Wrinkles typically improve three to four days after treatment with Botox. While facial exercises, such as frowning and grimacing, have been advocated following Botox injections to enhance the benefit and/or onset of action, data has been lacking. A recent randomized controlled study comparing exercise vs no exercise has confirmed the benefit of facial exercises.
Forehead wrinkles were rated as looking better within just two to three days after the treatment if the injections were followed by facial exercises, compared with three to four days without the exercises. After two weeks, there was no difference between those who did or did not do facial exercises. The exercises also made no difference in how long the effects of treatment lasted. Based on this study, facial exercises after treatment with Botox make sense when a rapid benefit is desired.
