Over the past several years, the options for using neurotoxin injectables—from Botox Cosmetic to Xeomin, Dysport, Jeauveu, Letybo and Daxxify—has widely expanded. Today, botulinum toxin treatments like Botox Cosmetic are not just for freezing the forehead—there are several other FDA indications and off-label uses for the muscle-relaxing treatments, making it easier than ever to achieve a youthful, snatched complexion. But, as with any cosmetic treatment, there have been a fair share of neurotoxin-related trends in the last few years that have redefined the landscape as a whole—both for better and for worse. To help decode trends of the last decade and guide your cosmetic treatment journey in the right direction, we asked the experts to name their favorite and least favorite neurotoxin movements of the last five years.
Featured Experts
- Joel Schlessinger, MD and Daniel Schlessinger, MD are board-certified dermatologists in Omaha, NE
- Marisa Garshick, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in New York
- Ava Shamban, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in Beverly Hills, CA
What are experts' favorite neurotoxin trends of the last 5 years?
Masseter Botox
One of the most popular Botox uses to date, Omaha, NE dermatologist Daniel Schlessinger, MD cites the jawline treatment as one of his favorites with some of the best results, too. "I’m a big fan of Botox for the masseter muscle to help with slimming of the face, jaw clenching and teeth grinding," he explains. "Many of my patients find this to be truly life-changing, as it not only helps them cosmetically but is also a major relief for headaches caused by jaw issues. In fact, masseter Botox was the thing my wife missed most during pregnancy, and it was the very first thing she wanted after giving birth!"
Platysma Band Botox
The newest FDA-approved Botox Cosmetic indication, Dr. Daniel Schlessinger is a big fan of Botox Cosmetic on the platysma bands—the vertical bands that extend down the neck went jutting out the jaw or making an "E" sound. "When small amounts are used just under the jawline (aka the 'Nefertiti lift'), it helps lift the lower face in a modest way, and it has definitely become something that my patients have integrated into their cosmetic routines." Dr. Shamban is also a proponent for using neurotoxins as a jawline-enhancing treatment.
DAO Botox
"My favorite new area for Botox is at the downturned corners of the mouth (the DAO area)," Omaha, NE dermatologist Joel Schlessinger, MD adds. The DAO area refers to the depressor anguli oris muscle of the lower face that pulls the corners of the mouth down and results in a downturned or sagging appearance. "Neurotoxin treatment of this area is fantastic for people who look like they are frowning or accused of resting 'B' face," Dr. Schlessinger says, noting that just a small amount of neurotoxins can reverse the downturned look for up to three months.
Preventative Botox
Another one of the buzziest trends lately, preventative treatments work by using small doses of botulinum toxins early on to help reduce the risk of developing deeper lines later down the line, and it's one of Dr. Garshick's favorite ways to use the injectable products. "Using lower doses of neurotoxin treatments like Botox Cosmetic early on slows the development of fine lines rather than waiting for them to become etched in," she explains.
TMJ Treatment
Whether you're dealing with jaw pain, teeth grinding or general misalignment in the mouth, opting for neurotoxin treatments around the jawline can help significantly improve symptoms, making Botox treatments for TMJ one of Dr. Garshick's favorite trends of the last five years.
Hyperhidrosis Treatments
Dr. Garshick advocates for neurotoxin treatments for excessive sweating too. Dr. Shamban also loves to use Botox Cosmetic to treat sweating in more than just the armpits, citing the hairline and groin as other popular hyperhidrosis treatment areas amongst patients.
Trapezius Treatments
You may have heard murmurs about "traptox" or "Barbie Botox" across social media, and while using neurotoxins like Botox Cosmetic in the trapezius muscles for the slimmed, doll-like upper torso appearance is not an FDA-approved indication, Dr. Shamban has seen good results with the off-label practice for "elongating the neck and relaxing tension" in the area.
What are experts' least favorite neurotoxin trends of the last 5 years?
The ‘Sprinkle’ Method
Similar to what many have called "Baby Botox," the sprinkle method for neurotoxin treatments refers to using very small doses in multiple areas of the face at once, but Dr. Joel Schlessinger has found the treatment to be counterintuitive. "Botox sprinkles or the sprinkling of any botulinum toxin capitalizes on an idea that, in many ways, worsens the effect of the treatment and leads to patients having resistance against the treatments in the future. In a way, it is vaccinating the body against neurotoxins because it uses such a low dose."
Rosacea and Redness Treatments
An under-the-radar, off-label neurotoxin trend, Dr. Daniel Schlessinger advises against the buzzy treatment for reducing redness and oiliness. "While Botox Cosmetic has some effect on the superficial blood vessels, it isn't a slam dunk by any means and many individuals come back with 'meh' results and wonder if the treatment gives the same results for other areas," he says. "Botox Cosmetic and botulinum toxins as a whole are great in most areas, but these indications are ones I generally avoid, especially as there are much better treatments available, such as IPL and BBL laser."
‘Botox Parties’
Exactly what it sounds like, Botox Cosmetic parties refer to the trend of friend groups getting Botox all together in a group setting, but Dr. Garshick takes issue with the idea specifically in regards to safety. "It is important to receive neuromodulator treatments in a trusted facility with a board-certified dermatologist," she says. "There are countless reports of people being injected with counterfeit Botox and developing medical problems as a result, so it is important to avoid doing cosmetic treatments in a casual setting."
Lip Flips
A popular alternative to lip filler, the lip flip uses botulinum toxin injectables to help increase volume in the lips, but Dr. Shamban has had less than ideal experiences with the off-label trend. "Treating the upper lip wrinkles for the so called lip flip makes the mouth shape abnormal, in my experience," she explains. "Patients can end up drooling and even in the best case, it doesn’t last very long."
