7 Alternatives to Botox and Plastic Surgery

You likely know someone who gets botox injections. Or maybe you know someone who has had plastic surgery. As popular and tempting as botox and plastic surgery are, there is a downside to consider. The good news is that there are alternatives to botox and plastic surgery. 

People are so surprised that I’m 53, and I always get asked if I’ve had work done or gotten botox, and I can tell you that I haven’t had either. The truth is I’ve found alternatives to botox and plastic surgery. 

There’s no denying the popularity of botox or the rapid growth in the beauty industry. We are all looking to slow down Mother Nature and keep a youthful appearance. The fact that the beauty industry had a $49 billion market value in 2022 proves that. In fact, the botox market makes up $4.4 billion of the beauty industry.¹ 

I will tell you about 7 alternatives to botox and plastic surgery that I’ve discovered later. First, here’s what you need to know about botox. 

What is Botox?

Botox injections reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles. They also treat neck spasms, overactive bladder, lazy eye, and excessive sweating.² The active ingredient in botox is onabotulinumtoxinA, which acts as a neuro-muscular blocker. In other words, it freezes the muscles in your face. 

OnabotulinumtoxinA is a toxin produced by the microbe that causes food poisoning botulism.³ Botox was the first medication to use this toxin. However, it’s also found in other skin treatments such as the lip filler Dysport, Myobioc, and Xeomin. 

Botox injections are literal poison, yet the dosages are so small that they aren’t life-threatening. However, there are risks. 

The Problem with Botox

Botox injections are generally well-tolerated by most people. Yet, you should be aware of harsh side effects and long-term risks before getting botox. Most side effects and severity depend on how much of the medication gets used and the technique used by the person performing the injection. Here are some of the side effects of botox:⁴ 

• Pain, bruising, and skin color changes around the injection site
• A droopy eyelid called blepharoptosis
• Dry skin
• Headaches
• Spreading of the toxins beyond the injection site
• Difficulty swallowing or breathing
• Vision problems 
• Nerve or muscle weakness
• Botulism poisoning 

While the side effects are generally temporary, there are rare cases of long-term effects. Most of these long-term effects affect the face, such as changes to facial expressions and the paralyzation of facial muscles. If you get botox injections, ensure the clinic or med spa you visit is appropriately licensed. 

Another long-term risk is autoimmunity due to the toxic nature of botox. You are exposed to thousands of toxins every day, from the water you drink, the clothes you wear, your skincare products, household cleaning supplies, and even the air you breathe. 

Each exposure adds to your body’s toxic burden. Think of your body like a cup, and toxins like drops of water: if your cup is already full because you have a leaky gut, a poor diet, infections, and stress, those small, cumulative toxic exposures cause that cup to overflow. When it does, you’re pushed down the autoimmune spectrum into full-fledged autoimmune disease.

 While all of this may sound scary, the good news is that there are alternatives to botox that do not come with the risks or harsh side effects.

7 Alternatives to Botox

Short of discovering the proverbial fountain of youth, we all face aging daily. Botox was the gold standard of the fountain of youth for many years. However, the advancements in technology and better research have given us plenty of alternatives to botox, and most are just as effective in getting younger-looking skin without fillers or putting poison in your skin. 

Everything from lasers to plasma injections to cryotherapy offers a safer alternative to botox. Let’s talk about seven botox alternatives. 

1. PRP Injections

A platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatment harnesses the power of your blood plasma to regenerate damaged tissues and cells from natural aging or UV ray exposure. 

During PRP therapy, a clinician injects a concentration of your activated platelets directly into a problem area, such as an injured tendon, ligament, muscle, or joint.⁵ The platelets in the blood plasma spark a healing cascade, releasing certain growth factors that encourage your body to increase its production of repair cells.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, PRP facial treatments (also known as “vampire facials”) may have a wide range of uses, including treatments for wrinkle reduction, sagging skin, deep creases, improving complexion, and diminishing acne scars.⁶ These results may last up to 18 months. In the future, PRP injections may also be helpful for wound healing and hair loss.

2. Cryotherapy

I am a big fan of cryotherapy and its many benefits. Cryotherapy is cold therapy and promotes many benefits, such as weight loss, reducing inflammation, and boosting your immune system. However, the benefits don’t stop there. 

One of the amazing benefits of cryotherapy is that it supports natural collagen production, which promotes healthy aging. Other benefits for your skin include reducing acne, detoxification, cell regeneration, and reducing wrinkles, and cellulite. 

