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For several weeks now, people in the United States have started living a “new normal.” With nonessential businesses shutting down for the time being to flatten the curve, many are wondering how to keep up with their routines. It is, of course, important to make sure that you feel good about yourself. For some people, that means taking the time to maintain their looks and remain presentable (especially if they have video meetings!). Individuals are learning for the first time how to do their own face masks, facials, and other skincare routines.
While many skincare routines are safe and healthy to do on your own, some procedures should not be done except by skincare professionals. Botox is an immensely popular cosmetic procedure, but it should not be done at home. Keep reading to learn more about the risks of doing botox at home, and to see our recommendations for alternatives for those looking for a lift.
Dangers of Botox at Home
Many people are aware that Botox is considered to be a safe and effective procedure for many conditions. Because botox has an established reputation as a safe cosmetic procedure, some people may be considering trying to administer it to themselves while they do not have access to the expertise of trained professionals.
We at SeaMist MedSpa strongly urge against administering botox injections at home, however. Cosmetic professionals have years of training that allows them to provide botox treatments with minimal risk of infection or other side effects.
When botox is done at home by someone who is not trained, these risks are amplified. Botox uses a neurotoxic protein called botulinum toxin. Quantities need to be precise. FDA-approved Botox injections use tiny amounts of botulinum toxin to yield results. High, unregulated quantities of botulinum toxin can have adverse effects and may result in symptoms similar to botulism. Not only is it crucial to use the correct quantity of botox, but it is also important that botox is administered with precision exactly to the injection site.
Those who do not have experience providing botox injections are at risk for overdose or injecting it incorrectly. Some of the best-case scenario side effects that can result from incorrect botox use at home include months of drooping eyelids and flu-like symptoms. Other risks include paralysis of muscles near the injection site.
Unless you seek out a verified cosmetic center with trained professionals, there’s no guarantee that the botox sold online doesn’t contain other harmful ingredients. In some cases, these online retailers sell botox for at-home use that contains much higher quantities of the botulinum toxin than present in FDA-approved botox treatments.
Even if you buy botox that contains the proper levels of botulinum toxin, it is unlikely that you will be able to properly inject the correct muscle to achieve the results you are seeking. Cosmetic professionals have intimate knowledge of human anatomy and are trained to be able to assess where botox will be most effective for their patients.
As stated above, if botox is used in an improper muscle group, this can cause that area of the face to droop for weeks, if not months. The best that you can hope for if you administer botox at home into the wrong area of your facial anatomy is not seeing any difference.
So, if botox at home is out of the question, what can you do during this time without the help of a cosmetic expert?
Potential Alternatives
Though it isn’t advisable to try DIY botox, now might be a great time to establish a skincare routine for yourself. One benefit of social distancing is not having to see anyone on your “off” skin days! You can use this time to learn more about how to manage whatever skin issues you experience.
Although setting up and following a skincare routine might not sound like it will do enough to ward off wrinkles, the proper routine can work wonders! Learning about your own skin type and how to manage the damage that occurs from free radicals and other factors can give you more control over how you age.
Already have the right products for your skin? If you’re ahead of the curve as far as skincare goes, you still might be able to benefit from alternatives to botox at home, such as face masks and face patches, or Frownies. These products can still give you that spa day feeling without the dangers that come with botox at home. You might even find a treatment you can’t believe you’ve lived without!
If you haven’t already, it might also be time to take stock of your daily nutritional intake. Making sure that you are properly hydrated and consuming the appropriate levels of vitamins can have a noticeable effect on your skin’s appearance. Vitamins C and E and carotenoids are especially useful as nutritional supplements because they act as antioxidants for your skin.
Alternatives to at home botox injections aren’t likely to yield the same dramatic results, they are more or less guaranteed to be safe for you, especially if you keep track of whatever changes you make to your lifestyle. If nothing else, finding the right skincare routine for you can help you establish healthy habits for the rest of your life, and fight aging in the long run! If you have any questions or need any advice for your skin type, contact us! We’d be happy to help!
Still Not Sure?
A lot has changed in the past month, but some things haven’t. Our trained skincare team is committed to checking phone calls and voicemails every single day. If you have any questions about alternatives to botox that you can do yourself while at home, reach out to us. Our phone number is (401) 782-2400.
