2023-04-24 18:04:04
Published
Muscle wasting?This is what happens after 20 years of Botox injections
Video of a woman taking a break after 20 years of Botox injections has gone viral. Result: her skin is still smooth. Info or intox? A dermatologist responds.
Brenda Blay shows how frozen her facial muscles are after 20 years of Botox injections.
Tiktok/nurseblay
“Have you ever wondered what happens when someone decides to stop Botox injections after 20 years?” This is how Brenda Blay, a 55-year-old TikTokeuse, begins her video. She delivers the answer in image just after, showing her own face, always so smooth or almost. Indeed, even when Brenda Blay frowns or tries to look mean, her face shows no expression.
“A muscle whose contractions are inhibited for a long time becomes sluggish. A bit like when you haven’t trained in the gym for a long time”, answers Marianne Meli, Swiss dermatologist, questioned by our colleagues from 20min.ch. Even after total removal of Botox, the face still looks smooth and fresh. “Over time, we lose the habit of making facial movements that are no longer possible under Botox,” she adds.
Should Botox breaks be taken?
The TikTokeuse Brenda Blay says it herself: before finding the natural expressions of the face, it is necessary to tone the muscles again. This is nothing to worry about, but regular Botox breaks should be taken to avoid muscle wasting. “If I don’t take breaks, I’m afraid my eyebrows will start to droop,” a user comments under the video. “Taking breaks between injections does not make Botox more effective or safer. People who decide to have recourse to this procedure can take booster shots without taking long breaks between two treatments,” explains the dermatologist.
When it comes to falling eyebrows, the expert has another opinion. “In case of drooping eyelids, we often get into the habit of constantly raising the eyebrows to compensate for the drooping effect. With Botox treatment, this movement becomes impossible to perform: the eyebrows appear lower than what we are used to,” she explains. This effect may also be due to medical error in handling. Hence the importance of contacting a competent and qualified service provider.
When to renew the treatment?
Dr. Meli explains that “as soon as it is again possible to make the facial movement that creates the wrinkles, for example by frowning, one can consider repeating the Botox treatment. This prevents the expression line from becoming permanent,” she says. This interval is different for each person. “It may take six months until we can do the movement again. Other patients eliminate Botox very quickly and must renew the treatment after three months. It is very variable,” she adds.
(Malin Mueller)
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