7 Botox Myths You’ve Believed – UNTIL NOW

Summary

Biohacking Beauty: The Anti-Aging Skincare Podcast
Episode Title: Botox Myths You’ve Believed – UNTIL NOW
Host: Amitay Eshel & Anastasia Hochaiba
Release Date: April 23, 2025

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Overview

In Episode 7 of the Biohacking Beauty podcast, hosts Amitay Eshel and Anastasia Hochaiba delve deep into the world of Botox, unraveling seven prevalent myths and misconceptions surrounding this widely-used anti-aging treatment. The episode aims to empower listeners with accurate information, enabling them to make informed decisions about their skincare and aging gracefully.

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1. Botox Alters Facial Movements Over Time

Timestamp: [00:50 – 04:34]

Amitay sets the stage by emphasizing that Botox is often mistaken as a casual beauty routine rather than a regulated medical procedure with complex long-term effects.

Anastasia elaborates, stating, “Botox alters facial movements over time. So most people know that Botox relaxes the muscles to smooth wrinkles. But what many don't realize is that over time, repeated use can change your facial muscles function” ([01:15]). She explains that continuous Botox use can lead to diminished natural expressions, muscle weakening, and even facial asymmetry after prolonged periods (e.g., 5-10 years). This change can result in a "frozen" appearance, detracting from genuine emotional expression.

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2. Botox Can Contribute to Perception Drift

Timestamp: [04:34 – 06:24]

Anastasia introduces the concept of "perception drift," coining it with insights from Dr. Cameron Chestnut. “What we believe is normal facial function looks like drifts together with the amount of evidence we see to that in the environment” ([04:41]). She explains that as more people use Botox, societal perceptions of youthful appearance shift, making the standard look more homogenized and potentially leading individuals to feel anxious about even minor changes in their appearance.

She addresses a misconception propagated by some doctors that Botox “kills the emotional intelligence center in your brain,” clarifying, “...if you cannot mimic certain emotions, you are less able to read other people's emotions” ([04:43]). This reduced facial expressiveness can hinder emotional communication, although it doesn't directly impact brain function.

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3. Overuse of Botox Can Lead to Muscle Atrophy

Timestamp: [06:55 – 08:50]

Amitay introduces Fact Number 3, highlighting that excessive Botox use can cause muscle atrophy.

Anastasia explains, “When you repeatedly inject Botox into the same area, those muscles aren't being used, so they shrink... And what happens when facial muscles shrink? Well, there's looking more hollow. Things start to sag...” ([06:58]). She warns of a "filler spiral," where users compensate for atrophied muscles by introducing fillers, potentially leading to an unnatural, puffy appearance.

To combat muscle atrophy, Anastasia advises cycling off Botox treatments and incorporating facial massages or muscle stimulation to maintain muscle integrity ([08:02]).

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4. Botox Can Weaken the Ligaments That Support the Face

Timestamp: [11:00 – 12:43]

Amitay discusses how Botox's muscle-relaxing effects can inadvertently weaken the facial ligaments. By limiting muscle movement, Botox reduces blood circulation and compromises the facial support structures, leading to sagging, especially in the lower face and neck ([11:10]).

Anastasia adds that overcompensated muscles might cause areas like jowls and marionette lines to become more pronounced. She recommends using facial toning tools, fascia release, and lymphatic drainage to support facial structure and prevent imbalances ([12:21]).

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5. Botox Is Often Used Too Early

Timestamp: [12:43 – 16:49]

Amitay introduces Fact Number 5, questioning the trend of "preventative Botox" among individuals in their early twenties.

Anastasia critiques the injectables industry's push for early Botox usage, highlighting the bias from companies like Allergan that profit from increased sales. She debunks the notion that Botox is truly preventative, clarifying that while some studies suggest Botox reduces skin cell response to UV radiation, these findings are often misrepresented and lack practical applicability ([14:27 – 16:33]).

Instead of preemptive Botox, Anastasia advocates for focusing on cellular regeneration with treatments like NAD peptides and red light therapy to support skin resilience and health ([16:36 – 16:49]).

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6. Botox Doesn't Actually Improve Skin Quality

Timestamp: [16:49 – 17:56]

Amitay prompts Anastasia to elaborate on Fact Number 6, emphasizing that Botox does not enhance skin texture, hydration, or elasticity.

Anastasia confirms, “Botox doesn't do a thing for your skin texture, hydration, elasticity. It just stops movement that causes certain wrinkles” ([17:06]). She stresses the importance of pairing Botox with skin-boosting treatments like red light therapy, microneedling, and exosome injections to address comprehensive skin health needs.

