When a patient considers an aesthetic injection – whether it’s hyaluronic acid, botulinum toxin, Sculptra or Skinboosters – the question of how long the results will last naturally arises. It’s not only about knowing the product’s longevity, but also understanding how long the visible effects remain, and when a new session becomes relevant.
The durability of the result varies significantly depending on several factors : the type of product injected, the anatomical area treated, the amount injected, the patient’s metabolism, and the precision of the injection technique.
This article provides a rigorous and structured overview of how long results last depending on the type of injection, and the elements that may influence it.
Hyaluronic acid is a molecule naturally present in the dermis, capable of retaining up to 1,000 times its weight in water. In its injectable form, it is cross-linked to increase its stability and resistance to enzymatic degradation.
The average duration of results varies depending on the treated area :
Hyaluronic acid does not disappear suddenly : it is gradually resorbed, and its effects fade evenly. Results can be extended through targeted touch-ups or regular maintenance.
Botulinum toxin is a purified protein that temporarily blocks neuromuscular transmission. It is mainly used to soften expression lines on the forehead, glabella (frown lines), and crow’s feet.
The duration of results depends on several factors. It generally lasts 3 to 4 months in young or very expressive patients, 4 to 6 months for most patients, and can reach up to 7 months in less expressive individuals or after multiple sessions.
The effect of the toxin is always reversible and does not accumulate in the body. Once the product is metabolized, muscle contraction gradually returns. Regular maintenance is therefore necessary : a new injection is usually recommended every 4 to 6 months to preserve the relaxing effect while maintaining the natural mobility of the face.
Skinboosters are injections of lightly cross-linked hyaluronic acid, performed in the mid-dermis. Their goal is not to restore volume, but to intensely hydrate the skin and improve its elasticity, tone, and radiance.
Results appear gradually, over a protocol of 1 to 3 sessions spaced 4 to 8 weeks apart. They are then maintained on average for 4 to 6 months, sometimes longer if the skin is well cared for.
It is a true maintenance treatment, recommended twice a year to preserve its effects. Skinboosters do not alter facial volumes, but strengthen the skin’s structure and function at a deep level, enhancing firmness, hydration, and brightness.
Collagen inducers (such as calcium hydroxyapatite, poly-L-lactic acid, or polycaprolactone) do not add volume, but stimulate the natural synthesis of collagen. They provide a gradual improvement of skin laxity, with a subtle lifting and volumizing effect.
Initial results appear after 6 to 8 weeks and are maintained on average for 12 to 24 months, depending on the product used and the patient’s metabolism.
Results develop more slowly than with hyaluronic acid, but are significantly longer-lasting. These injections are ideal for patients seeking a natural, discreet, and long-term effect, particularly on the lower third of the face, neck, or temples.
The durability of results obtained from injections is never uniform. It depends both on the product used and the individual characteristics of each patient, which directly influence the longevity and quality of the outcome.
Certain simple measures can help maximize the durability of results :
It is important to distinguish between the presence of the product in the skin and the actual duration of its visible effect. Hyaluronic acid can remain partially present in the dermis for over a year, but its aesthetic effect (volume, radiance, smoothing) may diminish much earlier.
This difference is explained by several factors : the hydration provided by the gel, each skin’s individual response in terms of collagen and elasticity, and facial movements that, over time, redistribute the volumes under tension.
Thus, the presence of the product in the tissues, sometimes still detectable by ultrasound, does not necessarily mean that the aesthetic effect remains sufficient.
A personalized follow-up, designed for each face, relies on targeted, measured, and spaced interventions, adapted to the real needs of each patient. This approach offers several advantages : preserving results without weighing down facial features, extending effects without starting over, and reassessing the face at each stage, taking into account its natural evolution over time. Thus, a patient treated for nasolabial folds may space sessions to once a year, while a discreet adjustment every six months on areas such as the lips, chin, or facial contour may suffice. This flexible and thoughtful protocol allows for harmonious and long-lasting results.
A parameter often underestimated concerns the difference in durability of results between men and women. Indeed, men generally have greater facial muscle mass, thicker and more vascularized skin, and more intense facial expressions.
These factors can lead to faster product resorption, particularly in areas with high mobility (forehead, glabella, chin). Thus, in men, botulinum toxin injections tend to last slightly less (3 to 4 months), and filler results sometimes need to be maintained a bit more frequently.
In a patient starting aesthetic injections, the initial results may fade a little more quickly. This is often related to tissue quality : the skin may be more lax, less well hydrated, and the face may require more product.
With subsequent sessions, things change. When the treatment plan is well designed, interventions become lighter, effects last longer, and appointments can gradually be spaced out. The tissue, having been previously prepared, responds better to the treatment. It then becomes easier to stabilize results over time and progressively space out interventions.
Certain behaviors or physiological factors can accelerate the resorption of injectable products. Among the most common causes are :
Conversely, a healthy lifestyle, proper hydration, and diligent sun protection help slow down resorption and prolong the aesthetic effects of the treatment.
A common question asked during consultations is : “What happens if I stop treatments ?” Contrary to popular belief, the face does not age faster after stopping injections. It simply resumes its natural aging process, according to the biological rhythm of each patient. In other words, wrinkles and skin laxity continue their normal progression, without acceleration due to discontinuing treatments.
Some treatments, such as hyaluronic acid injections or collagen stimulation, can even leave a lasting beneficial effect by improving skin quality and reinforcing dermal support. Therefore, there is no physiological dependency on aesthetic injections. However, regular maintenance helps preserve the benefits longer, maintain facial harmony, and support its natural evolution progressively and harmoniously.
Article written by Dr Romano Valeria
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