A good time to consider Botox is when you notice lines that remain at rest. Dynamic wrinkles—those that appear only with movement or expression—are completely normal. But if you find that after relaxing your face the lines stay etched in, that’s when it’s smart to start preventive care.

At this stage, I recommend a combination of medical-grade skincare, light collagen-stimulating treatments (like microneedling), and lifestyle support such as managing diet and stress hormones. Botox can then be introduced as part of that routine.

The key is prevention: it’s much easier to soften early lines before they set in deeply. Once wrinkles have been etched in for years, they can be far more difficult to treat and may require multiple rounds of microneedling, retinol, and other advanced treatments.

All botulinum toxin brands — like Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin — work in a similar way: they temporarily relax targeted muscles to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

A good comparison is Advil vs. Motrin — both are brand names for ibuprofen and contain the same active ingredient, but are marketed differently and may vary slightly in formulation. Likewise, Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin all contain botulinum toxin type A, but differ in how they’re manufactured, how quickly they take effect, and how they spread in the tissue.

For example, Dysport tends to kick in faster than Botox.

Botox

• Onset: 3–5 days

• Full results: 7–14 days

• Duration: About 3–4 months

Dysport

• Onset: Often within 1–3 days

• Full results: Around 7 days

• Duration: 3–4 months (sometimes slightly longer)

Xeomin

• Onset: 3–4 days

• Full results: 7–14 days

• Duration: Typically 3–4 months

I generally recommend spacing Botox treatments about every 4 months. While the average guideline is 3 months, giving your skin and muscles a little extra time has added benefits.

• Skin quality: If you feel you need Botox too frequently, it may be a sign your skin needs more support. Staying hydrated, using medical-grade skincare, and adding collagen-stimulating treatments (like microneedling with or without PRF) help improve thickness and resilience.

• Muscle health: Botox works by weakening muscle contractions that cause wrinkles, but we don’t want to completely shut down muscle activity. Allowing time between treatments lets the muscle regain some natural strength and maintain balance, while still keeping lines softened.

Traditional medicine often stops at the diagnosis and a prescription, treating symptoms but not the cause. Functional medicine goes further — it uncovers the root reason behind your symptoms and addresses it, rather than just masking discomfort.

That said, medications absolutely have their place and are sometimes necessary. The difference is that in functional medicine, treatment also emphasizes detailed lifestyle and nutrition strategies, along with a thorough exploration of all factors contributing to your health.

Yes, I always recommend getting lab work done before starting an extensive supplement regimen. Lab results can provide valuable insights into your levels of vitamins and minerals, mitochondrial health, CoQ10, and liver function.

Often, I see certain vitamins come back elevated, which means your supplements may need to be adjusted. I’m a strong believer in obtaining most of your nutrients through a healthy diet and only SUPPLEMENTING what is additionally needed.

Test, don’t guess.

No, at this time, advanced lab work is not covered by insurance. However, this testing is intended to complement — not replace — the care you receive from your primary care physician (PCP).

Your basic lab work should still be covered by insurance when ordered through your PCP.