Cryotherapy can be whole-body, where you get in a chamber in your underwear for a couple of minutes or centralized onto a problem area or your face.

3. Radiofrequency Microneedling 

Another botox alternative that promotes collagen production is radiofrequency microneedling. During this treatment, fine needles are used in addition to radiofrequency waves to create minor injuries to the skin of your face. The small injuries facilitate collagen production and the creation of the protein elastin, which is found in the dermis of your skin and keeps your skin elastic. 

Radiofrequency microneedling also improves fine lines, wrinkles, stretch marks, large pores, skin color changes, sagging, and old injuries. Studies show it can be beneficial for darker skin.⁷  

I also recommend supporting your body’s natural collagen production by adding Collagen + Probiotic to your daily routine. As you get older, your body’s natural collagen production slows down; at about 40, your body loses more collagen than it produces. 

4. Infrared Light 

Whenever I feel stressed or need to detox my body, I sweat in my Sunlighten infrared sauna. Yet, did you know that infrared light is also great for your skin? 

The short wavelengths of near-infrared light (NIR) reach deeper levels of your skin and remove toxins such as dead skin cells, oils, dirt, and bacteria. Additionally, increased circulation and oxygen delivery to injured or damaged areas help with cell rejuvenation, reducing the appearance of scars. 

Heating your body to its core triggers it to release the toxins clogging your pores; with each sweat, you’re detoxifying your body and promoting clear, soft, and healthy-looking skin. 

5. Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is a popular ingredient in skincare products, and for a good reason. You can find it in face washes, serums, and moisturizers. Unfortunately, most skin care products also contain toxic ingredients. 

This jello-like humectant (moisture-binding ingredient) attracts water and keeps the skin plump, smooth, and supple. Hyaluronic acid is a hydrating superhero by performing two actions: Hydrate your skin and lubricate your joints. It is a humectant, meaning it retains moisture. It can bind up to 1,000 times its weight in water.⁸ That’s a lot of hydration.  

One step in my skincare routine is using Age-Defying Hyaluronic Acid Serum, a rapidly-absorbing serum designed to plump, rejuvenate, and hydrate dry skin. As with every single product part of the Amy Myers MD® Beauty product family, the Age-Defying Hyaluronic Acid Serum is a high-performance, doctor-designed formula, non-toxic and rich in the purest forms of bioactive botanical ingredients so you can experience healthy skin without sacrificing results.

6. Retinol

Another popular ingredient popping up in most skincare products is retinol. Retinol is a retinoid that comes from vitamin A and is commonly known as vitamin A1. While retinoids are often called vitamin A, they are actually byproducts of vitamin A. 

Retinoids are common in cosmetics and dermatology medications due to their benefits for your skin. Retinol can come in a liquid serum, gel, or cream or as an ingredient in skincare products. Over-the-counter products, such as skin care products, contain up to 2% retinol.

Retinol touts many benefits, such as reducing fine lines and wrinkles, promoting cell turnover, supporting collagen production, improving pigmentation and texture, and reducing and preventing acne scars. 

One of the skincare products I included optimal amounts of retinol in Age-Defying Hyaluronic Acid Serum, which works with hyaluronic acid to give your skin a potent anti-aging weapon for hydration and improved skin. 

7. Proper Hydration

Proper skin hydration is critical to the health of your skin. Staying hydrated rejuvenates your skin, making it look smooth and soft. This is because the outermost layer of the skin has the moisture it needs to flush away toxins and carry nutrients to the skin’s cells.⁹ Aim to drink half your body weight in ounces of water daily for proper hydration. 

To support my skin’s hydration, I finish my skincare routine and lock in moisture using a Hydrating Ceramide Cream. A key ingredient in Hydrating Ceramide Cream is ceramide, a waxy lipid in the skin’s outermost layer. These lipids are essential in maintaining the skin barrier. When you moisturize with ceramides, it soothes dryness, itchiness, and scaliness caused by a weakened skin barrier. Moreover, moisturized skin has a better texture and fewer lines and wrinkles.

The Final Word on Botox Alternatives

Botox may be popular, yet it comes with many risks. These alternatives to botox offer the same results without the poison. If you’re looking for maximum support for healthy aging, I recommend the Essential Beauty Kit, a complete hydration routine that includes the products I use daily. You don’t have to sacrifice your skincare by using toxic chemicals to find the fountain of youth.