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7. Botox Can Create an Unnatural Face Shape Over Time

Timestamp: [18:10 – 19:34]

Amitay presents the final fact, asserting that long-term Botox use can distort facial proportions.

Anastasia explains that consistent Botox injections can alter the balance between facial muscles, leading to a loss of jawline definition and overall facial harmony over years of use ([18:39]). To maintain a natural appearance, she recommends working with skilled injectors knowledgeable in muscle mapping and incorporating practices like facial yoga and resistance training to support and balance facial features.

Amitay adds a cautionary note on the "bow trap," where increased Botox use leads to higher dependency and dosage requirements due to muscle tolerance ([19:25]).

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Conclusion

Timestamp: [19:34 – 20:04]

Anastasia wraps up the episode by reiterating that while Botox isn't inherently negative, its long-term effects necessitate a thoughtful, informed approach to usage. She emphasizes treating Botox as a tool that requires mindful application to avoid unintended consequences.

Amitay hints at future discussions, encouraging listeners to stay tuned for Part Two of their Botox breakdown, where they will explore additional facts and insights submitted by their audience ([20:02 – 20:04]).

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Final Thoughts

Hosts Amitay Eshel and Anastasia Hochaiba provide a comprehensive examination of Botox, challenging common beliefs and shedding light on the nuanced effects of long-term use. By debunking myths and presenting factual information, they empower listeners to navigate the complexities of anti-aging treatments with greater awareness and caution.

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Notable Quotes:

• Anastasia Hochaiba: “Botox alters facial movements over time... you might notice your expressions don't look as natural” ([01:20]).

• Anastasia Hochaiba: “What we believe is normal facial function looks like drifts together with the amount of evidence we see to that in the environment” ([04:41]).

• Anastasia Hochaiba: “Botox doesn't do a thing for your skin texture, hydration, elasticity. It just stops movement that causes certain wrinkles” ([17:06]).

• Anastasia Hochaiba: “Botox can create an unnatural face shape over time... it can sneak up to you after years of regular use” ([18:10]).

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Disclaimer: This summary is based on the transcript provided and is intended for informational purposes only. For personalized skincare advice, please consult a qualified professional.

Transcript

[A]

This is the Biohacking Beauty Podcast. Welcome, I'm Amitay Eshel and thank goodness again today. It is the one and only. My co co founder of Yungoos Anastasia the great and powerful Hochaiba is here.

[B]

Thank you. Thank you for having me.

[A]

This podcast is brought to you by Angus. The Biohacking Beauty podcast is your address, your source of how to biohack your skin and how to improve your skin health and everything that would lead to better appearance. I am so excited. I botched that completely. But we're gonna keep this.

[B]

Okay. Okay.

[A]

Because it's genuine.

[B]

All right, so I think, uh, one of the, the top rated podcast episodes that we've ever done and we've done it together, was about Botox. And that was my personal Botox story. And since then we have first of all heard a lot of. Well, we, we got asked a lot of questions that we're going to, got.

[A]

A lot, got a lot of hate from injectors.

[B]

Yes, we, we. So yeah, so this podcast is really, when we're going to talk about Botox, we're going to address sex seven facts. And yeah, there will be some myth busting, there will be some, you know, I don't know, conspiracy theory busting. So yeah, I hope it will be interesting to follow along.

[A]

Amen. I want to start, I want to jump right in and I want to set the framework. Because Botox is often regarded as a beauty routine, casual beauty routine, the part of what you do for your. As your. As your beauty routine, but it isn't. It is a medical procedure.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

By the way, regulated as a medical procedure with complex long term effects. So I think that's how we should frame this conversation.

[B]

Yeah, exactly. I completely agree. So our, our goal here is really not to scare you, but to help you make informed, empowered decisions about how you age. And if you've ever had Botox or thinking about it or feeling like it's just something you're supposed to do to stay youthful, this episode is 100% for you. Okay, let's get into it.

[A]

Let's get into it and I'm going to start with a joke.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Ready?

[B]

No, I'm never ready for a job.

[A]

Good. Sounds good. So this is an old joke. So anyone who is from Israel, they're going to know this joke. But we're going to talk about, we're talking about Botox and its ability to relax muscles. And you know, Middle Eastern, we are known to be very, very emotional. So do you know how a Middle Eastern book, a cooking Book starts.

[B]

Oh, yeah, I know this show.

[A]

First of all, relax.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Okay, that's the joke, because we're talking about relaxing. So Botox.

