It’s no secret that Botox is commonly used by media figures as a wrinkle treatment to maintain their appearance as they age.
Some celebrities are quite open about getting regular injections.
“I think that botox is one of the best things that’s ever been created for cosmetic surgery,”- Sharon Osbourne
“To me, Botox is no more unusual than toothpaste,” – Simon Cowell
“I use Botox and I’m not afraid to say it,”- Linda Evangelista
Jennie Garth and Vanessa Williams also admit to using Botox. However they claim to use it very sparingly to maintain a natural look.
Benefits of Botox
As you may know, Botox injections work to keep certain muscles in a relaxed state so that they don’t cause creases in the skin. Not only do they soften existing lines, they also help prevent wrinkles from setting in as permanent grooves on the face. This is especially true of “dynamic wrinkles.” These are wrinkles that are only apparent when you move your face (e.g. when you smile or laugh)
Side Effects of Botox
As with any drug, Botox also has potential side effects. Here is a partial list.
1. Eyelid Droop
Drooping of the eyelids is extremely rare and occurs in less than 1% of all Botox treatments. Usually this is the case when the injection is too close to the eyelid.
2. Headaches
Headaches are also quite rare (less than 1% of procedures). The exact causes are not clear and may be due to an impurity or an issue with the technique in how it was administered.
3. Bruising
Bruising is actually common the crows feet area as well as the forehead, where there are a lot of blood vessels around these muscles. Overall, though, it occurs about 10% of the time and usually subsides within 1-2 weeks.
4. Pain
Pain from Botox injections are usually very brief and minimal. Many practitioners will apply numbing cream to the treated area to help patients feel more comfortable during the procedure.
Other effects might include paralysis of the wrong muscles and even allergic reactions to the botulinum toxin. However, the likelihood of these occurrences will decrease if the injection is administered by a highly specialized medical physician.
Because of it’s popularity, many spas offer Botox injections, which are often administered by practitioners who are not board certified dermatologists (e.g. nurses, physicians without certification or a physician’s assistant)..
According to the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, there has been a higher incidence rate of patient complications as a result of cosmetic procedures being administered by the wrong practitioners.
So to minimize the chances of experiencing adverse effects from Botox, make sure to have your procedures performed by a board certified dermatologist whose skills have been verified and approved by professional peers within his/her specialization.