Can Botox Injections Leave Residue on Skin? Is This Risky?

Can Botox injections leave residue on skin, and can this be ingested accidentally (ie hands or showering)? How many units of Botox ingested are toxic?

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10 Doctor Answers | Asked by jennyct

Doctor Answers (10)
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Botox does not leave a residue

There is no residue from Botox injections. Medical grade botox, used in appropriate amounts, does not produce toxicity. If you are implying that someone might "ingest" or eat Botox, that would be completely inappropriate.

Botox residue

Any minimal amount of Botox that might come out through the needle stick would be wiped off with gauze and would not be around to affect anything else.

Botox injection

Botox does not leave a residue on the skin that would be detrimental. Most residual is wiped away as the area is dried and the amount left is minimal.

Steven Wallach, MD

12 reviews

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

Botox on the skin

Greetings~ Don't worry. There's no risk of you accidently poisoning yourself with any of the Botox you had injected. Botox is meant to work when injected into the muscles...having it rest on the skin or even if it were somehow swallowed would have no effect. The minute amount that may be left on the skin after injection is almost certainly wiped off immediately after injection when the area is pressed or rubbed slightly with gauze. If it takes 20-25 units... more

Tens of millions of treatments and this has not been an issue.

Of course wash your hands. However, the vast bulk of the treatment is under the skin. The few drops of product on the skin surface is so tiny it is unlikely to be an issue ingested, inhaled or otherwise.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

8 reviews

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon

Does Botox Leave Residue on the Skin? No

The amount of Botox (Allergan) injected for cosmetic purposes is miniscule in terms of concern over Botox toxicity (Botulism). There is no significant Botox residue left behind and you have no worries about ingesting Botox, etc.

Botox residue on skin

Botox is injected under the skin. When you put a needle into the skin a tiny drop of the injectable can come out when the needle is pulled out. However, this is a tiny, tiny, tiny amount and most physicians will grab a piece of gauze and lightly wipe where the injections were done to get any droplets left on the skin. There should be no fear of ingestion and no cause for concern. Additionally Botox needs to be injected into a muscle, not rubbed on it, so even if you did get it on your hand... more

Botox on skin

There should be no concern if some Botox got on your skin. The Botox for cosmetic use does not involve many units at all. Furthermore it is diluted prior to the injection so it is not potent. Any Botox that gets on the skin is wiped off and will not leave a toxic level on the surface.

Can Botox Injections Leave Residue on Skin? Is This Risky?

No Botox is injected below the skin into muscle that are responsible for causing unwanted lines and wrinkles.

BOTOX left-overs

BOTOX comes to your physician as a white powder. It is mixed with saline to create the liquid that makes so many people so happy! The protein itself is complexes with your muscles to relax them and is not left in or on the skin in a visible amount.