Why Isn’t My Tox Lasting?
I’ve had many beauties in my chair in the past *almost* three years who have commented that the longevity of their neurotoxin doesn't seem to be as long as ‘the last time’ or ‘like usual’. You know from my consult that many factors come into play when talking duration: your general muscle metabolism, diet, exercise habits, pregnancy/ hormones, recent illness, high levels of stress, and how much you get. But a recent study has added another consideration that could effect how long your neurotoxin is lasting: COVID infections, the COVID vaccine and also subsequent boosters.
A recent study published by the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology revealed that neurotoxin longevity might be adversely effected by the COVID vaccine. The study was relatively small with a sampling group of 45 whom had 2 doses of COVID- 19 vaccines (Mukari et al, 2022).
While there is still much more research to say that the COVID vaccine (or any vaccine, along with other illness) effects longevity, anecdotally I have found that the last three years and longevity of tox has certainly been impacted. The jury is still out on the true cause for this correlation. While we wait for research to catch up to publishing, we do have some advice to help prolong your tox as much as possible:
Take zinc - Tox requires adequate levels of zinc to function optimally, and many people are mildly deficient in zinc. Supplementing with zinc has been shown to extend the effects of Botox by up to 30%! It is recommended to supplement starting 4-5 days before treatment, and continuing for 4-5 days following treatment.
Reduce stress (I know, I know, but we could all practice a little here).
Adhere to your post care instructions religiously! This specifically applies to no temperature extremes for 48 hours, no sweating unnecessarily (Yes, cancel your workout class)
Stop using nicotine and/or vaping devices.
Avoid sun exposure.
Good skincare! Healthy skin is compliant skin. Additionally there are products such as PCA ExLinea Pro and Aiyana Atelier Wri-Lax that offer topical peptides and ingredients that behave as a Botox in a bottle.’
Follow your provider’s recommendations for frequency of treatments. Those who are consistent with treatments, usually notice their tox lasts longer. With consistent treatments, the muscles will become weaker over time. Typically every 3 months for the first year and then you can stretch from there if you are lasting.
Dose = duration! You might have heard that phrase if you have ever had a consult for neurotoxin at Aiyana. It is well studied that the higher the dose administered, the longer it will last. Did you know the FDA dosing for the upper face (forehead, frown lines and crows feet is 64 Botox units? If you aren’t lasting, it may simply be a dose problem.
Avoid coming sooner than 90 days in between treatments. This leads to a possible resistance down the road.
Keep in mind that you will not be frozen the entire 3+ months. You are strongest at 2 weeks post appointment and then will slowly start to soften roughly 6-8 weeks after. Contrary to what it seems, you do not wake up one day and it is all gone.
If you are following these recommendations and still not noticing an improvement in duration, consider switching up the brand. Tox is a drug, and like with any drug, resistance can develop and not all drugs work on all persons. We carry Botox® (Allergan), Dysport® (Galderma), Xeomin® (Merz), and Jeuveau® (Evolus). If you aren’t sure what to do, at the end of it, simply communicate with your provider. We are here to make sure you love your treatments!
Mukari , A., Hamed , M., & Kridin, K. (2022, July 22). Influence of COVID‐19 mrna vaccination on the ... . Retrieved January 18, 2023, from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/jocd.15251
