Botox and similar injectables have been one of the most popular cosmetic procedures for years. Recently, some TikTokers have been talking about an injectable called Innotox (also known as “Korean Botox” or “DIY Botox”) and posting videos of themselves injecting the substance into their faces and showing off their before-and-after pictures.
But many health experts warn that Innotox could pose “medical risk.”
Innotox isn’t approved by the Food and Drug Administration, so it’s “not available for administration in the U.S.,” explained Dr. Bianca Molina, a plastic surgeon in New York City. This means it hasn’t been studied or tested to meet safety and efficacy standards, so it could pose risks.
Still, people are getting ahold of Innotox, which Molina doesn’t recommend: “Innotox is not something a consumer or patient should order themselves and inject.”
So what exactly is Innotox, and why is it considered risky? Here’s what plastic surgeons want you to know.
What is Innotox?
Innotox is a botulinum toxin type A injectable that was developed in South Korea, said Dr. Anthony Berlet, a plastic surgeon in New York City and Cedar Grove, New Jersey.
It contains the same active ingredient as Botox and works similarly by temporarily paralyzing muscles to reduce wrinkles, Berlet said. “The key difference is that Innotox comes in a ready-to-use liquid form, whereas Botox must be reconstituted from a powder” and mixed with a saline solution.
Innotox is intended to be injected similarly to Botox, which is often used in the forehead or around the lips and eyes to reduce wrinkles. Innotox is thought to last longer than Botox, possibly up to 10 months, Berlet said. (Botox typically lasts three to six months.)
Is it legal in the U.S.?
Since it’s not FDA-approved, Innotox is not “legally available for commercial use in the United States,” Berlet said, adding that he’s not sure how people are obtaining the product.
It’s trending on social media, though, and people are likely purchasing it online, said Dr. Yannis Alexandrides, a London-based plastic surgeon.
In a July 2025 Glamour U.K. article, the author noted that it took her just 60 seconds to buy Innotox from a third-party website. Several TikTok users also discuss how they’ve ordered the product online and how to inject it.
What are the risks of Innotox?
The Innotox trend is “worrying,” Alexandrides said. “It suggests anyone can be qualified to inject, when in fact they’re not, and they don’t understand the associated risks.”
Molina agreed: “While it may seem simple enough to watch a video and replicate what a doctor does, they will not have the understanding of proper handling, dosing, anatomy and injection techniques, making this unsafe.”
Injecting botulinum toxin requires a detailed knowledge of facial anatomy, Berlet said. Doing it incorrectly could result in serious complications, like ptosis (or drooping eyelids), facial asymmetry, muscle paralysis and sagging brows.
Since Innotax lasts longer, you could be dealing with these effects for 10 months or more, Berlet added.
Other risks include unsafe handling of sterile needles and syringes, product contamination from improper storage and handling of the medication, incorrect dosing and inappropriate injection technique, Molina said. You also run the risk of infection, Alexandrides added.
“Additionally, we don’t fully understand the systemic risks of an unregulated product, so it’s absolutely not worth the gamble,” Berlet said.
All drugs, including wrinkle-reducing injectables, should undergo country- or region-specific approval processes to ensure safety, especially when it comes to how much to inject, Molina added.
“I also advise that only trained and licensed health care providers should be administering this treatment, as this is still an injectable medication,” she said — in other words, she doesn’t recommend injecting yourself with Innotox.
What plastic surgeons want you to know
Self-injecting Innotox “is a terrible idea,” Berlet said. “Injecting any neurotoxin, especially one that hasn’t been approved, should never be a DIY project.”
The safest approach is to see an experienced provider — such as a plastic surgeon, dermatologist or trained nurse injector — who has a solid understanding of facial anatomy and uses FDA-approved products, he emphasized.
“What matters most is experience and knowledge: knowing how to balance muscle groups to create natural-looking results without unintended side effects,” Berlet explained.
This will minimize risks and ensure you get an aesthetically ideal result, Molina said.
Ultimately, be wary of cosmetic procedures trending on social media, Alexandrides said. “Just because people are doing something online does not make it safe or easy, or something that anyone should be doing.”