[B]

I got it. I got it. It's very funny. I just heard this joke many times.

[A]

I'm going to say something and you're going to contradict me. Botox, all it does is relaxes wrinkles.

[B]

No. And. And the fact number one that we want to address is that Botox alters facial movements over time. So most people know that Botox relaxes the muscles to smooth wrinkles. But what many don't realize is that over time, repeated use can change your facial muscles function. So you might notice your expressions don't look as natural. Some muscles can become weaker permanently while others overcompensate. So this can lead to that frozen or slightly off look we sometimes see in people who had Botox for years. So what does this look like after 5, 10 years? Think less range of motion and sometimes even facial asymmetry. Asymmetry. And here's the kicker. It's not always reversible once those muscles atrophy. So that's why I always talk about the difference between dynamic aging, where your face still moves and communicates emotion, versus this ultra smooth blank canvas that can start to feel a little disconnected. So it actually brings me to the fact number two that I want to discuss and I want you to have a go at what, which is that Botox can contribute to perception drift.

[A]

I think perception drift is funny because I think the first time we've spoken about it was with Dr. Shout out to Dr. Cameron Chestnut.

[B]

And that went viral.

[A]

Went viral. But we mainly talked about fillers. But the same applies also to Botox. Basically, what we believe is normal, what we believe normal facial function looks like drifts together with the amount of evidence we see to that in the environment. So if we saw everyone having Botox, that is going to be our perception of what happens. And it's not only your perception of who you are drifts. You look at yourself every day in the mirror, you start to get used to how that looks like. And what's going to happen is people freak out. Let's say they, you know, after three and a half months, if they are used to doing Botox every three months because they start to have movement back in their. Their forehead. And the last thing I'm going to say is about the. So you look different. You think other people look different. You freak out when you see a small wrinkle in your face. But the last thing is in Something. So there is a very prominent doctor that says that it Botox kill kills the emotional intelligence center in your brain, which is untrue. It's a super extrapolated version of reality. But in reality, what happens is if you have an emotion, I need to micro mimic that emotion in order to make sense of it. So anything that you know, your forehead is a big part of, you know, your emoting ability. So when you cannot do that, you, you are less able to read other people's emotions. It doesn't kill any center in the brain has nothing to do with that. But you are less receptive to other people's emotion. That is true.

[B]

Yeah. And I think by now so many people have seen those reels on Instagram where like they make fun of like, oh, I'm less empathetic because I take.

[A]

Yeah, we shared one on our Instagram.

[B]

No, that wasn't what we shared. We shared something else.

[A]

Never mind.

[B]

We shared how many units people get. And you know, the comment section was wild because there were a lot of younger girls because they were saying their age and then how many units they get. But we're not going to address this here. Okay, so since we want to do. Yeah, do rapid fire. You want to read the fact number three.

[A]

Fact number three is overuse of Botox can lead to muscle atrophy.

[B]

Yes. So here's where things get anatomical. When you repeatedly inject Botox into the same area, those muscles aren't being used, so they shrink. Just like if you stopped using your leg muscles for months, they'd atrophy. And what happens when facial muscles shrink? Well, that Aries is like looking more hollow. Things start to sag and there is a need for restoration of that. And people kind of resort to filler. So they're filling up that, that hollow space for lost volume. And this is kind of like where people fall into what I call the filler spiral. So trying to compensate for the side effects of one injectable with another. So if you ever notice somebody who's face looks pillowy or oddly puffy, it could be the result of that combo of atrophied muscles and overfilled areas.

[A]

So can I ask you a question?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

What is a tip you, you can give to kind of pausing or cycling off to avoid atrophy.

[B]

Yeah. So there is a tip that I've been sharing all the time. And you know, I'm going to say this again, so if you're somebody that's doing Botox, what you can do to prevent the muscle atrophy is definitely when your muscle movement is coming back. Instead of rushing right away to, you know, get another treatment, you go to a professional masseuse and you get the muscle massaged. You drain all of the lymphatic drainage. You make sure that the muscle actually works and it doesn't, not atrophy. And then if you need to, if you want to continue, you can do it again. So you kind of cycle off Botox occasionally. Also, another tip is to target different areas to give your face a break, but really the facial massage and muscle stimulation tools can also help keep those muscles active and supported.

[A]

Got it. Okay.

