Doctor Shows What Botox Really Does With Half Face Test

Dr. Bita Farrell turned herself into a living science experiment. She drew a line down the middle of her face and injected Botox into only the right side. Two weeks later, she showed her 250,000 Instagram followers exactly what happened. One side of her face moved freely when she smiled and frowned. On the other side, muscles barely twitched. Her video went viral as viewers watched in real time how botulinum toxin freezes facial muscles and changes appearance. Many called the reveal amazing and informative. Others questioned whether such demonstrations might encourage unsafe practices. Either way, her experiment sparked important conversations about what we put in our faces and why.

What Dr. Farrell Did to Her Face

California-based aesthetician Dr. Bita Farrell injected specific muscles on only the right side of her lower face. She targeted two main areas: the DAO (Depressor Anguli Oris) and the platysma muscle in the jawline. Both of these muscles naturally pull the lower face downward. By paralyzing them with Botox, she created an opportunity to see how facial anatomy really works.

After waiting two weeks for full results, she recorded herself trying to move her facial muscles. Her left side contracted and moved just as it always had. She could scrunch her face, pull her mouth down, and activate all the normal expressions. But her right side stayed almost completely still. No matter how hard she tried to engage those muscles, they remained frozen in place.

How Facial Muscles Work Together

Facial muscles either pull up or pull down. When you inject and relax the muscles that pull the lower face down (like the platysma and DAO), something interesting happens. Other muscles take over. Specifically, the zygomaticus (cheek muscle) starts to dominate. Since nothing is pulling down anymore, the upward-pulling muscles lift the face higher than before.

Dr. Farrell’s experiment showed this effect clearly. Her injected side appeared lifted compared to her natural side. Her cheek sat higher. Folds near her nose looked softer. Lines near the corner of her mouth became less visible. Even her jawline appeared sharper on the treated side.

What Botox Can Help With

Based on Dr. Farrell’s demonstration and her professional explanation, Botox injections in the lower face can address several appearance concerns. People often seek these treatments to reduce marionette lines, which run from the corners of the mouth down to the chin. Jowls that develop along the jawline can appear less pronounced. Some people call it “resting sad face” when downward-pulling muscles create a perpetually unhappy expression. Botox can counteract that effect.

Nasolabial folds (the lines running from nose to mouth) may appear softer when the lower face lifts. Some practitioners report that the treatment can make cheeks look fuller and more lifted. Neck lifting and jawline sharpening are also possible outcomes. Results vary from person to person based on facial anatomy, muscle strength, and injection technique.

How Long Botox Results Last

Like all Botox treatments, results from lower face injections last about three to four months. After that time, nerve signals gradually return to the muscles. Movement comes back slowly. Lines and folds may return to their previous appearance. Most people who want to maintain results need regular appointments every few months.

Some individuals find they can space treatments farther apart over time. Others need more frequent visits. Muscle strength, metabolism, and lifestyle factors all affect how long results last. Cost becomes a consideration for anyone thinking about ongoing treatments. Average prices in Manhattan run about $662 per session, which could add up to nearly $53,000 over a lifetime of regular treatments.

Side Effects and Safety Concerns

Social media reactions to Dr. Farrell’s video ranged from grateful to critical. Some commenters called her demonstration arrogant and irresponsible. They worried that people might try self-injection after watching her video. Others questioned whether paralyzing facial muscles could be safe long-term. One person wrote they would never do such a thing to themselves.

When performed by trained professionals using properly manufactured products, Botox treatments carry a relatively low risk. However, side effects do occur. Common short-term effects include bruising at injection sites, pain, flu-like symptoms, headaches, nausea, redness, and temporary facial weakness. In rare cases, facial drooping can occur if the product migrates to unintended areas.

Long-term effects deserve consideration, too. Some people experience permanent changes to facial expression after years of regular treatments. Muscle stiffness can develop. Certain facial expressions may become impossible to make. Reports from the BBC suggest these effects, while not common, can happen with repeated use over many years.

Very rare but serious complications include botulism symptoms. Properly manufactured and administered injections make this risk extremely small. Still, anyone considering Botox should discuss all potential risks with a qualified medical professional.

When Botox Stops Working

About one in five people may develop resistance to Botox over time. Bodies can create antibodies against the botulinum toxin, making future treatments less effective or completely ineffective. For someone spending hundreds of dollars every few months, discovering immunity can be frustrating and expensive.

Switching to different brands of botulinum toxin sometimes helps. Products like Dysport or Xeomin use slightly different formulations. Some people respond to these alternatives even after developing Botox resistance. Others find that no form of botulinum toxin works for them anymore.

