Can your body become resistant to Botox? The answer is yes, although it is a rare occurrence. According to experts, only 1-3% of patients who receive Botox injections develop toxin-blocking antibodies. This is known as immunogenicity, which is the ability of an exogenous substance to cause an immune response in the body. When the immune system recognizes the botulinum toxin, it deactivates it, making it less effective.
Different brands of Botox are purified in different ways. If unnecessary proteins remain in the product, they can act as adjuvants and stimulate the immune system to respond better. Although very rare, immunogenicity is always a possibility and all manufacturers of neurotoxins recognize its potential in their products. The types of antibodies that can form after injection include neutralizing antibodies (NAB) and non-neutralizing antibodies (other than NAB).
All of the aesthetic toxins currently available on the market have been shown to cause an immune response in at least one patient. True Botox resistance is quite rare, with clinical trials showing that no more than 1.5% of patients developed any “neutralizing antibodies” against the drug. New York dermatologist Julie Russak, MD, agrees that the body can develop antibodies against a specific product and the immune system will resist them. To prevent this from happening, it is essential to follow a treatment program that reflects the rate at which the body metabolizes the injection of your choice (once again, every three to six months on average).
In one study, 13.9% of patients were found to have developed antibodies against botulinum toxin after repeated treatment.
