How Bad Is Botox For Your Body
Getting Botox for the first time can be nerve-wracking. But before you make your appointment, there are some things you should know. First of all, Botox is a neurotoxin that works to reduce the appearance of wrinkles by weakening the muscles that cause them. The procedure is quick and relatively painless, but it’s important to have realistic expectations about what it can and cannot do.
You might be thinking that Botox is going to give you a completely smooth forehead or erase all signs of aging from your face—but it won’t! It’s not designed to replace cosmetic procedures like facelifts or fillers; instead, it’s meant as an alternative treatment that can help you regain confidence in your appearance and avoid having invasive surgery or injections in the future.
So, you’re thinking about getting Botox? The popular injectible of botulinum toxin eliminates wrinkles by temporarily paralyzing muscles in the face—and if that doesn’t sound terrifying to you then did you even read the words “paralyzing muscles”? In spite of that, Botox was still one of the most popular aesthetic procedures in 2018—namely because the results are excellent, the downtime minimal, and the side effects (if done correctly) nearly non-existent. Even so, there are undoubtedly a lot of questions swirling in your mind before going under the needle. Here’s what you need to know before Botox.
1. Be aware of where your injectable came from
Make sure your doctor is an official vendor for any substance you’re having injected. Allergan, Merz, and Galderma are three of the top manufacturers of neurotoxins and fillers—like Botox, Vistabel, Bocouture, Xeoxin, Azzalure, and Dysport—and Allergan also makes the fat-dissolving Kybella. To reduce the risk of getting a expired, contaminated, or potentially dangerous product, some manufacturers’ websites offer a tool to search by zip code for every licensed physician who’s obtained their product legally.
2. Bin the bargains
If the price is questionably low for Botox or filler, you may be getting a diluted dosage, says New York–based dermatologist Kavita Mariwalla, MD. Another possibility is that your doctor purchased the product from a supplier in a country such as Canada or the United Kingdom, where government price controls keep pharmaceutical prices substantially lower than those in the United States. Not only is it illegal (with very few exceptions) for doctors to intentionally purchase medications outside the country for use on patients within the U.S., manufacturers also say that unauthorized suppliers may compromise the effectiveness and safety of injectables by, for example, not storing them at the proper temperature or even offering counterfeit products.
That said, prices for in-office treatments tend to be higher in metropolitan regions, such as New York, Chicago, and Dallas, where there’s a greater demand for cosmetic procedures. To find out the price range in your area, call around. New York-based dermatologist Elizabeth Hale, MD, adds that you’re usually better off with a doctor who bases his or her fee on how many units of product are used, rather than how many different zones of the face are injected. “All the muscles in the face are intertwined, and even when I treat, say, just the ’11’ lines between the brows, I always put a tiny bit in the forehead to balance things out—I don’t count that as two [separate] zones.”
3. Blood-thinning meds aren’t the only thing to avoid pre-injection
Most Botox and filler veterans know to lay off anticoagulants such as aspirin and ibuprofen before treatment, since those types of drugs hinder blood clotting and increase the risk of bruising should the needle nick a blood vessel. But Manhattan dermatologist Patricia Wexler, MD, has a longer list of things to forgo, including some seemingly innocuous pantry staples. “No fish oil, multivitamins, green tea, cinnamon, ginger, and red wine a full week before treatment,” she says. “Antioxidants, though not all of them, can increase the fragility of blood vessels and prevent clotting.” Ask your MD at least two weeks ahead of time for a full list of what to avoid.
“No fish oil, multi-vitamins, green tea, cinnamon, ginger, and red wine a full week before treatment,” Wexler says.
4. A consultation is crucial
“The person performing the injection should have you smile and frown and raise your eyebrows,” Hale says. “An experienced professional is carefully evaluating you that whole time to see how different areas of your face naturally move, so that he or she can keep you looking refreshed instead of expressionless.” Some derms like to ask patients to talk about something they’re passionate about to gauge facial movement. You should also be given a thorough health assessment prior to the injection. Certain antibiotics, specifically in the aminoglycoside category, like gentamicin (prescribed for bacterial infections), can increase the potency of neurotoxins. (To avoid risk, don’t receive treatment for the duration of your antibiotic prescription.) Worst-case scenario: You end up with a droopy lid, according to Mariwalla.
5. Bruises can be undone
Neurotoxins generally require finer needles and are usually placed more superficially than fillers, but any injection could potentially hit a vessel, causing blood to pool beneath the skin and form an unattractive black-and-blue blotch. Fortunately, many dermatology practices, including Hale’s, offer a next- day complimentary vascular laser treatment, which breaks down pooled blood into smaller particles, thereby greatly diminishing bruises within 24 hours. “It’s a good idea to ask up front if whoever you’re going to offers it,” Hale says. “Our patients take a lot of comfort in knowing they can come back for that.”
6. Not all fillers are created equal
“Never get silicone. It’s the one filler we see the most complications from,” says Mariwalla of one injectable that’s occasionally used—but not FDA approved—to fill wrinkles in the face. Unlike malleable hyaluronic acid–based fillers, which can be absorbed by the body and will eventually break down, silicone is a synthetic material that can’t be metabolized and can harden over time, creating unsightly, uneven bulges. “It’s permanent, and it does not age well with you,” Mariwalla says.
7. Be prepared to take a minute
For several hours after your shots, be prepared to avoid putting makeup, washing your hair, exercising, lying down, or messing with the injected zones. “You do not want to spread the toxin to muscles or weaken the injection,” explains Wexler. You’re also not going to want to fly for several hours after Botox, as there is some concern that change in cabin pressure will affect the spread of the toxin to muscles you do not want affected. Stay grounded (literally and figuratively) for a few days.
