Botox - Side Effects You Should Know

The demand for noninvasive cosmetic treatments continues as patients want to enjoy a younger look without undergoing an invasive surgery with a long recovery time. Instead, they are turning to procedures described as “tweakments” that enhance and refresh their appearance. One of the most popular noninvasive choices is Botox which helps to reduce the look of wrinkles in the treated area of the face. While it is a popular cosmetic treatment, is it safe for the majority of patients? The answer to this question is revealed in this informative article.

Botox – What is it and How Does it Work?

Botox is made from botulinum toxin, and it is placed in the body via injections. In general, Botox is a neurotoxin that impacts the nerves once it is injected into the targeted area on the face. After Botox is placed in the desired area on the body, it begins to disrupt the communication in the body between the muscles and the nerves. The blocking of these communications means the impacted muscles are not able to contract and the skin in the area becomes smoother with a reduced amount of existing wrinkles and new wrinkles are not able to be formed.

Botox – Possible Side Effects

While the performance of Botox injections is mostly well-tolerated by patients, there are some side effects patients should know about before having the procedure. The severity of the side effects depends on the amount of Botox injected into the body and the experience and skill of the medical provider.

• There is a chance of some changes in the color of the skin around the injection site. The patient can also experience some pain and bruising after the injection, but all of these are common side effects if the medical provider temporarily injures a blood vessel during the treatment. These side effects will more than likely resolve on their own as time passes.
• A patient can experience a local bacterial infection after an injection. This can occur because, when the needle pierces the skin so it can go into the muscle, there is a possibility of bacteria making its way into the body. The medical provider should make sure the injection area is cleaned before the dose of Botox is placed in the body.
• If a person has a surprised look after the treatment, this can be caused by the end of one eyebrow having a look that is somewhat higher than the actual eyebrow itself. These results are only temporary and will resolve on their own.
• The use of Botox on the forehead can result in the appearance of a droopy eyebrow or eyelid. It can take anywhere from three weeks to three months for the eyebrow or eyelid to return to its normal appearance.
• If a patient starts to exhibit skin that is dry and flaky around the area of the injection, this could happen because Botox also lowers the ability of the body to create sweat. In turn, the skin will start to become dry and flaky in the injected area of the body.
• While Botox is able to lessen the appearance of wrinkles and improve the aesthetic look of the treated area, it can also cause the muscles that work to control breathing and swallowing to become weaker. These symptoms are not common but, if they appear, patients should visit an emergency room as soon as possible.
• There is a possibility of blinking less after an injection if Botox impacts the muscles that are able to control the eyelids. If this occurs, the patient might experience dry eye or even some damage to the eye. In addition, Botox can impact the muscles that control the movements of the eyes which results in double vision. Patients should contact a doctor who is an eye specialist if these conditions appear.

Botox Risks – Are They Permanent?

Since the results of Botox are not permanent, the risks and side effects listed above are usually temporary results. There are rare cases when a person who has frequent injections of Botox over an extended period of time can experience permanent changes to the face such as being unable to make certain facial movements.

In order to manage any of these possible Botox risks, there are some steps the patient can take once they start to appear. For example, ice packs can be applied to the skin soon after any bruising starts to appear at the injection site as the ice packs decrease the amount of bleeding under the skin.

If dry or irritated eyes start to occur, a lubricating eye drop purchased over-the-counter can be put in the eye to reduce the amount of irritation.

If the person is feeling some pain at the site of the injection, an over-the-counter topical pain medication such as lidocaine cream can be placed where the pain is located.

Patients can lessen the chance of any serious issues by having Botox injected by a professionally trained and licensed medical provider.

- MA