Dangers of Botox Injections

Botox is produced from the toxin given off by the clostridium botulinum bacterium, and it has been used by doctors for years to correct a lack of muscle control. Botox injections helped successfully treat patients with a variety of such conditions like uncontrollable blinking. Eventually, the medical community saw that Botox also had a positive effect on the appearance of skin. Since then, it has been recognized as a popular anti-aging treatment. Administered by injection, it can temporarily minimize the appearance of wrinkles and laugh lines on the face. However, this 'miracle' treatment is not without its dangers, which are outlined below.

Respiratory Problems

Because Botox works by stopping muscle contractions, it can make breathing difficult in the event that it reaches the muscles in your respiratory system.

Skin Drooping

Injections given very close to the upper eyelid can cause the lid to droop or sag, and it may take anywhere from several weeks to several months for it to return to normal. This depends on the severity of the patient's condition.

Botox Parties

Injections given at "Botox Parties" in people's homes--as opposed to clinics--increase the risk of developing an infection at points of injection because the procedure is done in a non-sterile environment.

Temporary Symptoms

Temporary, unpleasant side effects of Botox injections include nausea, hemorrhaging at injection points, and uncontrollable drooling if injections are administered close to the mouth area. In most cases, these symptoms do not last more than a week after the procedure.

Addiction

As with plastic surgery, patients can become addicted to Botox. There have been many reported cases of women not being able to stop going for treatments and believing that getting injections is the only way they can look good.