Why ‘Backyard Botox’ Is Raising Red Flags With Medical Experts

As demand for injectables continues to surge, a troubling underground trend is gaining traction. As reported by FOX 13 Tampa Bay, the latest TikTok trend dubbed “Backyard Botox” shows users “mapping out their faces, loading syringes and injecting what they claim are Botox or Botox-like neurotoxins”—often labeling the process as “beginner-friendly” or pitching it as a money-saving aesthetic hack.

Ahead, we spoke with experts about the realities behind “Backyard Botox,” the risks that come with DIY neuromodulator injections and why this trend is raising major red flags among medical professionals.

Featured Experts

• George Sanders, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in Encino, CA
• Jody A. Levine, MD is a board-certified dermatologist in New York
• Robert Singer, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon in La Jolla, CA
• Dr. Karan Lal is a board-certified dermatologist in Phoenix

Why the Risks Go Beyond Bad Results

What the at-home “trend” actually delivers, experts say, is a serious risk to both your appearance and your health. When neuromodulators are administered improperly, the consequences can range from disappointing to downright dangerous. Facial asymmetry, drooping eyelids and frozen expressions are among the most common outcomes, but infections, scarring and nerve damage are also possible. In rare but serious cases, incorrectly placed or dosed injections can even interfere with swallowing or breathing.

Where ‘Backyard Botox’ Breaks Every Safety Rule

Compounding the risk is the prevalence of counterfeit or illegally imported injectables in the underground market, which may contain unknown ingredients or incorrect concentrations.

“DIY Botox isn’t clever—it’s risky,” stresses Encino, CA plastic surgeon George Sanders, MD. “More bruising, wrong placement and bad results that don’t fade overnight. Penny-wise? Maybe. Dollar-foolish? Absolutely.”

New York dermatologist Jody A. Levine, MD is also succinct in her warning: “It is the beginning of the end of healthcare when people normalize using unregulated medications and computer assistance to become their own healthcare providers,” she says. “This is unsafe on so many fronts—not only for the individual who is practicing the trend, but also for the standard it sets. Next, people will try to treat their own blood pressure or try surgical procedures on a friend off a YouTube video. This is not smart and it is very dangerous.”

So-called “safe injections” come with a few non-negotiables: legitimate neuromodulators must be FDA-approved, sourced directly from authorized manufacturers and administered by trained providers in regulated medical settings. None of those safeguards exist with “Backyard Botox”—and that’s where the risks multiply.

“One big problem with this trend is if you are self-injecting, you can very easily hit an artery, which can lead to neurological issues,” warns La Jolla, CA plastic surgeon Robert Singer, MD. “Plus, the material you get online has no consistency when it comes to concentration or dosage—it most likely isn’t even Botox. It’s just a bad idea all-around.” 

Why Viral Trends Don’t Belong in Medical Aesthetics

Phoenix dermatologist Dr. Karan Lal adds another at-home perpetrator to the mix. “‘Backyard Botox’ and peptides injections alike are becoming popular,” he says, placing the blame on an unexpected source: “I think we, as an industry, are at fault to some degree as we post ourselves as injectors injecting ourselves. This makes it look very easy, almost cookie-cutter, which it is not.”

The reality of it all, Dr. Lal says, is that neuromodulator injections require a thorough understanding of facial anatomy and depth of injection. “There is just no way these online toxins are real, FDA-approved neuromodulators. They are most likely actual toxins with properties we are unaware of. Besides the material, are they sterile in their production? There are a lot of things to consider here—I could go on.”

The Bottom Line

Proper consultations, sterile technique, precise dosing and a deep understanding of facial anatomy are not optional steps—they are essential measures designed to protect patient safety and outcomes. “‘Backyard Botox’ is a recipe for a number of potential issues: infection, foreign body reactions, true botulism and muscle paralysis and asymmetry,” Dr. Lal says.

While the promise of convenience and cost savings may be tempting, experts agree that the potential consequences far outweigh any short-term benefit. “If you cannot afford Botox, please don’t assume it’s something you can do yourself,” he adds. “Instead, focus on good skin care, sun protection and proven topicals like arigireline, which also relaxes muscles in the skin and softens wrinkles.”