What are the side effects of Botox injections?

If your frown lines have you feeling down, don’t fret.

A quick trip to the dermatologist can take years off your skin. Many women and men turn to Botox injections as a way to temporarily reduce fine lines and wrinkles, especially on their face.

Benefits of Botox

There comes a time in life when your skin starts to change. By your 40s and 50s, your skin starts to lose collagen and oils.  It’s a fact of life that skin also loses elasticity, leading to wrinkles, thinning, and sagging. If you’re a person with animated facial expressions, or regularly find yourself frowning or squinting, those fine lines can become deeper and more noticeable.

Botox injections temporarily relax facial muscles that cause wrinkles. Treatments work best on wrinkles caused by facial movement. It is FDA approved for use on forehead lines, frown lines (between the eyebrows), and Crow’s feet (wrinkles around the eyes). It is also cosmetically used in other areas of the face.

For many patients, the benefits of Botox include:

• Feeling better about yourself
• Gaining more confidence
• Increase in self-esteem
• Owning your look
• Aging the way you want

Side effects of Botox

Botox is widely used for both cosmetic and medical reasons and is usually very well tolerated. Some of the most common side effects of cosmetic Botox include:

• Minor pain, swelling and bruising at the injection sites
• Headache
• Eyelid dropping and/ or double vision
• Dry eyes or excessive tear production
• Facial asymmetry
• Rare allergic reactions

The more serious side effects of Botox usually occur when Botox is used in higher doses for medical reasons (vs cosmetic Botox). More serious side effects of Botox include trouble speaking or swallowing, difficulty breathing, muscle weakness, or loss of bladder control.

What is the procedure like?

Botox helps smooth fine line and wrinkles with minimal downtime and minor discomfort. Botox injections have an almost immediate effect, with visible results within 3-14 days after treatment. The procedure takes about 10 minutes to perform, and you can return to all of your daily activities two hours after a treatment.

One Botox treatment can last three to six months. Patients who follow a regular treatment schedule often report that the effect of their injections lasts longer. Still, follow-up injections are needed to maintain the look and keep wrinkles from resurfacing.

You should see a board-certified dermatologist who has experience with Botox injections. It is also important to talk to your doctor about potential risk factors and any underlying health conditions, including vitamins and medications that you take. Botox is not recommended if you are pregnant or breastfeeding or have a neurological disease.

If your skin has lost its youthful glow, or if you have tried over-the-counter lotions and creams to combat crow’s feet, frown lines, and forehead wrinkles, it may be time to take the next step and try Botox. Feeling on the fence? Schedule a consultation to discuss the procedure, what to expect during the injection process, and any potential concerns. Your dermatologist can help explain the process and discuss the benefits versus risks.

APDerm offers a variety of medical, cosmetic, and surgical dermatology services. Highly trained board-certified dermatologists work with you to develop the best treatment plan. Find a clinician to learn more about Botox injections or schedule a consultation today!