Botox Side Effects
As with any medical procedure, there are potential side effects to
Botox injections. While Botox is made from a deadly bacterium, the
toxicity of the final product is very low and most side effects are far
from dangerous. In fact, most are mild, short-term, and affect only a
small percentage of patients.
Since Botox works by inhibiting muscle movement, it is only natural
to expect temporary muscle paralysis as a side effect of treatment. In
rare cases, this side effect leads to facial paralysis or eyelid
drooping. However, such a response is only present in some 1 percent of
all patients. There is also a risk of dry eyes or double vision when
Botox is administered around the eye area.
These types of side effects are generally the result of too much Botox
being added or Botox being injected incorrectly. Thus, a quality
professional should be able to avoid having patients report side
effects.
Also, since Botox is an injection, some people do experience bruising
at the site of the needle prick. Others report tenderness or swelling. A
few people also report soreness around the treated area and / or
erythema. Erythema is a slight rash or reddening of the skin around the
injection site. These types of side effects are usually mild and can be
reduced with some ice or a cold compress.
As far as internal side effects, some people have reported headaches
and / or nausea following treatment. This is generally in response to
Botox injected around the sinuses and subsequently applying new pressure
to the region. In even rarer cases, some people report sinus infections
following a Botox procedure. There are also reports of muscle aches and
flu-like symptoms including instances of nausea.
Of course, as with any medical treatment, there are extreme cases. A
London report recently announced 28 deaths supposedly linked to Botox.
However, what many people failed to realize is that none of these cases
were linked to Botox as a cosmetic procedure. Rather, the deaths were
linked to complications resulting from Botox being used to treat other
conditions like excessive sweating and eye spasms.
To avoid other side effects, it is important to inform the doctor
performing the Botox procedure of any other medications being taken. At
times, Botox has been shown to adversely interact with antibiotics like
lincomycin. It can also conflict with medications for erratic heart
rhythm and certain drugs used to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Botox should
be avoided if you have any infections or an allergy to Botox
ingredients. In some cases, unfortunately, patients do not realize they
are allergic until treatment, but repercussions from this are usually
not severe. Finally, Botox is also not recommended for pregnant females.
Keep in mind that not everyone experiences side effects from Botox.
In fact, most people appear to tolerate the drug quite well. Also, most
side effects dissipate within one week. If they do not, Botox treatments
themselves wear off within six months, and any lingering negative side
effects should diminish within that time frame. |
