times, same dose, placement and same Allergan-certified product. The answer is always the same: notify your injector, come in for a follow up so results are properly documented, get your touch up or free treatment provided by Allergan.
Anatomy is almost the same in everyone, almost: men have much heavier bigger muscles and tend to need much more product than women, some people have longer or shorter corrugators (muscles that create "number 11s") which can alter the position of the brows after the treatment.
Metabolism plays a great role in longevity of the product: few patients of mine who are bodybuilders go through the product in few weeks. I've also had a case of a young woman who had Botox done by me several times coming in just a month complaining it was gone. It turned out she was going through a tremendous amount of stress recently and started going to the gym every day, which increased her metabolism significantly. She still had a complimentary treatment and was extremely happy, but we've learned why it happened.
I always advise my patients to take Zinc picolinate (50 mg daily for 5 days prior to the injection of Botox) to prolong the results. Zinc plays a key role in metabolism of Botox, it makes the product attach to the nerve faster and hold on to it longer. You can find it at Whole Foods stores or on Amazon.
Word of caution: it is a good idea to check out your provider's reputation and make sure they only use certified product through Allergan, the maker of authentic Botox. Only then you can be sure your product came from the United States and only then you can count on complimentary treatment in case if your product didn't work.
Lastly: communication is key! Always talk to your provider about your concerns, always come back for the follow up if you are not completely happy, the only way you can count on compensation is by showing your face.

1 comment:

  1. The reply is always the same: notify your injector, are available in for a follow up so outcomes are properly documented, get your touch up

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