How to Spot (and Avoid) Bad Botox

You’ve seen it. Your friend who used to look so normal shows up for lunch looking just a little off. Maybe she’s not able to move her eyebrows quite right, or there’s something about the positioning of her brows or eyelids that isn’t quite right.

It’s very likely that your friend was a victim of Bad Botox. Although the injection has been FDA approved for almost 20 years now, there are still cases of Botox gone wrong. Bad Botox can happen for a few reasons, from provider inexperience to a provider using an inauthentic product. In the best of cases, Bad Botox makes you look a little strange for a few months. In the worst cases, it can be life-threatening.

Here’s what to look for so you can avoid being a victim of Botox gone bad.

Frozen Face

Back in the day, the stereotype about Botox was that it completely froze the face (there’s even an old “Will and Grace” episode where a few characters get the injections, then can’t move their faces at all).

The truth is, Botox shouldn’t completely freeze the face. Sure, a few muscles will be restricted, so that you don’t make the movements responsible for particular wrinkles. But your provider has most likely overdone it if you end up unable to move anything except for your mouth for the next few months.

Uneven Eyebrows

Plenty of people wish they could lift one eyebrow independently of the other. Well, after a Bad Botox treatment, you might just be able to do that. The tricky thing is, you might not be able to put that eyebrow back down again, at least for a few months. Sometimes the uneven brows associated with a bad round of Botox are compared with those of Mr. Spock (from “Star Trek”). If you want to look like a Vulcan, then all we can say is “Live long and prosper.”

A Droopy Lid or Mouth

A droopy eyelid can be a sign that the person injecting the Botox hit a nerve, causing the lid itself to droop. But, more likely, a droopy lid is a trick. It often looks like a  person’s eyelids are drooping, because their forehead is so smooth and still and their eyebrows are just a bit too low.

Often, that mistake involves putting too much Botox into the forehead. The result is a forehead that not only looks supernaturally smooth, it also feels very heavy.

Although Botox is only FDA-approved for treating frown lines, crow’s feet and forehead wrinkles, some providers use it “off label” to treat other dynamic wrinkles on the face. One off label use area is around the mouth, to correct smoker’s lines. But if a provider isn’t absolutely familiar with that area or the amount of Botox needed to produce the desired results, a person can end up with a lopsided smile for a few months.

The Packaging Looks Off

Sometimes, it’s not the results from Botox that should ring alarm bells. It’s the packaging and product itself. There are several ways to verify that the Botox someone’s about to inject into your face is the real deal.

One way is to ask to see the packaging and vial the Botox comes in. Genuine Botox comes in a vial that has an Allergan hologram printed on it, as well as a “track and trace” code on the exterior packaging. The packaging will also have the brand name and license number printed on the packaging. All boxes will be sealed with a tamper evident seal.

If your provider shows you “Botox” that is packaged in anything else, head for the hills.

No Results Appear

Another type of Bad Botox is a treatment that doesn’t produce any results. Remember, it does take a few days for any visible changes to appear after an injection. But if it’s been longer than that and you’re seeing nothing, it’s a good idea to check in with your provider. It could be that the injector didn’t use enough Botox or that something else is amiss.

How to Keep Bad Botox from Happening Good People

So what should you do if, a few days after your Botox treatment you end up with less than desirable results? You can make a follow up appointment with your provider, and they might be able to fix things. But in many cases, the best thing to do is to wait things out. There’s no enzyme that can reverse Botox, so it might just be that you have to wait for it to wear off.

Although it’s something to avoid, going through Bad Botox can be a learning experience. You’ll definitely know what to avoid for the next time. It can also be a sign that you want to do more research when choosing a Botox provider. Make sure you find someone who has ample training and experience performing the injections. To get an idea of results, ask to see before and after pictures. Your friends (who’ve had Botox) can also recommend a provider based on their past experience.

In Houston, Texas, Dr. Paul Vitenas supervises a team of trained aestheticians at Mirror Mirror Beauty Boutique. The med spa offers Botox, as well as several other injectables and non-surgical skin treatments. To learn more about Botox and how to get the best results possible, call 281-810-9083 to schedule a consultation today.