Side Effects of the Botox Procedure

Looking good is the one preoccupation of human beings that never seems to end. In this struggle to attain perfection new methods are being devised and new drugs are being found everyday. Botox is one such drug that has created a tremendous impact in the cosmetic industry in particular. A protein is produced by a bacterium Clostridium botulinum and this is known as Botox or Botulinum Toxin Type A. This medication was approved in the month of December 1989 and its initial usage was to cure certain eye muscle disorders such as crossed eyes, uncontrollable blinking, bepharospasm and strabismus. It was also used in the treatment of some neurological movement disorders like cervical dystonia. The purpose of Botox injection is to cause muscle weakness and therefore it is extremely important that the injection is administered in the correct muscle and in exactly the required dosage. The observation of the doctors using Botox was that the use of this injection led to softening of frown lines in between eyebrows. Following this Botox was used in cosmetic procedures. The injections of Botox are usually taken every three to six months as per the guidance of the physician.

Botox is like any other medicine and therefore can have some potential side effects. On the whole, records of usage of this medication show temporary and mild side effects in most cases that eventually disappear. The possibility and degree of the side effects depends on a variety of factors such as the site of injection, frequency with which the injections are administered, dose and the expertise of the physician concerned. There are some temporary effects that occur after the treatment and these include some amount of pain and tenderness along with a certain degree of bruising at the site of the injection. Where the Botox injections are administered around the eye region the common side effects observed include temporary bruising around the region and possibility of eyelid drooping also called as ptosis. Other side effects include dry eyes and problems of double vision also known as diplopia. Where the injection is administered in the cheek area the side effects include problems of facial droop. With an experienced physician working with the individual the possibilities of serious side effects are markedly reduced.

For those who get Botox injections to treat a condition like cervical dystonia the possible side effects include difficulty in swallowing, neck pain, headache and upper respiratory infections. The most common side effects observed after the use of Botox include droopy eyelids, muscle weakness, facial pain, nausea, tooth problems, high blood pressure and indigestion in some cases. For Botox used in treatment of conditions other than cosmetic treatments the side effects observed included vertical deviation of eye, neck pain, headache, droopy eyelids, problems in swallowing and upper respiratory infections. Other extremely common side effects observed in some people include dizziness, drowsiness, and infection, sore throat, bleeding at the site of the injection, runny nose, back pain, cough, flu-like symptoms, anxiety and weakness.  
Some other complications can occur where Botox is used in the neck and face regions particularly when large amounts of the toxin is used or when the toxin is injected in the right dosage but in the wrong muscle. When too much is injected in the neck region it can result in muscle weakness and problems in swallowing. However on the whole the right amount of doses under the guidance of a good physician can help limit any side effects and their seriousness. Repeated use of this injection does not reveal in permanent harmful sides effects in the form of muscle atrophy in particularly sensitive areas such as those around the eye.

However in recent time the use of this drug has resulted in some severe side effects. While several warnings have been sent out; the use of this drug continues since the severe side effects were not noted in patients using it for cosmetic purposes. Where this drug has been used for non cosmetic causes 28 cases of the patients dying after the use have been noted. Rare and extremely adverse reactions to Botox can be observed and these problems include severe difficulties in swallowing and even breathing. This is particularly observed if this drug is used in patients with previous history of neuromuscular disorders. Some potentially serious adverse effects to the use of Botox that can occur though quite rarely include speech problems, allergic reactions including hives, itching, wheezing, unexplained rash etc and other effects include chest pain and difficulty in swallowing.

There are some other issues that need to be taken into consideration such as the effects of long term usage of this injection. While presently this medication seems to be quite safe in its cosmetic usage what effect would the prolonged use of this medication have on the targeted muscles" It would be in the best interest of people opting for Botox treatment to do so after getting all the relevant information from an experienced physician. If that is not done then the cost for this search of perfection may prove to be too high.