The Danger Zones of Botox: Where to Avoid Injections
Let’s be real– everyone loves Botox and its ability to smooth fine lines and wrinkles, enhance our natural beauty, and capture our youthfulness. Botox is like a reliable friend that we only have to see every few months for a quick chat.
Receiving Botox injections seems simple enough, right? As a patient, it’s typically a very quick and painless experience. However, it takes extremely detailed knowledge and loads of experience to know where to and where not to place Botox injections and how much to administer.
Choosing a trusted injector or practitioner is one of the most important things you can do for your looks, aging process, and overall health. Injecting is such a delicate process that requires expert-level anatomy knowledge to not only achieve the most-desired and effective results, but to also ensure the safety for each patient.
Although it’s not up to you to know the science around dosage and placement (that’s what the experts like us are for!), it can’t hurt to have the knowledge and awareness about where you should never get Botox injections. At The Med Spa in Fort Myers, FL, we pride ourselves in the expert-level of care we provide to help every person achieve their best and most natural results.
While we typically highlight the amazing benefits of using this neurotoxin routinely, we rarely see many people openly discuss what areas you should be more cautious with Botox injections and why. Let’s dive in below on some of the areas that are considered danger zones for getting Botox injections.
Chin or Around the Mouth: Precision is Key
As a rule of thumb, Botox injections on the lower part of the face typically require more caution.
It’s not impossible to use Botox injections on the chin or around the mouth– but the areas in which it’s appropriate to inject are very small and require almost microscopic-level detail.
The chin is considered an off-label area for Botox injections and should never be done by an inexperienced injector. One tiny mistake in placement or dosage could lead to:
Crooked smile or imbalanced lower lip
Difficulty in opening and closing mouth
Difficulty with facial expressions and speaking
Lazy muscle syndrome
Difficulty swallowing (in severe cases)
There are many vital muscles and arteries that run around the mouth, but there are a few special use-cases where Botox injections can be used in the chin or around the mouth. This would need to be discussed in detail with your trusted injector during your consultation. In some cases, it may be determined that filler is a better solution as it does not freeze muscle-use, but can still provide optimal results.
Orbicularis Oculi Muscle: Avoid The Wrong Spots
We understand the desire to treat wrinkles around the eyes with Botox injections– and you can! It takes a detailed approach by an expert injector to ensure it’s done so safely. The orbicularis oculi muscle is responsible for opening and closing eyelids as well as draining tears. Since Botox injections can weaken these muscles, incorrect placement could cause ptosis (eyelid droop). Saggy eyelids are never a good look!
Our expert injectors at The Med Spa know how to do this safely and effectively. Being treated by an inexperienced injector runs the risk of them getting too close to the orbital bone right above the pupil, which could also cause weeks or months of eyelid droop. Other potential issues include dryness and irritation in the eyes.
Frontalis Muscle: Correct Placement is Vital
Both the forehead and glabella area (between the brows) are definitely known as safe zones for Botox injections, and they are the most common areas that are treated. The muscles in your forehead are responsible for raising your eyebrows, which causes wrinkles to form in the first place. The glabella muscle is responsible for facial expressions such as frowning, and repeated expression is what causes the 11’s to form between your brows.
Botox is the most effective at treating the upper third of the face. Despite the forehead and glabella area being the most common treatment areas, it also comes with potential risks if the injector does not map out the placement and dosage correctly. Inexperienced injectors may cause Spock Brow, which is when the brows have an unnatural and overarched look. This typically happens when Botox is injected in the mid to upper forehead without injecting along the sides of the forehead.
Another potential issue could be if a patient has heavy upper eyelids– if too much Botox is injected into the forehead, the eyes can look very tired and droopy. Injections too low on the forehead can also cause drooping of the eyebrows, which can cause a grumpy or sad look depending on the patient’s facial anatomy. Technique is absolutely key when placing Botox injections on even the most common treatment areas.
Upper Skin Layer: A Pointless Place for Injections
This should be a no-brainer, but it’s definitely worth mentioning! Botox injections are muscle relaxers, so injecting into random parts of the face or skin will simply not yield any results. Injecting Botox into skin layers will do nothing for you, even if it’s in the desired treatment area. Botox should only be injected into facial muscles by an expert injector who understands placement technique and dosage. Let’s avoid both unwanted and pointless at all costs.
The Med Spa: Your Trusted Injectors in Southwest Florida
There are many use-cases and nuances of what not to do with Botox injections, but it essentially comes down to having a reputable and trusted injector. Experts in this field will not only have vast knowledge of anatomy, but have received specialized training in administering Botox injections safely with precise accuracy in both placement and dosage.
Our founder and master injector Dr. Kamii obtained her doctorate degree specializing in Aesthetic, Anti-Aging, and Concierge Medicine. Patients travel from all over the world to experience her trusted hands– as both an artist and practitioner, she takes a natural approach to all facial rejuvenation treatments.
Want to ensure you have the best and safest experience possible with Botox injections? Book your consultation or contact us at The Med Spa in Fort Myers, FL.