Have you ever met a Botox junkie? Someone who doesn’t know when to say when? I like to refer to the syndrome as Frozen Face. No matter what emotion they’re feeling, you’d have no idea judging from the frozen look on their face.

I refuse to let patients leave my office looking like this. Why? Because I’m responsible for making them look their best and that’s far from the best anyone can look.

Like any cosmetic injectable, Botox should be handled with the utmost care. That starts with the person administering the injection. Are they licensed to handle these types of cosmetic procedures? Or have they simply watched enough injections to think they know what they’re doing? Botox was designed to paralyze the muscles that cause fine lines and deeper wrinkles. Think about that for a moment. It might take minutes to perform, but it’s a serious procedure.

You probably wouldn’t let the receptionist at your hair salon take shears to your hair; don’t let anyone but a licensed professional put a needle to your skin.

If you think the mishaps start and stop with Frozen Face, you’re mistaken. A more serious complication is blepharoptosis, more commonly referred to as Droopy Eyelid. Sure, they’ve develops drugs to treat it, but why risk an embarrassing side effect that can last up to six months?

Which leads me to the duration your Botox should last. Many physicians will try to tell you the clock-rewinding effects will only last three months. They’re not injecting enough, plain and simple. But there’s a fine line between enough and too much. This is why I don’t recommend budget-shopping your Botox. It’s not TJ Maxx. You can’t take back Frozen Face or Droopy Eyelid when you discover you’ve received poor quality.

For the sake of your face’s reputation: Please heed my advice and pass it along to those you care about. Let’s put an end to Botox junkies.