Is Botox safe?
This is one of the most common questions people ask when considering Botox injections.
The answer is that Botox is generally safe. In fact, it has the FDA seal of approval. Still, here are some of the most common Botox side effects that previous patients and practitioners have recorded.
- Bruising – Bruises can occur whenever there is trauma to the skin, so it is only natural for some bruising to occur around the Botox injection area. This trauma, in turn, causes the rupture of the blood vessels underneath, resulting in the bluish or brownish color, accompanied by a bit of swelling, though this should subside in just a short time.
- Facial Pain – The pain associated with Botox injections is one of the main reasons why people think twice about it or decide not to go through with it at all. However, the pain of the injections is very minimal since small needles are used.
Then again, if you have low pain tolerance, you can ask your doctor to apply a topical anesthetic on your face like a numbing cream. You can also apply an ice pack immediately before and after the procedure to minimize pain.
- Droopy Eyelids – As a drug, Botox has the tendency to spread to surrounding muscles. Most commonly, Botox injected between the eyes or on the forehead has been known to spread to the muscles above the eyes, which control the movement of the eyelids. As a result, eyes cannot open fully or appear droopy, though this can be treated with some eye drops.
- Dizziness, Drowsiness and Fatigue – While you can leave the clinic a short while after the Botox treatment, you might feel a little light-headed, weak, dizzy or even sleepy, which is only normal. If you are experiencing any of these, you should refrain from driving or resuming your activities for the rest of the day. You can sleep if you want to, but you should remember not to lie down just yet.
Less Common Botox Side Effects
- Nausea
- Runny Nose
- Infection
- Allergic Reaction
- Heartburn and Indigestion
- Difficulty Breathing
- Blurred Vision
- Fever or Chills
- Seizure
If you experience any of these uncommon Botox side effects, which may or may not be related to the Botox treatment, consult your doctor immediately.
Preventing Botox Side Effects
In order to prevent Botox side effects, make sure you choose a good Botox practitioner and also learn as much as you can about what happens with Botox before and after.