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Is It Possible to Get to Much Botox?

asked 1 year ago by Deevis in seattle
Latest answer by Michele S. Green, MD
Question viewed 1,299 times
Tags: face, wrinkles, overfilled

I want to reduce wrinkles but I do not want to become completely emotionless in the face.

22 answers to Is It Possible to Get to Much Botox?

+2

Can I have too Much Botox?

Hi Deevis.  The look you achieve using Botox is a very personal decision.  We have patients tell us that they want no movement in their foreheads and still others that say they want to be able to move (animate) their eyebrows.  As practitioners, we need to use this information to judge how much product we will use. It is possible to use more Botox than is necessary or too much that it might make you feel "frozen".  If you have these concerns, it's... more
Harold J. Kaplan, MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.celibre.com

+2

More shots with smaller amounts of botox per shot give a more natural look.

Botox is technique dependant.  The more number of tiny shots with smaller amts of botox per shot tend to give a more natural movement and look.  Ex.)  8-10 tiny shots on each outer eye gives a better and more natural look than 3-4 big shots of the total same amount of botox. 
David Hansen, MD

Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon

www.DrDavidHansen.com

+3

Frozen in Seattle

Dear Deevis, To avoid getting results with Botox that you are not happy with such as a frozen, emotionless face, it is important to get your injections performed by a board certified physician who specializes in aesthetics such as a dermatologist, plastic surgeon, facial plastic surgeon or oculoplastic. When you establish a healthy doctor-patient relationship with your aesthetic physician, you can get the most from their experience and expertise and achieve the best, most natural... more
Benjamin Bassichis, MD

Dallas Facial Plastic Surgeon
+2

How to treat wrinkles with Botox but still look natural

No one wants to look frozen or expressionless.  Botox is not a one-size-fits-all treatment.  The injection locations, the dose, and the timing of treatment all must be customized for each individual patient.  I often give patients enough Botox to decrease the strength of the muscle contraction, but not enough to completely paralyze the muscle,  That way they can still make an expression, but they are not making as deep a wrinkle as they were before.  Also, the... more
Jordana Gilman, MD

New York Dermatologic Surgeon
+2

Yes, it is possible to get too much Botox!

Too much Botox can do more than "freeze your face" and prevent normal expressions. It could also potentially be dangerous, if it spreads out of the treatment area and begins to affect muscles that are not part of the intended target. Remember you can always try a little Botox and ADD MORE if you feel the effect is not strong enough. There is no harm in being conservative, except the hassle of having to go back to the board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon you have... more
Jessica J. Krant, MD, MPH

Manhattan Dermatologic Surgeon

www.ArtofDermatology.com

+1

Too much Botox will make you look too frozen!

The effect of too much Botox is to leave your face looking unnatural and mask-like. The idea of proper Botox injection is to make you look younger and more beautiful but not artificial looking. If someone thinks that you had Botox then you probably had too much! You should look better than you did before and friends should be unsure of what you had done.
Michele S. Green, MD

New York Dermatologist
+1

"Frozen" face / too much botox?

I agree with you - I like to diminish the intensity of the wrinkles, but retain the ability to show emotion.  A "frozen" face is a sign of too much botox....that's why it's a bit of an artistic judgement about how much to inject, and exactly where to place the Botox.  Experience is key!!   All the best,
Thomas Fiala, MD

Altamonte Springs Plastic Surgeon
+1

Overinjections of Botox produce a lifeless appearing face

Overinjections of Botox produce a lifeless appearing face. A face without expression is uninteresting and can even look ill as after a stroke. Eyebrows should always move up and down and squint lines should be small but preserved.
Edward Lack, MD

Chicago Dermatologist
+1

Botox artistically done without getting a mask for a face

Absolutely. Not all lines or wrinkles need to be treated. Botox injectitons need to be customized for your face. It looks more natural to have some emotion and lines. The deepest ones and the most troublesome for you might be selectively treated to make you look better rested, less stressed, and rejuventated without looking obvious to to others that you are wearing a Botox mask!
Ronald Shelton, MD

Manhattan Dermatologist
+1

Too much Botox

Thanks for the question. It is possible to get over-treated with Botox Cosmetic and subsequently end up with a "frozen" look. In order to avoid this, my advice is to find a qualified clinician with a lot of experience with Botox administration and relay to them the type of result you are seeking. Warmest Regards, Glenn Vallecillos, M.D., F.A.C.S. 
Glenn Vallecillos, MD

Beverly Hills Plastic Surgeon
+1

Too much Botox is a bad thing!

