What are the risks of having Botox treatment?
It is believed that the health risks associated with having Botox treatment is minimal. There may be a small risk to the skin surrounding the point of injection drooping temporarily. This condition is called blepharoptosis and occurs in around 5% of patients. It usually appears 7 to 14 days after the injection and can last 4 to 6 weeks. To reduce the risk of blepharoptosis, it is recommended that patients consult an experienced doctor for treatment. It is also important for a patient to remain vertical for 4-6 hours after the injection. This reduces the chance of displacement to other muscles in the vacinity.
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Muscle paralysis is the most serious symptom of botulism, which in some cases has proven to be fatal. The botulinum toxins attach themselves to nerve endings. Once this happens, acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter responsible for triggering muscle contractions, cannot be released. Essentially, the botulinum toxins block the signals that would normally tell your muscles to contract. If, for example, it attacks the muscles in your chest, this could have a profound impact on your breathing. When people die from botulism, this is often the cause; the respiratory muscles are paralyzed so it is impossible to breathe.
It has been noted by some top movie directors, that actors and actresses who have had treatment to their face and forehead areas, can not deliver as effective facial expressions during their scenes.
This is because the muscles they use when frowning, and producing a variety of other expressions, get paralysed by the toxin. Although they may look 5 to 10 years younger, they run a risk of it affecting their ability to perform their job effectively. In the above photo, although the wrinkles on her forehead have disappeared, her ability to show different expressions is very limited.
The long term affects of using this toxin are unknown. How will a person who has used the substance on their face for 20 or 30 years look when they are 70 or 80 years old? They say beauty usually comes at a price; the question is whether we are prepared to pay.