Botox on the forehead, frown lines and crow's feet generally lasts about 3 to 4 months, and sometimes longer. That is the range the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) gives for lines and wrinkles, and the FDA prescribing information for Botox Cosmetic states a duration for only one area, the frown lines between the brows: approximately 3 to 4 months. Results can differ between areas, mainly because different areas are treated with different doses, but the major medical sources do not give a separate duration for each area of the face. Individual results vary, even between areas of the same face.
You will find websites that list a precise number of months for each area. When we looked for those numbers in the AAD's guidance, the FDA label and Cleveland Clinic, we did not find them. Here is what those sources do say, area by area.
Forehead lines
Forehead lines are the horizontal lines that appear when you raise your eyebrows. They come from the frontalis, the muscle that lifts your brows.
- FDA status: Botox Cosmetic is FDA-approved for moderate to severe forehead lines in adults.
- How it is treated: the label describes five injection points across the forehead and says to treat the frown lines at the same time, to lower the chance of the brows drooping.
- Duration: the label does not give a separate figure for the forehead. The AAD's general range of about 3 to 4 months is the most reliable guide.
Because this muscle holds your brows up, the dose is a balance between smoother lines and natural brow movement. That choice also affects how long results last.
Frown lines (the "11s")
Frown lines are the vertical lines between your eyebrows that show when you frown or concentrate.
- FDA status: this was the original cosmetic use of Botox Cosmetic, approved for moderate to severe frown lines (the label calls them glabellar lines).
- How it is treated: the label describes five injection points between and just above the brows.
- Duration: this is the one area where the label states a duration: approximately 3 to 4 months. In the studies behind the label, improvement was tracked for up to 120 days.
Cleveland Clinic notes that with repeated treatments in this area, some people seem to frown less over time, though it isn't clear why. It also notes that Botox works less well once frown lines are visible even when your face is at rest.
Crow's feet
Crow's feet are the lines that fan out from the outer corners of your eyes when you smile or squint.
- FDA status: Botox Cosmetic is FDA-approved for moderate to severe crow's feet (the label calls them lateral canthal lines).
- How it is treated: the label describes three injection points on each side.
- Duration: there is no separate figure on the label, so the AAD's 3 to 4 month range is the guide here too.
Some websites say crow's feet fade sooner than the forehead. We could not find an authoritative source that gives crow's feet their own number, so treat any specific figure with caution.
Smaller areas around the mouth and chin
Botox is sometimes used around the mouth and chin. One example is a "lip flip," which relaxes the muscle around the upper lip so it rolls out slightly. These areas are not among the FDA-approved uses of Botox Cosmetic, which means using it there is off-label. The label gives no dose or duration for them.
The clearest named figure we found comes from Cleveland Clinic, which says a lip flip typically lasts 2 to 5 months. Cleveland Clinic describes using only a very small amount of Botox in the upper lip, far less than the FDA label's dose for frown lines, and it notes elsewhere that higher doses tend to last longer. It does not spell out the reason for the shorter range, but smaller doses fit with that note.
Cleveland Clinic also explains that if injections sit too close to the mouth, they can temporarily affect drinking or speaking until the Botox wears off. That is why these areas call for a careful, conservative plan.
We did not find an authoritative duration figure for the chin.
What makes one area last longer than another
Across every area, the same handful of factors come up:
- Dose. Higher doses tend to last longer, according to Cleveland Clinic.
- The muscle itself. Larger, stronger muscles need more product to relax, which is one reason doses differ from area to area and from person to person.
- Treatment history. The AAD says the treated muscle may thin with repeated treatment, which can lead to longer-lasting results. Cleveland Clinic adds that the evidence for this is not strong.
- Lines at rest. Lines that show even when your face is still tend to soften rather than disappear.
Discussing dose and area with your injector at a consultation
The most useful numbers are the ones that apply to your face. A good consultation should leave you knowing, for each area you are considering:
- whether that area is an FDA-approved use or an off-label one
- how much product is planned, and why
- how long results tend to last for someone with your features
- when to come back to check results (Cleveland Clinic puts full results at 10 to 14 days)
- how far apart treatments should be (the FDA label notes that treating more often than every 3 months has not been studied)
- who will perform the injections
Individual results vary, and the area treated is only one part of the picture.
Planning a consultation at Bay Ridge Dermatology
Bay Ridge Dermatology offers Botox and complimentary cosmetic consultations. Bring a list of the areas you have in mind, and ask which of them can be treated at the practice and what timeline to expect for each. The consultation is a place to ask questions and hear your options, with no obligation to book treatment. If you decide to go ahead, treatment is a separate cost, and cosmetic treatments are not covered by insurance.
You can read more about our cosmetic dermatology services, and see what to expect at your first visit if you are new to the practice.
When you are ready, you can book online or call (347) 497-4984.
This article is general information, not medical advice. For advice about your own skin, see a dermatologist.