The Dangers of DIY Botox

At home beauty can be a great way to save money. Sewing your own clothes, using red light therapy and dyeing your own hair are all great store-bought methods to look and feel better, all with the satisfaction of being able to say, “Thanks, I did it myself!” 

The D.I.Y. beauty trends are beginning to go a bit far, however, with at-home, self-injected Botox breaking into social media trends. Not only is this life hack dangerous, it can also be illegal in many cases.

What is Botox?

Botox is an injectable neurotoxin that temporarily blocks nerves and relaxes muscles, which can reduce wrinkles and signs of aging for a few months when done properly. Even when done correctly, Botox side effects can be unpleasant, such as flu-like symptoms or facial drooping. 

Trained and licensed professionals are often the ones administering the toxin, because the placement and method of injections are crucial to ensuring the best results possible. 

What’s the Harm? 

Though it may seem simple enough to Google Botox placement and do the whole procedure from the comfort of your own home, improper placement or injection strategy could easily lead to permanent paralysis or infection. Not to mention, the product does not hold for as long or as effectively when untrained eyes are placing it. 

Black Market Botox

The FDA considers Botox to be a prescription medication, meaning that the buying and selling of the toxin in the first place is illegal. Most of the time, “Botox” being sold online is a counterfeit product, which can be dangerous territory. Buyers don’t know as many details about dosage or ingredients when purchasing online, and since the transaction is already illegal, the provided information could be fabricated as well. 

Enter: Innotox

Innotox, a Botox dupe, has made itself known on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The Korean Botox substitute poses as a safe, at-home alternative to regular Botox, though it is still unregulated by the FDA. The product is Korean, a label often associated with clean, effective skincare, but the side effects of using such an unrelated product can be devastating if things go wrong. 

Many users of Innotox do not claim to be scared of the potential dangers of using an unregulated injection, because they see users on TikTok doing just fine with the product. We all know that you shouldn’t believe everything you see on the internet, though, so it is extremely important to do as much research as possible before any major cosmetic procedures

Just because something is justified on the internet does not mean that it is safe or even legal. Botox and other cosmetic procedures are administered by professionals for a reason, so it’s best we leave the needles to them and stick to safe and legal skincare at home. 

What are your thoughts on Innotox and other at-home Botox substitutes? Let us know @VALLEYmag on Instagram!

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