Regulation and Training Standards

Safety advocates have called for stricter regulation in the cosmetics industry. Some providers complete only week-long training courses before they start injecting patients. While Botox administration might seem simple (it takes only about 10 minutes), understanding facial anatomy requires extensive knowledge. Knowing where to inject, how much to use, and how to handle complications separates qualified practitioners from those with minimal training.

Prices for private Botox treatments can start as low as $100 per session. Lower prices might indicate less experienced providers or lower-quality products. Higher prices don’t always guarantee better results either. Choosing a practitioner requires research into their credentials, experience, and patient reviews.

Medical Uses Beyond Cosmetics

Botox serves medical purposes beyond wrinkle reduction. Doctors prescribe it for conditions involving muscle spasms, chronic migraines, and excessive sweating. People with these conditions can sometimes access Botox through insurance or national health services. Medical necessity changes the risk-benefit calculation compared to purely cosmetic use.

For spasm disorders, the ability to temporarily paralyze overactive muscles provides relief. Migraine sufferers often see reduced frequency and severity of headaches after Botox injections in specific head and neck locations. People with hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) can get injections in their underarms, palms, or feet to block the nerves that activate sweat glands.

Making Informed Decisions About Injectables

Dr. Farrell’s experiment provided educational value by showing exactly what Botox does to facial muscles. Watching one side of her face freeze while the other moved naturally gave viewers a clear picture of the treatment’s effects. Knowledge helps people make better decisions about their own faces and bodies.

Before choosing any cosmetic procedure, several questions deserve honest answers. What specific concerns am I trying to address? Do I have realistic expectations about results? Can I afford ongoing maintenance treatments? Have I researched the practitioner’s credentials and experience? What happens if I develop side effects or don’t like the results?

For some people, accepting natural aging processes brings more peace than fighting them. For others, cosmetic treatments provide confidence and satisfaction. Neither choice is inherently right or wrong. What matters is making informed decisions based on accurate information rather than social media trends or peer pressure.

My Personal RX on Understanding Facial Aging and Cosmetic Choices

Aging changes every face, and each person deserves to make informed choices about how they respond. Dr. Farrell’s experiment shows us exactly how muscle-freezing treatments work, which is valuable knowledge whether you choose injectables or not. As a physician who believes in patient education, I think understanding these procedures helps you make better decisions for your own health and appearance. All approaches have their place depending on individual needs and preferences. My goal is always to help you understand your options so you can choose what feels right for your life.

1. Feed Your Skin From Within: Skin health starts in the gut, not at the dermatologist’s office. MindBiotic supports your gut microbiome with probiotics, prebiotics, and Ashwagandha KSM 66, which can help reduce inflammation that accelerates aging and affects skin appearance. A balanced gut creates the foundation for healthy skin at any age.
   
2. Build a Nutrient-Dense Meal Plan: Antioxidants, healthy fats, and protein support collagen production and skin elasticity naturally. Mindful Meals cookbook offers 100+ gut-healing recipes designed by doctors to nourish your body from the inside out, with meal plans that make healthy eating simple and sustainable.
   
3. Prioritize Sleep Quality: Seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night allows your body to repair cellular damage, including skin cells. Poor sleep accelerates visible aging faster than almost any other factor.
   
4. Manage Stress Daily: Chronic stress elevates cortisol, which breaks down collagen and elastin in your skin. Practice meditation, deep breathing, or activities that bring you joy to protect your face from stress-related aging.
   
5. Stay Hydrated Consistently: Water helps maintain skin plumpness and supports the elimination of toxins. Aim for eight glasses of water daily, more if you exercise or live in a dry climate.
   
6. Research Practitioners Thoroughly: If you choose injectables, find providers with extensive training, good reviews, and proper credentials. Ask about their experience, complication rates, and how they handle any problems that may arise.
   
7. Start With Conservative Approaches: Less is more with any cosmetic treatment. You can always add more later, but reversing overfilled or frozen faces takes time and money.
   
8. Protect Against Sun Damage: Daily sunscreen prevents more aging than any injectable ever could. UV radiation breaks down collagen and causes the most visible signs of aging.
   
9. Accept What Makes You Unique: Some lines and changes tell the story of your life. Laugh lines show you’ve experienced joy. Expression marks prove you’ve lived fully.
   
10. Make Choices for Yourself: Never pursue any treatment to please others or meet someone else’s beauty standards. Your face, your choice, always.
    

Source: 

Satriyasa, B. K. (2019). <p>Botulinum toxin (Botox) A for reducing the appearance of facial wrinkles: a literature review of clinical use and pharmacological aspect</p> Clinical Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, Volume 12, 223–228. https://doi.org/10.2147/ccid.s202919