8. The Botox buzz
Botox given between the brows (the 11’s), can give a temporary sensation of dizziness or headache, which Wexler calls a “Botox buzz. “This is very transient, and is usually from slight swelling in the area from the fluid injected, and resolves within ten to 15 minutes,” she says.
9. Early bird gets…the best results
Preventative Botox is a term used when treating younger patients—say, those in their late twenties or early thirties—when expression lines are visible at rest and during movement. Starting early will not only prevent worsening, but can typically reverse these first blush lines and wrinkles. But, proceed with caution. “If you start using the toxin when no lines are visible, you will be using it for 50 years!” explains Wexler cautions.
What Not To Do Before Botox
Botox injections, when administered by a trained medical professional, pose minimal risk to patients. However, complications and side effects may include adverse reactions at the injection site, headaches, flu-like symptoms, puffiness around the eye, crooking, tear production problems, and dry eyes. The toxin in the injection could potentially spread throughout the body, but this is unlikely.
Warning signs include fragile muscles, sight issues, difficulty swallowing or articulating, breathing difficulties, and constipation. Botox is generally not recommended for pregnant or nursing women, and those with an allergy to cow’s milk protein. If choosing Botox over other treatments like fillers or injectables, consider their different results and pros/cons. For example, fillers may be better for removing crow’s feet around the eyes due to their longer lifespan. This article covers reasons not to get Botox and side effects of Botox on the forehead.
Reasons Not To Get Botox
If administered by a trained medical professional, botulinum toxin injections pose minimal risk. Discuss potential side effects with your doctor.
Possible side effects following treatment include:
A frozen appearance where you may not be able to move your facial muscles if too much botulinum toxin is injected; headaches and flu-like symptoms for the first 24 hours; bruising, swelling, and redness where the needles went in the skin
the temporary weakening and drooping of facial muscles, such as the eyelids and eyebrows, if the botulinum toxin spreads there.
Extremely rarely, complications like blurred or double vision from treating the eye area, or trouble breathing from injecting the neck, can occur.
Side Effects Of Botox On Forehead
Botox injections, when administered by a trained medical professional, pose minimal risk but may cause side effects like headaches, flu-like symptoms, eye puffiness, and dry eyes. It’s not recommended for pregnant or nursing women, or those with cow’s milk protein allergies. Other treatments like fillers or injectables may be more effective.
Now lets get into more details:
Botox is a medication used to treat various conditions, including overactive bladder, axillary hyperhidrosis, cervical dystonia, strabismus, urinary incontinence caused by a neurological disorder, blepharospasm, spasticity of the bladder, and chronic migraine. Common side effects reported by people taking Botox in clinical trials include urinary tract infection (UTI), urinary retention, discomfort or pain while urinating, excessive sweating in areas other than the underarms, sore throat, flu-like symptoms, pain or bleeding at the injection site, cervical dystonia, strabismus, urinary incontinence caused by a neurological disorder, blepharospasm, spasticity of the bladder, and chronic migraine.
Mild side effects of Botox can occur with Botox use, but these may not include all possible mild side effects reported with the drug. For more information, refer to Botox’s prescribing information. If you develop a side effect while taking Botox and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch.
Serious side effects of Botox may include corneal ulceration, problems with breathing or swallowing, urinary retention, allergic reaction, and blepharospasm. Serious side effects and their symptoms can include blurred vision, pain and redness in the eye, watery eye, a white spot on the cornea, problems with breathing or swallowing, urinary retention, and an allergic reaction.
Botox is commonly prescribed to help prevent headaches caused by chronic migraine. More common side effects in people taking Botox for this use in clinical trials included neck pain and headache. Other side effects included neck pain, muscle stiffness, muscle weakness, pain, and redness or other color changes at injection sites.
Long-term side effects of Botox may include corneal ulceration, urinary retention, and worsening of existing neurological disorders. These or other side effects may last for a shorter time, such as a few days or weeks. If you have questions or concerns about how long side effects of Botox may last, talk with your doctor.
Botox is a medication used to treat various conditions, including overactive bladder, axillary hyperhidrosis, cervical dystonia, strabismus, urinary incontinence, blepharospasm, spasticity of the bladder, and chronic migraine. It is important to consult with a doctor or pharmacist if you experience any side effects that may be more severe or if they seem life-threatening.
Neuromodulators, such as Botox, are FDA-approved anti-aging injectables that have been extensively researched and studied. They have been found to have positive long-term effects, including the prevention of future wrinkles, reducing headaches, and reducing sweating. The injections can be administered at different ages, with some patients experiencing less frequent visits or higher doses over time. However, there are potential negative long-term effects, such as the need for higher dosing, muscle weakening, and a subtle flattening effect of the brows.
Botox has been shown to be effective in treating hyperhidrosis, a medical condition characterized by excessive sweating. It works by blocking nerves that stimulate sweat glands in specific areas, such as the underarms, feet, hands, and face. However, there are also potential negative long-term effects, such as the need for higher dosing, the development of tolerance to Botox, and the potential for muscle atrophy or atrophy.
Over time, Botox may cause pain or discomfort, swelling, light bruising around injection sites, and in rare cases, it can spread beyond the target area, leading to unintended muscle paralysis and drooping eyelids. These effects tend to be more short-term than long-term. Overall, while neuromodulators have been extensively studied and are considered safe for ongoing use, they may not always provide significant long-term benefits.
