What Happens if You Stop Getting Botox?

If you’ve ever considered getting Botox, it’s likely that you did a lot of research leading up to your first appointment. What can you expect for how long results last? What is upkeep like? What are the different dosages like and which is right for you? All of these are common and important questions to take into account when planning your Botox treatment, but have you ever thought about what to expect if you decide to stop treatment? To help you go into your Botox experience fully prepared for what to expect beginning to end, we tapped expert dermatologists to break down what happens to your Botox each month after you stop.

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After 3 Months

Luckily, if you’re considering stopping your Botox treatments for any variety of reasons, you shouldn’t have to worry too much about losing your results during the first three months. “Botox can last for three months according to the manufacturer, but in reality, there are longer-term results that can often last up to six months or longer, especially for newer patients to Botox,” says Omaha, NE dermatologist Daniel Schlessinger, MD. “Typically Botox wears off around three to four months and the lines may gradually get deeper as time goes on,” adds New York dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD.

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After 6 Months

According to our derms, six months after stopping Botox is when you can expect to start seeing some changes. “After six months, results are generally gone, but the benefits of putting a ‘rest’ to expression can often last up to and beyond a year if the Botox is able to break a habit of frowning,” says Dr. Daniel Schlessinger. “We find that Botox for masseters (bulges on the back of the jawline), can often last six months or longer as well.”

For many first-time Botox patients, fear that your lines will come back worse after you stop is often a roadblock to treatment, but Dr. Daniel Schlessinger assures that that will not be the case. “Whatever the case, your lines will not be worse than prior to when Botox was administered once it is gone, at least for a few months,” he explains. “Many newcomers to Botox fear there is some rebound that makes frowning or muscle activity worse, but that isn’t the case. Time will march on, though, so I recommend my patients try to redo Botox within six months in most cases.” Dr. Daniel Schlessinger also adds that his patients who come every three months tend to see better, more youthful results, but adds that “if costs are a concern, it is reasonable to consider stretching out to six months.”

After 1 Year

With most Botox treatments wearing off within three to six months, the one year mark post-Botox will likely bring somewhat of a return to your baseline, but Dr. Garshick assures that you need not worry about ending up in a worst place than you started if you do decide to stop getting Botox. “In general, the lines initially may not appear as deep as they were prior to doing Botox but eventually will get deeper as time goes by without it,” she explains.

What to Know Before Stopping Botox

While Dr. Daniel Schlessinger and Dr. Garshick eased the fear that your skin will be in worse shape after you stop Botox, it’s normal to still have worries. So, what do our doctors want you to know if you’re considering stopping Botox. According to Dr. Garshick, “There’s no major issue with stopping Botox and it’s something that can be initiated again at any time if interested. That said, it’s important to know that you won’t necessarily maintain the benefits of Botox after stopping, as eventually the muscle movement will return which can contribute to the development of lines and wrinkles.”

Omaha, NE dermatologist Joel Schlessinger, MD adds that, while there’s no significant danger to stopping your Botox treatments, it’s good to be prepared for symptoms that were once eradicated to arise again. “Botox may have a longer lasting effect than you anticipated, but the wrinkles, pain or other symptoms will eventually come back,” he says. “Interestingly, I see many patients who get Botox for their forehead and frown line (11’s) wrinkles and end up coming back for Botox not due to those wrinkles coming back, but the headaches that Botox has diminished returning.”