Large pores: Will Mesobotox help?

When it comes to skincare, several trends are circulating on social media feeds. Buzzy catchphrases like glass skin, mochi skin, cloud skin and glazed donut promise viewers a smooth and flawless complexion, just like you see in movies, K-pop videos and TikTok. The most important feature of all these trends is that they give the skin's surface a dewy and polished aesthetic by erasing the look of pores.

Mesobotox is a minimally invasive treatment for improving skin texture and combating "large pores." But what are "large pores," and can neuromodulator injections achieve "filter-like" results?

What are pores?

Pores are tiny openings in the skin's surface. They contain a hair follicle and a sebaceous gland, which produces sebum. There are two types of pores – oil and sweat pores. Oil pores are essential to healthy skin because they help facilitate the distribution of sebum or oil to moisturize and protect the skin. Sweat pores contain sudoriferous glands that allow sweat to escape to the skin's surface, helping maintain our body temperature.

Despite the vital work pores do to keep our skin and bodies healthy, they get a bad rap, especially facial pores. Clogged pores can cause acne, the bane of every young (and old) person's existence. Even the mere appearance of pores is now cause for concern, thanks to skincare trends like glass skin, which promotes a filtered and pore-free complexion.

Can Mesobotox improve the appearance of large pores?

First, it helps to define what it means to have "large pores." Unfortunately, that isn't easy.

"The concept of 'large pores' is inherently subjective and often driven more by perception than by anatomic abnormality," said Lara Devgan, MD. "Clinically, we define enlarged pores as visibly dilated pilosebaceous units, often concentrated in the T-zone and exacerbated by factors like increased sebum production, photodamage, loss of dermal support and genetic predisposition. But increasingly, what patients interpret as 'large pores' is shaped not by medical reality, but by algorithmic distortion."

However hard it may be to admit, everyone has pores. Pores that can be seen.

"It is a fact of nature," said Kristy Hamilton, MD. "However, some individuals have more visible pores than others, which is what we're typically talking about when we say 'large' pores. Genetics plays a large role; however, we have the opportunity to modulate their appearance."

The use of Mesobotox is one treatment option for addressing the appearance of facial pores.

"Mesobotox, or microdroplet botulinum toxin, is a refined, elegant approach that can help in select cases," said Dr. Devgan. "By delivering a highly diluted neuromodulator into the superficial dermis, it modulates eccrine and sebaceous activity, subtly tightens the skin, and refines texture."

Dr. Hamilton said that one of her favorite ways of helping patients refine their complexion is with resurfacing lasers, such as CO2, which smooth the skin's surface. Chemical peels and microneedling can also help, to a lesser degree. However, Mesobotox works differently in treating skin issues with very little downtime.

"Botox injected intradermally (Mesobotox) addresses skin texture in a totally different and complementary way to resurfacing techniques," said Dr. Hamilton. "Each pore has a tiny hair at the base of the pore with a tiny muscle. This is the muscle that makes your hair stand on end. Mesobotox works by relaxing the tiny muscle at the base of the pore, which smooths the skin and gives a 'glass skin' appearance. This is independently a reason why patients like the way their skin looks when they have traditional Botox injections; it also impacts the actual appearance of the skin, not only the wrinkles caused by facial muscle movement."

Unlike traditional Botox injections, Dr. Hamilton noted that Mesobotox can be injected anywhere on the face because it targets the dermis of the skin, rather than the underlying facial musculature.

Can you expect pore-less results from Mesobotox?

Mesobotox is a powerful skin-optimizing tool, but it's essential to note that it cannot deliver flawless results like those seen on social media feeds. It also might not be the right skin solution for everyone.

"It is not a pore-erasing tool, but in the right candidate, typically someone with oily skin and early textural changes, it can provide a smoother, more luminous complexion with minimal downtime," said Dr. Devgan. "Results are subtle, temporary, lasting two to three months, and cumulative when done in series."

She also noted that the results are more effective and can provide a smoother aesthetic when combined with other treatments.

The results are impressive, but it is also helpful to note that pores are necessary for healthy skin. Normal, visible pores are not a sign that your skin is unsightly. Filters, social media, and AI photographs tend to distort facial features by erasing the appearance of pores, perpetuating the notion that pore-free skin is both beautiful and achievable.

"When it comes to social media, AI and filters, yes, even the most famous, most beautiful people and celebrities on the planet have pores, which is why their edited images look so different than the candid snaps of them out and about, even with full make-up on," said Dr. Hamilton. "Having some skin' texture' is normal, and there is significant genetic variability between individuals."

If refining your skin texture and appearance is a goal, several tools are available through board-certified plastic surgeons who are ASPS Member Surgeons that can significantly improve the appearance of skin texture and pores.

"Ultimately, my job is to help patients distinguish between what's treatable, what's meaningful and what's been digitally manipulated out of reach," said Dr. Hamilton. "Mesobotox can be a beautiful tool in the right hands, but managing expectations and reminding patients that pores are a normal, vital part of skin health is just as important as the treatment itself."

To find a qualified plastic surgeon for any cosmetic or reconstructive procedure, consult a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. All ASPS members are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, have completed an accredited plastic surgery training program, practice in accredited facilities and follow strict standards of safety and ethics. Find an ASPS member in your area.