Many people are currently considering whether or not to try botox, and the experience of one doctor might help them decide.
Dr. Bita Farrell gained attention online last June after she used herself as an experimental subject to demonstrate the effects of the drug botulinum toxin.
Although this protein is primarily intended for medical use, it has been found to be highly effective for cosmetic enhancements.
For instance, botox can temporarily immobilize facial muscles, resulting in smoother skin.
Understanding the science behind botox is crucial, but Dr. Farrell’s Instagram video offers a real-life look at the process.
In her experiment, she explored the effect of injecting botox into just one half of her face.
With over two decades of experience in injections, the former Clinical Professor at UCLA knows her field well.
Dr. Farrell injected the lower muscles on the right side of her face with botox two weeks before filming the video.
She focused on the DAO muscle, which lowers the corners of the mouth, and the platysma muscle, which aids in facial expressions and mouth movements.
“Now for you, two weeks later, I present my results as I try and contract my lower face muscles,” she announced to her audience.
The results were quite telling; she struggled to move the right side of her face, although the left side remained expressive.
She further explained: “You can see that the platysma muscle on this [left] side is really contracting and pulling my jawline down, and so is my DAO, pulling the corner of my mouth down.”
In the caption, Dr. Farrell elaborated on how Botox works: “Muscles of the face either pull up or pull down. When the muscles that pull the lower face down (platysma and DAO) are injected and relaxed with a neuromodulator such as Botox, the muscle that pulls the mid face up (zygomaticus or cheek muscle) dominates and pulls the face up!”
She added that this process “can help reduce the appearance of marionette lines, jowls, frown (rbf, or sad face), and the nasolabial folds. It also lifts the neck and can sharpen the jawline and make the cheeks appear a bit fuller and more lifted.”