TikTok Can't Stop Talking About At-Home Botox—But Does it Work and Is it Safe?

According to a PureWow poll, about 42 percent of women have had Botox. It's a popular procedure in the name of looking more refreshed, less tired, and targeting lines and sagging skin. And though injections come at hefty prices at med spas or derm offices, a rising TikTok trend has a select few doing their own Botox...right at home.  Yup, there's an alternative to the in-office treatment that has people injecting themselves. In order to get to the bottom of this DIY skincare phenomenon, I chatted with a facial plastic surgeon and a scientist to learn more about at-home Botox and if it's a genius money-saver or a dangerous alternative. (Spoiler alert: it's the second one).

• Dr. Angela Sturm is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon with a decade of experience. She founded her practice to ensure a seamless, welcoming patient experience from start to finish. Dr. Sturm specializes in rhinoplasties, facelifts and non-surgical skin treatments.
• Dr. Rolanda Wilkerson, Ph.D., is a scientist and leads global scientific communications for OLAY, collaborating with dermatologists, clinicians and fellow scientists to showcase the science behind OLAY. With over 20 years of experience, she has driven science-led innovation across hair, skin and personal care, including pioneering research for natural and textured hair and launching products such as Pantene Gold Series, Head & Shoulders Royal Oils and My Black is Beautiful.

Also known as ‘Innotox,’ the Botox alternative was created and popularized in South Korea. Its popularity has made its way to the U.S., where you can currently order it online and have it shipped right to your front door without the need of a medical prescription. As Dr. Wilkerson explains, “It’s an injectable containing botulinum toxin type A, the same neurotoxin used in Botox, but formulated differently, often as a ready-to-use liquid.”

Why Are People Gravitating Towards At-Home Botox?

The allure of at-home Botox boils down to cost. An in-office Botox treatment can start racking up $10 to $30 per unit, which can vary depending on the area you’re getting done, your provider and even your location. Total wise, just think about getting Masseter Botox (a focus on the jaw), which can run you $750 per session—and most Botox users get touch ups a few times a year.  Meanwhile at-home Botox can range from $30 to $100 a box. TikTok has made affordable alternatives seem cool—despite the fact that the product is *completely* unregulated. “People are looking for lower cost ways to maintain a youthful appearance with continued social pressure due to social media and economic uncertainty,” says Dr. Sturm.

Is At-Home Botox Safe? 

Both experts agree that this Botox alternative is not safe at all. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has also not cleared the use or purchase in the United States. “At-home Botox has not passed the tests we have in place to ensure safety and efficacy. Any medications purchased online could have contamination, dosing variations or any hosts of issues,” explains Dr. Sturm. “I also don’t think anyone should be injecting medications if you don’t have a medical license. Unlicensed injections have an increased risk of complications, especially because that person does not have adequate knowledge of anatomy or safe injection techniques.”

What Are the Risks of At-Home Botox?

As mentioned, you run the risk of contamination and infections when using unregulated Botox. According to the experts, there’s also a high risk of compromised facial movements, drooping eyelids and even rare complications like having trouble breathing or swallowing. Dr. Sturm adds, “We will see more people become non-responders to neurotox because the urge to inject too frequently or tough up too often will be irresistible.” 

While Innotox or any other at-home injectables are not favored by the experts, they do believe there are safe, non-invasive alternatives out there to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Dr. Sturm recommends at-home LED treatments and at-home microneedling. She adds, “You can increase collagen and elastin in your skin with any or all of these options to improve the smoothness and texture without significant risk of making your skin worse.” 

So skip the at-home Botox. It is not a genius money-saving Fountain of Youth. Instead, look into investing in a red light therapy mask, maybe a skincare wand or a retinol serum that actually has scientific-backed claims and FDA-approval. Simply put, you’ll want to steer clear of this TikTok fad.