No matter how much you exercise or how healthy you eat, wrinkles and fine lines are just an inevitable part of life. With that said, Botox is a simple yet effective way to reverse signs of aging and help you restore youth to your complexion.
You’re probably a little familiar with Botox, and you might know that it’s not a permanent solution. Repeat treatments are necessary in order to continually achieve the results you’re looking for.
But how much is too much? Is there a limit to the number of times that you can get Botox before it becomes unsafe? Let’s talk about this commonly asked question to boost your confidence and reduce your anxiety if you’re thinking of getting Botox injections.
What is Botox?
Understanding exactly how Botox works is important for being able to see how often you should go (or how often you should not go) back for more treatments.
When botox is injected, it temporarily blocks the nerve signals that make muscles contract. Since muscle contraction is what causes wrinkles, fine lines, and crow’s feet, this can temporarily block these physical characteristics from forming on your face.
Depending on the amount injected, most people see results last for around three to six months. After that, the muscles move again and the wrinkles will come back.
Botox is short for botulinum toxin, which is produced by a specific type of bacteria. In higher amounts, this toxin can be poisonous. However, weaker doses are administered during the Botox procedure for desired effect.
How Much Botox is Too Much?
The amount of botox you’d need for it to be poisonous is extremely large and nearly impossible no matter how many times you go.
Keep in mind that everyone’s bodies are different. While your body may take up the toxin and absorb it for over six months, a friend of yours might start to see their wrinkles come back in just three months.
The key isn’t to focus on a timeframe, but rather your own physical appearance. When you see your wrinkles start to come back, it means the toxin is wearing off and you can come back to the office for another round of injections.
Basic recommendations from the manufacturer of Botox Cosmetic is four units for each injection site. Most dermatologists say they administer anywhere between 10 and 50 units, depending on the individual patient’s needs. This can also vary depending on the location of injection and the frequency of the application.
Your surgeon might start at a lower dosage during your first treatment to see who well it works on you. Depending on the response, they can adjust your next dosage accordingly.
What Happens If You Get Too Much Botox?
If Botox is injected by unqualified providers, it’s possible that excess amounts will lead to temporary abnormalities in your face. In these circumstances, it’s a good thing that Botox isn’t permanent!
There are a few common telltale signs that someone has been getting a little bit too much Botox.
Frozen Face
One of the more common byproducts of too much Botox is the frozen face in which individuals are unable to properly show their emotions.
It usually means that you have trouble smiling, frowning, or moving your eyebrows to appropriately react to certain situations. You can probably envision a celebrity or two who suffers from this.
Arched or Drooping Eyebrows
This usually happens if you get too much Botox in your forehead. Your frontalis muscle is responsible for moving your eyebrows, and when this muscle receives too much Botox, it can raise your eyebrows in an undesirable manner.
When the frontalis muscle becomes too relaxed, it may also cause your eyebrows to droop and fall down. This can cause your eyelids to give the appearance that they are drooping as well, making you look fatigued even if you’re wide awake.
Weakened Muscles
When you stop using your muscles, they naturally become smaller and weaker. If you get Botox more often than you need to, it might cause your muscles to loosen and your skin to appear thinner and less rejuvenated than it did before treatment.
Is Botox Safe?
Despite the potential for temporary facial abnormalities if the procedure is done improperly or too much is injected, Botox is a relatively safe option when conducted correctly. However, possible side effects include:
Pain or swelling at the injection site.
Headache or fatigue.
Crooked smile or drooling.
Cockeyed eyebrows and other facial abnormalities.
Eye dryness or excessive tearing.
How to Get the Most Successful Treatment
You can avoid the side effects above and get a better result from your Botox injections by following a few simple steps before and after getting the procedure completed.
Go to a Licensed Provider
There is a black market for Botox injections that is being provided by unqualified providers. Getting “faux-tox” injections heavily increases your chances of experiencing issues after the procedure, and it also puts your general health at risk.
Before you get Botox injections, or any plastic surgery procedure, you should have a checklist ready to make sure your provider meets certain criteria. Check for the following:
Are they board certified by an accredited service such as the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery or the American Board of Plastic Surgeons? This means they’ve gone through rigorous training and have an extensive background.
Look at reviews of the facility and see how previous customers felt about their procedures.
Listen to your feelings during the consultation. If you meet with the surgeon ahead of time and get a bad feeling that they don’t know what they’re doing, you’re probably right. Look somewhere else.
Additionally, you want to vet the facility and make sure they are accredited by a credible organization.
Look for at least one of the following certifications:
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities
Title XVIII Medicare participation
State licensure
Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care
Engage Facial Muscles Post Treatment
After you get the injections, you should try to do facial exercises to move muscles in the area. This ensures that the toxin is evenly distributed throughout the injection site, which not only gives you more desirable results, but also helps to make them last longer.
Avoid Rubbing Your Face After Treatment
You don’t want to touch your face after getting Botox because it can cause the toxin to migrate to unwanted areas of the face. This can lead to some of those side effects we discussed earlier, as well as dilute the toxin and potentially shorten the amount of time that the injections last.
Avoid the Sun
Harmful UV rays from the sun damage collagen on your skin which leads to premature wrinkles. This is counterintuitive to your treatment. Within the first 48 hours after the session, try to limit sun exposure. When you do go outside, wear sunscreen and wear clothing that shades your skin.
In Conclusion
Botox is a simple and effective procedure for reducing the appearance of aging on your face. However, the botulinum toxin only temporarily prevents muscles from contracting, meaning that your wrinkles will return after a period of time, usually three to six months.
However, there is no set time period for everyone. The best way to see if you need another Botox injection is by just looking to see if your wrinkles are returning.
Too much Botox is possible, and it’s more common if administered by an unqualified provider. The side effects are temporary, but include eyebrow drooping, raised eyebrows, or frozen facial features.
You can get more out of your procedure and ensure that it turns out the way you’d hoped by going to a qualified provider who is certified by an accredited board.
Additionally, you should exercise your facial muscles, avoid the sun, and avoid rubbing your face after treatment to make sure the toxin absorbs properly and lasts as long as possible.
Looking for a plastic surgeon who meets the criteria that you can trust?
Dr. Zach at PH-1 Miami is a current member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and has completed the Botox procedure plenty of times. He loves seeing his patients gain a newfound love for their bodies, and he’d love to add you to his list of happy clients! Click here to get started.
Sources:
How Many Units of Botox Do I Need? | U.S. Dermatology Partners
Botox injections | The Mayo Clinic
Finding the right plastic surgeon for you | American Society of Plastic Surgeons
