When you choose a cosmetic surgery procedure, you think about how long it takes to recover and what kind of results to expect — but how long your results last may not always be on your questions list. Knowing how often you can expect to make a trip to the plastic surgeon’s office can help you budget while keeping up your youthful appearance.

Botox Lasts About 4 Months

BOTOX® Cosmetic is a substance that can be strategically injected to nearby facial muscles, temporarily paralyzing the muscle to keep your face from appearing wrinkled. While Botox cannot correct every line on your face, it can reduce the appearance of areas where facial movements cause wrinkling: the forehead, frown lines between your eyes and crow’s feet on the sides of your eyes.

How long Botox will last depends upon the amount given and your history of receiving the injections. The injection will typically maintain for about 60 to 120 days, sometimes longer depending on your skin.

“Botox will keep the facial muscles atrophied, and over time the muscles grow accustomed to staying in this position,” says Franklin D. Richards, MD, FACS, Chief of Plastic Surgery at Suburban Hospital in Bethesda, Md. “This is why it is important to be on a regular injection routine. With the help of a physician, each patient can determine what the best schedule for Botox injections can be.”

Retouch Most Dermal Fillers After 6 Months

Dermal fillers are another form of injectable that helps to add volume to your face. Fillers are typically injected into the areas where Botox is not, such as the apostrophe-like folds that can appear on either side of your mouth. Fillers also may be used to make your cheeks look slightly rounded or to plump up hollows under your eyes.

Fillers can be divided into two categories: temporary and semi-permanent. A wide variety of temporary fillers exist, including collagen such as CosmoDerm, Cosmoplast, Zyderm and Zyplast, and hyaluronic acid, such as Captique, Esthelis, Elevess, Hylaform, Juvederm, Perlane and Restylane. Fillers typically last anywhere from six months to one year. While a filler that lasts a year may be more expensive, you will need fewer treatments, so you may find this an investment worth making.

Semi-permanent fillers include those made with polymethylacrylate or PMMA, which includes Articol, Artefill and Metacrill. Results can last anywhere from five to 10 years, sometimes longer depending upon your overall skin quality.

Facelifts Can Last 10 Years or More

If you use dermal fillers and Botox as an option to keep wrinkles away, there may come a time when they just don’t seem to be effectively reducing wrinkles.

“While you can use fillers for many years, they can become cost-ineffective when compared to the more lasting results of a mini-facelift or facelift,” says Constance Barone, MD, FACS, a cosmetic surgeon at the Medical Day Spa & Laser Center in San Antonio, Texas.

While facelifts can reverse the signs of aging, they don’t stop the aging process altogether. That’s why you can expect your facelift to last 10 years and possibly longer. The duration your facelift lasts can depend upon factors such as techniques used, your face shape and overall skin quality. Many plastic surgeons can perform in-office re-tightening using a local anesthetic. However, this may not produce dramatic results if a very noticeable difference is desired.

Breast Implants Can Last 10 Years to a Lifetime

Breast implants themselves typically come with a 10-year warranty — but that does not account for skin sagging and changes that occur around the implant. As your skin changes with time, you may find your implants appear uneven or the breast tissue is sagging. In these instances, your physician may recommend a breast lift.

You also must consider the risks associated with breast augmentation surgery, such as developing scar tissue around the implant or implant rupture. These occurrences account for a few of the reasons why one in five women have breast implants removed within 10 years, according to CBS News. Talk to your plastic surgeon about your unique surgery outlook and ways you can maintain skin quality and the life of your breast implants.

Rhinoplasty Is Typically Permanent

Because rhinoplasty involves reshaping nasal bones instead of strictly soft tissue that can evolve with time, rhinoplasty typically is considered a permanent procedure. Exceptions always exist, however. If you desire enhancements to your current rhinoplasty or find the shape is contributing to added wrinkles, you may elect to undergo additional procedures for correction.