First, you need to remember that Botox is a muscle paralyzer. It is NOT a lifter, but skilled injectors can artfully inject and paralyze some muscles, while leaving others intact and functioning, which can change the "balance" between opposing facial muscle groups and actions. Botox is best (and FDA-approved) for the frown lines between your brows. Most plastic surgeons and dermatologists also use Botox for the "crows feet" line around the eyes, and for the... more
Richard H. Tholen, MD, FACS

Minneapolis Plastic Surgeon
+1

Too much of a good thing

It is very important to see a board certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon with a reputation for natural Botox results. Injectable facial rejuvenation is an art form, and some people out there should just put down that needle because they make people look so bizarre. DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Botox, when done properly, should not be detected per say. You should just look better, not frozen or surprised.
Mary Lupo, MD

New Orleans Dermatologist
+1

You don't have to have a frozen face after Botox

Your inject can control, to a great degree, how much expression you have after your treatment. If you want to maintain some movement and expression, be sure to discuss your goals and expectation ahead of time and with an experienced injector, you should achieve your goals.
Jonathan Hoenig, MD

Beverly Hills Oculoplastic Surgeon
+1

Botox concerns

It is possible to get too much neurotoxin. You should consult with your injecting physician and let them know exactly what you are correcting- then you can get the results you want.
Purvisha Patel, MD

Germantown Dermatologist
+1

Botox - subtle treatment

Yes, I agree with you that Botox should give a natural look and not make people look plastic.  Discuss what you'd like to accomplish with your doctor so they can adjust the dose and technically adapt to what your aesthetic goals are. Dr. Cat Begovic M.D.
Catherine Huang-Begovic, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Botox: Too much?

This is a very common concern. The truth is that it would take a large amount of botulinum toxin to accomplish and far more than is injected inthe typical session. IF you are concerned ask your surgeon to proceed with a stepwise approach and lower doses until  you figure out your desired result. It is FAR MORE COMMON to come back asking for more botox than complaining about recieving too much
Otto Joseph Placik, MD

Chicago Plastic Surgeon
+1

Yes but unlikely.

Dear Deevis Good question.  When you see your favorite actress with the glass smooth forehead but completely with a completely unnatural appearance, you are looking at about a 100 unit treatment of BOTOX.  This amount of BOTOX goes cause paralysis and looks ridiculous.  However you are very unlikely to get such a treatment.  This is a very expensive service.  Most legitimate injectors are treating with much lower doses of BOTOX.  The biggest problem with... more
Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD

Los Angeles Oculoplastic Surgeon
+1

Too much botox results in a frozen look

The goal of treatment with botox is to relax wrinkles not to get rid of a person's facial expression.  Studies have shown that people without facial expressions were perceived as cold and distant.  If too much botox is injected there is also the possibility of adverse effects, such as drooping brows or eyelids.  You can always add more botox, but once injected it's not reversible until it wears off 3-4 months later.
Emily Altman, MD

Short Hills Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Too Much Botox?

Yes, it is indeed possible to get too much Botox. The goal is to be treated with a sufficient amount to smooth your wrinkles and not look "done". My advice to my patients is that you can always get more, but once you get too much, you will need to wait the 3 to 4 months until the effect of Botox wears off. 
Anifat Balogun, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Too Much Botox

It's always possible to get too much Botox. After assessing the size and location of the muscles causing the expressions we are treating, I usually recommend to my first time Botox or Dysport patients that we do only one area and start with a dose that is in the normal to low end to see how they react.
Mitchell Schwartz, MD

South Burlington Dermatologic Surgeon

dorsetstreetdermatology.com

+1

Tell your physician this

Express this sentiment to your physician when it is time for the injections. It  is a simple thing to reduce the number of units injected into the forehead. Plus, this will save you money, since less units=lower cost.  Less units also markedly lowers the risk of brow drop. Remember you can always go back for a touch up and have more units added if you are not satisfied. There has been a tendency to use less units anyway. It used to be said by some, that you could tell... more
Arnold R. Oppenheim, MD

Virginia Beach Dermatologist
+1

Botox in the face

It is certainly possible to have the Botox overdone so your upper third of your face is completely frozen.  Make sure you go to someone who is an expert.
Steven Wallach, MD

Manhattan Plastic Surgeon

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