As a person ages, wrinkles can start to appear on the face and give the person an older and more tired look. Botox is one of the most popular options to reduce the look of wrinkles on the face, but the results are not permanent. In general, the results of Botox injections last anywhere from four to six months which leads some patients to ask if there is a way to make the results of the treatment last for a longer time.
In a TikTok video released last March, a plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills shared the benefits of the mineral zinc as a way to make the results of Botox injections last longer.
In the video, the doctor said, “If you love the effects of Botox and you want it to last longer, consider taking a zinc supplement. There’s a study that shows that taking a zinc supplement can prolong the duration of the Botox effects.”
The doctor went on to add, “Take about 15 milligrams a day and see if that helps.”
In an interview with the New York Post, the plastic surgeon noted that some studies have shown that the taking of zinc can help Botox results last for up to 20%-30% longer than in a person who is in “a state of zinc depletion.”
It should be noted that, even with the results shown by the studies, the final results of taking zinc after Botox injections will vary per person.
Botox is a procedure that uses botulinum toxin to reduce the look of wrinkles on the face or eliminate them. Once Botox is injected into the targeted area of the face, it begins to block the signals, in the targeted muscles, that travel in the body from the nerves to the muscles. Once the signals are blocked, the injected muscle loses the ability to contract. Then, the skin starts to gain a smoother look which allows the wrinkles to relax and reduce in appearance.
Some of the most popular areas for treatment with Botox include lines that have formed because of excessive frowning, lines on the forehead, and crow’s feet around the eyes. One of the reasons it is so popular is that the treatment can be performed as an outpatient procedure in just a few minutes.
When asked by the newspaper why she recommends the use of Zinc, the doctor replied, “For patients that really feel like Botox just lasts weeks and they don’t want to increase the dose, I do have patients try this. It works better on some patients than on others. The only guaranteed way to increase longevity of Botox (or similar neuromodulators) is to increase the dose that’s injected.”
In a follow-up to the original video, the plastic surgeon explained why zinc is able to help maintain the results of a Botox injection. One of the main reasons is that the zinc mineral is able to interact with a specific protein in the liquid injection.
“Basically, zinc is important for the activity of a component of the Botox protein. It plays a role and affects how the toxin binds to its target relatively soon after it is injected.
In addition, “the stronger the attachment of the protein,” the longer Botox is able to last which means the reduction of wrinkles last for a longer period of time.”
Another tip when using Zinc to make the results of Botox last longer? Start taking the zinc supplements before arriving for a Botox appointment. “The activity that’s based on Zinc is lost within hours after injection. And because each Botox molecule requires a zinc molecule in order to be effective, you want to make sure you have enough zinc to make it effective and last as long as possible.”
As much as it sounds like a good idea to take zinc to help the results of Botox last longer, there are some possible sides effects according to the plastic surgeon. “Zinc can be irritating to some people’s gastrointestinal system, so if someone is already prone to GI issues or has issues with nausea, I warn them about that side effect.
When it comes to the results of Botox (with or without the addition of the help of zinc), there is no downtime or recovery period required after the treatment. Patients should not massage, rub, or touch the area that was injected. Patients can put ice on the treated area during the first twenty-four hours after the treatment. The ice should be placed on the treated area for fifteen minutes at a time every two to four hours.
Anyone interested in having Botox injections is -advised to contact a board-certified medical professional in their area who is trained and experienced in performing Botox procedures on patients of all ages.
- MA
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