[C]

Hey there. This is Amitai, co founder and CEO of Young Goose and host of the Biohacking Beauty Podcast Podcast. I wanted to take a brief moment to share something really special with you, our dedicated listeners at Young Goose. We've always been about more than just skincare. We are about cellular care. We believe in not just addressing the signs, but truly diving into the very source of skin aging. The reality is, as time goes on, our skin undergoes damage and this damage accumulates gradually, leading to those signs of aging we all see and know very well. But what if we could hit the rewind button? What if we could delve deep, not into the layers of the skin, but into the life sustaining mechanisms of our skin cells? That's exactly what we're doing at Young Oops. We're pioneering a renaissance in skincare by employing principles from regenerative medicine. By rejuvenating and restoring the cellular functions, our products aim to rewind time, gifting your skin a youthful, vibrant glow. And for our Biohacking Beauty listeners, we have a special treat. Head over to yonghoos.com right now and use the code PODCAST10 to get 10% off your first purchase. Discover the magic of truly transformative skincare. And hey, because we value our returning customers just as much, use podcast five on your subsequent purchases to get 5% off. And the best part, that this discount can be combined with subscriptions and our already discounted systems. So why wait? Dive deep into the realm of regenerative skincare with Young Goose and let yourself skin. Thank you. Remember, it's not just skin care, it's cellular care. And now back to our conversation.

[B]

Okay, let's discuss fact number four. Yes, so Botox can weaken the ligaments that support the face. That one is, I feel like, is a lesser known.

[A]

It's lesser known. And I think, and I, you know, we did have our. The last podcast you were on, we were talking about the neck. So this is like super, super, super important in the neck. But a few things can happen. The ability of Botox to like limit muscle movement also basically has a cascade of less blood, blood circulation there, more ability of your, of your, less ability of your supporting structure to rely on facial muscles to balance things out. So our facial muscles don't have any joints that they, that they connect to. They actually connect all the way to the, to the skin and, and, and they anchor to each other. So when we freeze some of them, it kind of disrupts the ability of the entire system to go. And anyone who, who has seen botched both Botox injections knows that because the, there is uneven facial tension because of that. So, so mainly in the lower, lower face in the neck, what we see is sagging. That can be driven, you know, on occasion because of the bottom.

[B]

Yeah. And so if you, if you are someone that does Botox, but you still notice in like jowls and marionette lines, that could be, that, that could be like some muscles, you know, kind of overcompensating. And I think you can combat this with facial toning tools. Fascia release again, facial massage and lymphatic drainage go a long way. Do you have anything else to add to that?

[A]

No, I would, I would definitely go to point number five, which we kind of alluded to before.

[B]

Yes. So point number five goes. Botox is often used too early. So I've seen many women in their early twenties getting preventative Botox. And I get it. We live in a world that rewards. Looking good and looking youthful is definitely, you know, an aspiration that we support. But here's the question, is it actually preventing anything or is it creating long term dependency?

[A]

So I think we live in a different world. We live in a world where you are at the mercy, the medical mercy of someone who literally is benefiting from you getting that treatment. So they have a bias. I'm not saying that they're evil, I'm saying they have a bias. And you have a company, for example, Allergan is a big company that's the owners of Botox. There are other versions like D Sport, et cetera. And what they do is they use marketing and they actually indoctrinate the doctors who believe in what they're saying as far as selling more of their product, which is Botox fillers, whatever that is. So an example with fillers is saying, oh, hyaluronic acid fillers stimulate, stimulate collagen production as another example. It's just another example to, to that type of marketing. Which it doesn't actually, within the confines of botulism, of Botox and other paralyzing treatments, is that it is preventative and it isn't preventative. It might be, by the way, not how people think it is, which I'm happy to touch on. I think it's kind of irrelevant.

[B]

I think we talked about in the other podcast.

[A]

Yeah, okay, but, but it, but it isn't preventative in the way where we're not stopping collagen degradation, for example, due to UV radiation, artificial, you know, I want to say artificial intelligence, artificial blue light, et cetera. I'll let you continue.

[B]

Yeah, no, no, I, I had my piece. I, I just like you, I don't think it's preventative and I think it's not the skin that benefited from it, but the injectables industry, like when it's promoted for like, you know, for people in their early 20s.

