Will Botox stop facial expressions?

The worry behind this question, for readers in Mamaroneck and Larchmont, is looking frozen. People want to know whether they will still look like themselves in a meeting or at a dinner.

What the American Academy of Dermatology says

In its botulinum toxin FAQ, the American Academy of Dermatology states this about the treatment's effect on expression: This allows patients to maintain their natural facial expressions.

That is the direct answer from a professional body. The aim it describes is to keep natural expressions, not to remove them.

What you can do before you book

Whether a given result looks natural to you is a judgment you can discuss. Ask the injector in plain words what you do and do not want your face to do. A reader across Westchester can bring a photo of themselves from a good day.

If the result is not what you expected

A result that looks or feels wrong is a reason to call the clinic that treated you and describe it. Do not try to fix it by pressing or massaging the area while you wait.

Two pages to read next

The American Society of Plastic Surgeons page on botulinum toxin describes the treatment from a professional body. The MedlinePlus drug information entry on daxibotulinumtoxinA-lanm describes a single product.

The question that follows

People who are reassured about expression tend to ask how long Botox lasts. Ask it at your consultation.