I got Botox for 20 years — here’s what happens when you stop

She’s frozen in time.

One California aesthetic nurse on TikTok is revealing what she claimed happened after she stopped getting Botox injections in her face, something she had been doing for the past 20 years.

The video was posted by Brenda Blay, who goes by the username @nursebblay on the social media app.

The clip has already topped 384,000 views.

“Have you ever wondered what a person who’s been using Botox for 20 years looks like when they stop?” Blay began.

The nurse then pointed to her forehead, showing little muscle movement between her eyebrows and near the top of her head.

“I stopped using it in October, so it’s pretty much gone, but you notice I don’t have muscle movement — because I haven’t used them in so long,” she explained.

She continued, “So now I’m basically rebuilding my muscles.”

The nurse revealed that she feels like the movement and wrinkles are starting to come back, but it’s not 100% there yet.

“Don’t worry,” Blay advised. “Just take breaks.”

In comments on her video, the TikToker explained that she takes breaks periodically to keep her “muscles active” and “keep fullness” in her forehead.

The Post reached out to Blay for comment.

What Blay seemed to be describing was a form of muscle atrophy, potentially caused by Botox injections.

Muscle atrophy is defined as the “decrease in size and wasting of muscle tissue,” according to Mount Sinai.

New York City dermatologist Patricia Wexler explained that muscles can atrophy from a “lack of use” if Botox is used consistently without any breaks, she was quoted as saying in an article last year.

2010 study out of the University of Calgary found that animals who were injected with the toxin experienced muscle weakness in the body — even in places that weren’t injected with Botox.

However, there is still more research to be done regarding Botox and muscle atrophy, a 2018 study noted.

Botox — which is also known by its official name “Botulinum toxin” — is a cosmetic injection that temporarily relaxes the muscles in the face, using a toxin called onobotulinumtoxinA to do so, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Dermatologist Dr. Manasi Shirolikar told The Post that after you stop Botox injections, the results won’t disappear immediately.

“You won’t develop wrinkles overnight,” she wrote to The Post. “Your skin will still look younger, smoother with softer wrinkles as the muscle itself will have weakened over time.”

She continued, “You will still look much younger than you would have if you hadn’t gotten injected, but you will be at risk of getting wrinkles again as the effect of Botox wears off in 3 to 6 months.”

The dermatologist also noted that you will first notice dynamic wrinkles, which are wrinkles that develop from making facial expressions.

Because of that, static wrinkles, which appear across cheeks and the neck, can also become more apparent.

She also explained that after stopping Botox, your skin may look thinner.

“Usually if your Botox treatment has started in your early 20s, there can be more atrophy of the muscle which could be seen as thinner skin, especially visible on the forehead,” she wrote. “However, this can also be due to resorption of bone and fat loss which are also a part of the normal aging process.”

In the comments section of her TikTok video, many applauded Blay for opening up.

“Thanks for being honest about Botox,” one person commented. “I never used Botox. I just want to age gracefully.”

Another agreed, writing, “Love this visual! Nothing bad when stopped.”

“I see no wrong here,” someone else added.

Read complete story by Jane Herz on The New York Post HERE.

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