No, Botox should not freeze your face.
This is a common misconception about Botox. Botox does not “freeze” your face – for the most part.
To put it more simply, Botox injections temporarily relax – not freeze – the facial muscles that cause wrinkles. Botox is a neuromodulator that works by attaching itself to nerve endings. Once this happens, the neurotransmitter responsible for triggering muscle contractions, called acetylcholine, can no longer be released. Simply put, Botox injections temporarily relax, but don’t freeze, the facial muscles that underlie and cause wrinkles. This is also why wrinkles caused by sun damage and gravity don’t respond well to Botox treatments.
Then why do some people who get Botox look expressionless?
Not all injectors are created equal! It is important to find an experienced provider to administer any neuromodulator. A common error with inexperienced injectors is overtreating the forehead, or frontalis muscle. This can cause the forehead to become too relaxed, making it feel heavy and your eyelids look droopy, leaving you looking expressionless. What’s worse is if your clinician doesn’t correctly perceive how much you use this muscle, then too much Botox will cause the upper eyelid skin to look more hooded.
At LaserAway, we make sure all our injectors are highly trained by offering one of the most comprehensive training programs in the industry! Our clinics are supervised by 20+ board-certified dermatologists, and our treatments are performed by trained professionals—registered nurses, nurse practitioners or physician associates with our specialized injector training. Got questions? Talk to a treatment specialist to learn more!