[A]

Yes. There is one study that came out that showed that when introduced Botox to skin cells, they responded less harshly to UV radiation. And that's slightly different. First of all, both. And, and you'll hear that you, you don't hear it yet, but I'm telling you, because I'm speaking to plastic surgeons, dermatologist. I'm telling you that this is going to be something that is going to be parroted. So I'm going to tell you two things. A, that it was done in a lab has nothing to do with reality. B, Botox is not injected into the skin. It's injected into muscles. These don't even get UV radiation. There might be an argument there maybe to have Botox injected into the skin. Maybe. But it's not what happened. What's happening right now. And it has nothing to do with the argument that Botox is preventative. The argument of Botox is preventative is that it prevents continuous muscle movement that forms wrinkle wrinkles. The reason this is BS is because this is a, a determinant of the shape of the wrinkle and not the formation of the wrinkle, which is, you know, collagen degradation, elastin, etc. And if you wanted to prevent formation as far as like the shaping of wrinkles, you could just use peptides that are called neuropeptides that do the same thing at a lower extent, but kind of do the same thing. When you talk about cumulative result, which is predictability of muscle, of skin movement.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And I know we need to hurry up, so I leave it at that.

[B]

Yeah, well, yeah, I will just say that instead of preemptively freezing your face. I'm personally a bigger fan of focusing on like cellular regeneration. So things like NAD peptides, red light therapy to support your skin to be.

[A]

Resilient and not just still specifically neuropeptides. Right. Like not all peptides. Peptides now is also being usurped.

[B]

Okay, so let's talk about fact number six. Botox doesn't actually improve skin quality. So you already started talking about that. So you can go ahead and finish your thoughts.

[A]

No, no, I want you to do it.

[B]

Okay. So one of the biggest misconceptions about Botox is that it somehow improves your skin. Here's the truth. Botox doesn't do a thing for your skin texture, hydration, elasticity. It just stops movement that causes certain wrinkles. So while your forehead might look smoother if you zoom in, you may still see the dullness, dryness and even tone. Like Botox won't do anything to those issues. So that's why pairing Botox with skin boosting treatments is essential. And you know, it's the same things that I talked about it in the previous pond point. Like my go to would be red light therapy. I approve of micro needling exosomes injections.

[A]

For now.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And maybe when we come out in the future with topical form, maybe then for now the topical forms exosomes are irrelevant.

[B]

Yeah but and then of course like good topical skincare, what we do with Young Goose. But now to fact number seven. So you want to read it?

[A]

Yeah. So long. So Botox can create an unnatural face shape over time. Very interesting. Because long term use can suddenly change the proportions between facial muscles. Facial face shape, especially some muscles that are constantly, you know, remaining relaxed while other ones constantly take, take the load and kind of are constantly tense.

[B]

Yes. So what ends up happening is that, you know, what we see is that there, there is a lost in definition of jawline. It's not like noticeable right away, but it kind of sneaks up to you, you know, after years of regular use of Botox. So to maintain facial harmony, it's crucial to work with an injector who understands muscle mapping and to corporate practices like facial yoga, resistance training, lymphatic work to keep your features supported and balanced.

[A]

Amen. Yeah, let's talk about something that is a little bit, I mean you only meet it years into doing Botox, which is the more you do it, the more you need it or the more material you use, the more material you're going to use next time.

[B]

Yeah, you definitely your Muscle builds tolerance. So you will have to increase the amount of units you get because to, to, to get the same effect.

[A]

I call it the bow trap.

[B]

Yeah, well, I think that's a wrap on a part one for our Botox breakdown. I know this is a lot of info, but I hope it left you feeling empowered, more than overwhelmed. And Botox isn't inherently bad. It's a tool. But like any tool, how you use it matters. So we hope you understand the long term effects of it and you build smarter, more sustainable approach.

[A]

Will there be a part two?

[B]

Yes. We have a lot more facts being, you know, sent to us for review, so I stay tuned for part two.

[A]

Ta da. Okay, so basically that's it for this podcast. Anastasia, thank you so much for joining us again. We should really do it more often. Okay, okay, you heard it here first. She's gonna do it more often. But in general, thank you everyone. Of course, if you liked this podcast, we really appreciate the people who provide amazing reviews that send it to their friends that, you know, tag us with clips and say, hey, you, you need to look at that. Hey, you really need their products, whatever that is. And if you haven't done so yet, please leave a review and a comment on Apple Podcasts. Your reviews really push the podcast forward and really allow more people to discover it and to enjoy the information that we share and that we believe is so important in this podcast.

[B]

Yeah. Please let us know if you learned anything new today or if you have your own Botox experience to share. We'd love to hear from you. So, yeah, the best way to leave that feedback is on Apple Podcasts. And if you also have a question to us that you want us to talk about in the next episode, please do so in the comment section. And as always, check out Genghis for skincare that goes beyond the surface. The tree biohacking your skin for long term resilience.

[A]

For long term resilience.

[B]

Regeneration.

[A]

Regeneration.

[B]

Okay, until next time.

[A]

Until next time. Okay, bye.

[B]

Bye.