Too much Botox can age you If someone gets Botox every three to four months for decades, their facial muscles can begin to appear thinner and looser at a younger age, Idriss said. This is the body's natural reaction to neuromodulator injections, Williams notes.
Can Botox make you look older over time? Commencing extensive Botox treatments at a young age can potentially accelerate the aging process, resulting in an older appearance over time. Adopting a premature and overly aggressive approach to Botox injections may lead to a frozen and over-treated facial expression.
"After receiving Botox, a patient may unconsciously attempt to re-create the facial expressions in the area where treatment has paralyzed their facial muscles, "said Dr. Becker. "What can happen is that other, nearby muscles compensate--this can have the effect of actually creating new wrinkles."
“If you do too much Botox on your forehead for many, many years, the muscles will get weaker and flatter,” cautions Wexler, adding that the skin can also appear thinner and looser. Moreover, as your muscles become weaker, they can start to recruit surrounding muscles when you make facial expressions.
Muscle Atrophy and Adaptation: After long-term Botox use, some facial muscles may experience mild atrophy due to limited activity. This can actually benefit patients who prefer a smoother look, as muscle activity that causes wrinkles is minimized.
BOTOX resistance is a situation in which a patient either has built up antibodies against the botulinum toxin, or happens to metabolize the BOTOX drug exceptionally quickly. As a result, for these patients BOTOX injections provide underwhelming results, a very short-lived effect, or no effect at all.
Serious adverse effects after cosmetic use of botulinum toxin include dysphagia, muscle weakness, and allergic reactions [22, 23].
The truth is that there is no upper age limit when it comes to using Botox since it works by relaxing the facial muscles, which in our opinion, is a valid approach for people of any age to take to look younger. Most people, in fact, who receive Botox tend to be older rather than younger.
Celebrities often pick alternatives like Dysport, Xeomin, and Juvederm. These fillers add volume or reduce wrinkles differently than Botox. They're popular for their varying effects and durations.
The potential side effects of the Botox procedure in the forehead include pain in the injected area, bruising, swelling, and inflammation.
The effects of Botox wear off after approximately 3 to 4 months and once the effects have worn off, the treatment can be repeated. For some patients, this may mean receiving treatment every four months or so but for some, Dr. Green may recommend more time in between.
Botox injections are relatively safe. Still, you shouldn't get this treatment if you're pregnant, breastfeeding or have: Neuromuscular disease. Drooping eyelids (ptosis).
The neurotoxin protein in Botox blocks neurotransmitters from engaging with your facial muscles. Over time, the Botox components are broken down into harmless particles called amino acids. The broken-down components are excreted from the kidneys as waste, or they're used in other proteins.
Some rare but potential risks for patients over the age of 65 include: Reactions At the Injection Site—Bruising, pain, and swelling around the injection site are the most common side effects of a Botox treatment. These reactions happen if a blood vessel is temporarily damaged during the injection process.
Normally, it doesn't. However, if you take more of the recommended dosage or start applying too much Botox too early in your life, the toxin used as the active ingredient can strain your skin and make you more prone to the signs of aging.
Pain, bruising, and skin color changes around the injection site are the most common side effects of Botox. Injection site reactions tend to show up shortly after your treatment and should go away on their own.
While BoNT is generally safe, it's important to note that, as with any cosmetic treatment, it can have potential complications. One such rare issue is the droopy eyelid or eyelid ptosis. This occurs when BoNT migrates to unintended areas, affecting the muscles that control the upper eyelid.
If you stop getting Botox injections, their effects will fade with time. If you don't go back for more, their results will eventually disappear.
Botulinum toxin injections aren't the only Botox alternatives. You can also consider treatments such as retinoids, chemical peels, and microneedling. Dermal fillers are another alternative. This injectable treatment typically works immediately and lasts longer than Botox.
FDA has reported adverse events after BoNT injection affecting nervous system far from initial site of injection such as speech disorder, nystagmus, restless leg syndrome, and even coma. Central nervous system involvement included 23.5% of serious and 24.9% of non-serious events (1).