Gabe Yanez
Let’s clarify one thing before we get started; baby Botox IS NOT Botox for babies. That is cruel, weird, and wildly unnecessary, even by TikTok standards. Baby Botox is a non-medical term that refers to getting micro-doses of Botox injections to prevent future wrinkles. It is also a huge trend on TikTok right now.
The term has over 4.3 billion views on the platform, and if you watch this video, it makes sense why. It’s like magic. Who doesn’t want to get rid of those pesky fine lines?
So what is Botox exactly? Botox is made from botulinum toxin type A, which blocks the nerve signals that tell your muscles to contract. When this toxin is injected into your muscles, it partially paralyzes them until the toxin wears off. This can minimize the look of wrinkles and fine lines since your muscles can’t move and form any creases.
So basically, Botox is a muscle-paralyzing toxin that removes wrinkles and fine lines by blocking nerve signals. Just a few red flags in there. What could you possibly have to worry about?
As alarming as that sounds, most available research has found that Botox is pretty safe. It is technically considered a “low-risk” procedure commonly accompanied by some minor side effects, but no evidence points to any short-term or long-term health effects.
Botox (baby or otherwise) is considered safe, yes, but it can also become a lifetime addiction with diminishing returns
Compared to traditional Botox, baby Botox uses less botulinum type A and aims to have a more natural-looking result than the conventional procedure has in the past. The goal of this new micro-dosing approach is to get rid of fine lines, not paralyze your face into a permanent smile. Getting baby Botox done is also more affordable since it uses less of the actual Botox cosmetic.
So far, nothing but pros for baby Botox. What’s the catch? Well, as you will probably notice after scrolling through TikTok for a few minutes, the trend is becoming increasingly popular with younger women. While the procedure is relatively safe, it is important to note that the effects of all Botox treatments are temporary. After 2 to 3 months, it is common for the results to wear off.
So for many of these young women starting baby Botox treatments as early as their 20s, the main concern is that it will lead to excessive use of the cosmetic procedure for years to come. Some experts worry that this might speed up skin aging long term rather than slowing it down.
By the time some of these women are in their 40s and 50s, they may also no longer see the benefits of Botox because they have built up a tolerance. There are also no studies investigating the long-term effects of Botox use in young women over a large chunk of their lives.
The key takeaway? Blame this one on all the Instagram and TikTok filters that have completely warped our expectations of what healthy skin should look like. Fine lines and wrinkles are completely normal. The mirror may not look exactly like your selfie on Instagram, which is perfectly okay. Real life doesn’t need a baby Botox filter.
While the procedure has largely been deemed safe, it is important that we proceed with some caution before injecting our faces with a toxin earlier and earlier in life, regardless of whether baby Botox is trending on TikTok or not.
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