Will Botox Between Eyes Work for Acne Scars Between CO2 Laser Treatments?

asked 7 months ago by lucidity in FL
Latest answer by Ben Behnam, MD
Question viewed 284 times
Tags: between eyebrows, combination, expectation

I have moderate acne scarring in the area between my eyes. Would Botox help make these scars less noticeable? I am looking for a good way to improve the appearance of the area in-between fractional Co2 laser treatments.

11 answers to Will Botox Between Eyes Work for Acne Scars Between CO2 Laser Treatments?

Botox & acne scars

Acne scars occur as a result of damage to the dermis and epidermis. Botox, which relaxes the muscles, has no effect on acne scars.

Ben Behnam, MD
Santa Monica Dermatologic Surgeon

Botox is usually not helpful for acne scars

Although you may see some improvement in scars with botox treatment, in your individual case, it is not expected. Try to avoid other treatments such as subcision or fillers in between the fraxel CO2 treatments as you do not want to risk scarring from the laser. see video

Ronald Shelton, MD
Manhattan Dermatologist

Will Botox Between Eyes Work for Acne Scars Between CO2 Laser Treatments?

Botox and the other neurotoxins (Dysport ans Xeomin) relax the muscles responsible for unwanted lines and wrinkles. They will have zero effect on scars from acne or any source.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Botox does not work for scars

Botox is not an effective scar treatment and is not used for this purpose. Botox relaxes muscles that are responsible for certain wrinkles. It is an excellent treatment for unsightly wrinkles on the face but not for scars.

Steven Hacker, MD
West Palm Beach Dermatologic Surgeon

Will Botox work for acne scars?

Probably not going to be too much help but it may relax the skin enough to let the scar spread out and appear less deep. Some scars are ice pick type, some are rolling - each reacts differently. Most of these scars will benefit from the CO2 laser and/ or fillers. The only way Botox could help is if the scar happens to be in a part of the forehead that creases and the crease bunches up the scar. If this is the case, then relaxing the skin will relax the scar and make it look better more

Kenneth Beer, MD
Palm Beach Dermatologic Surgeon

Acne Scars and Botox

Thank you for the question. Generally, Botox injection is not helpful in the treatment of acne scars. However if you notice that frowning makes the acne scars more prominent than the use of Botox may be helpful in directly. I hope this helps.

Tom J. Pousti, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

I am afraid that fractional CO2 is not going to be of much help here.

You did not provide us a photo so these answers are somewhat hypothetical. While it is true that BOTOX has no effect on the appearance of acne scaring. Acne scaring in the glabellar area may be a bit different. The reason for this is that you wil have muscle activity that may make these scars a bit more obvious. If that is the case, simply improving the muscular pinch in this area may make you feel that the BOTOX treatment has substantially improved the appearance of... more

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD
Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Treatment for acne scars

Botox will relax the muscles beneath the scars which may make them temporarily appear slightly improved but it is clearly not a treatment for acne scarring. Depending upon the depth and type of scarring, I have had good results treating acne scars with filler injections such as Restylane, real dermabrasion (not microdermabrasion), or eMatrix fractionated radiofrequency treatments.

Mitchell Schwartz, MD
South Burlington Dermatologic Surgeon

Botox and acne scars

Botox has no effect on acne scars. I have recently seen great results with LaViv a product that is derived from your own cells that is used as a filler product and collagen booster.

Steven Wallach, MD
Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Minimal Help

While not affecting the acne scars per se, Botox, by relaxing the underlying muscles, may serve to smooth the skin out to an extent, thereby making the acne scars less evident. I doubt whether this mild improvement would be sufficient to justify the $175 or so it would cost, however.

Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD
Virginia Beach Dermatologist

Botox does not work for acne scars

Botox relaxes muscles of facial expression and softens or even eliminates (temporarily) functional wrinkles caused by the contraction of these muscles. Functional wrinkles are those present when the face is in motion but not relaxed at rest. Acne scars are permanent changes in the epidermis and dermis, parts of the skin. They are present whether the face is in motion or at rest. The muscles that Botox affects are below the skin.