Botox is the most popular nonsurgical cosmetic treatment, and it has been for years. Millions of people choose this treatment for its powerful anti-aging properties. Most of them are satisfied with their results and often continue to use botox regularly for years. (We’re referring here to botulinum toxin in general, which is sold under a few different brand names.)
However, there are times when someone may not be happy with their botox results. In the hands of an injector who’s not highly trained and skilled, botox can sometimes produce undesirable results, and a person may want to reverse the treatment. Is this possible? Can botox be reversed?
Botox cannot be reversed
Botox is actually an irreversible treatment. Once it’s injected, botox binds to certain receptor sites on nerve endings. This prevents the nerves from activating the muscles. Botox binds to these sites permanently, and there’s no known treatment that can reverse the effects.
The effects of botox do wear off over time because the nerve cells are constantly replacing their receptors. After a few months, all of the affected receptor sites will have been replaced, and the effects of the botox injection will disappear. If you’re unhappy with the results of your botox, you’ll generally just need to wait it out. After a few months, the effects of the botox will wear off, and you’ll be back to normal.
Unwanted effects of botox may be able to be treated
While botox can’t be reversed, if you’ve had an undesirable result from your botox treatment, then it may be possible to do something about it in some cases. For example, if your botox results are asymmetrical, then a skilled injector may be able to inject just enough botox into one side to even things out. This is not easy, but in the right hands, it’s possible.
If you’re experiencing a drooping eyelid from botox, then a medication called apraclonidine might be helpful. These prescription eyedrops are placed into the eye and help to stimulate the muscles that open the eye, which lifts the eyelid. Apraclonidine has been shown to be useful in treating droopy eyelids caused by botox.
Choose your botox injector wisely
Because botox can’t be reversed, the best way to avoid problems is to choose a highly skilled injector. Unfortunately, unsafe injection practices are fairly common. For example, there are “botox parties,” where an injector comes into a private home and injects many different people with botox in the same evening. This is an extremely unsafe practice, and can definitely result in a bad outcome. Avoid going to botox parties; a reputable provider would only inject botox in a safe clinical setting, such as a medical office.
You can also sometimes find discount botox sessions offered at spas, but this can also be an unsafe place to get an injection. The injectors may not always have the necessary training and experience to consistently get good results from botox. Seeking out a “good deal” may lead to results that you’re unhappy with, and unfortunately, you’ll just have to live with those results for a few months while you wait for the botox to wear off.
Choosing a reputable, highly trained professional to inject your botox is the best way to get the great results that you’re looking for. Here in our office, our patients know that they’re getting their botox injections from a highly trained facial plastic surgeon. With Dr. Caniglia’s detailed knowledge of facial anatomy, our patients know that they’re in great hands, and the chances of getting a bad result from botox are extremely low.
If you’re considering having botox, and you want to ensure that you get your injections from a true professional, we invite you to come in for a consultation. If you’ve already gotten botox and you’re unhappy with the results, Dr. Caniglia would be happy to see you and let you know whether there may be a way to deal with the situation. Simply contact our front desk to schedule your appointment.
