Will I Be Able to Make Facial Expressions After BOTOX®?

BOTOX is an effective wrinkle relaxer, but some patients are concerned that they will be unable to make facial expressions after treatment.

As a neuromodulator, BOTOX works by preventing muscles from moving. However, an experienced injector can help alleviate some of your concerns about the ability to make facial expressions after getting the injections. At Elysium SurgiSpa in Chicago, IL, board-certified surgeon Dr. Mick Singh and his team ensure that patients are happy with their BOTOX results.

Below, we'll look at why it's crucial to have the right person perform your BOTOX injections if you're concerned about facial expressions.

How does BOTOX work?

BOTOX works on dynamic wrinkles, which are the wrinkles that appear when you move your facial muscles (by smiling or squinting, for example). Using a purified botulism toxin, BOTOX injections block chemical signals that run to the nerves in the facial muscles, preventing them from contracting.

However, this can also prevent people from making natural facial movements – especially if BOTOX injections are performed by someone inexperienced.

Will my face look frozen after BOTOX?

Since most BOTOX is done around the eyes, brows, forehead, and lips, patients are justifiably concerned that they will lose their expressiveness. Our ability to express emotion is crucial to our relationships.

The inability to make expressions can also be the tell-tale sign that a person has received BOTOX. The "frozen" look that some people associate with BOTOX is typically the result of a large number of injections or an inexperienced injector.

But the truth is, there is a tradeoff with BOTOX. It cannot remove dynamic wrinkles without paralyzing the muscles that make them. If your goal is to get rid of all lines, your ability to make certain facial expressions will likely be limited.

An experienced injector knows precisely where to make injections on each individual's face so they can see the best results with the least limitation of expression. But they cannot promise full facial movement and the removal of lines and wrinkles.

Will I be able to make facial expressions after getting BOTOX?

Depending on your desired results, BOTOX may prevent you from making some facial expressions. It's crucial to find an injector like Dr. Singh and the team at Elysium SurgiSpa to listen to your concerns and talk you through the process, so you know what to expect. Some patients opt for less BOTOX at first. And if you're unhappy with the results, future BOTOX touch-ups can address your desire to see more or less muscle movement in some areas.

While getting rid of wrinkles can feel like a priority, patients don't often consider that limiting their ability to make facial expressions may affect the way other people relate to them in person.

Humans tend to feel more empathy for those whose emotions they can read. So, when BOTOX limits expressions (such as frowning or looking concerned), it can be hard to tell how a person feels. If you have trouble making facial expressions, the person you're face-to-face with may also have trouble seeing you try to relate to them through your facial expressions. Of course, there are other ways of showing empathy and compassion beyond animated facial expressions.

Get BOTOX in Chicago, IL

If you're interested in getting smoother-looking skin and reducing the appearance of dynamic wrinkles, BOTOX is a safe and well-studied treatment. Yes, there are trade-offs, but the staff at Elysium SurgiSpa in Chicago, IL can address your specific concerns.

You can learn more by scheduling a consultation with board-certified surgeon Dr. Mick Singh and his team.