Can Botox Injections Cause Health Problems?

From time to time, there are media reports that surface regarding the dangers of Botox®. They tend to cause a ripple effect of public aversion to the treatment, at least temporarily.

However, it is important to note that in some of the more serious cases that have been reported, Botox was not administered in a cosmetic application. For example, reports of Botox deaths in 2009 were linked to the injections being administered to children as a remedy for muscle spasms.

Incidents of Botox health problems after the injection was given for cosmetic reasons do occur, but they are often temporary. Most commonly, this includes a slight lowering of one eyelid, also known as “ptosis.” Complications may even be so minor that they are not noticeable by the patient.

And, even when Botox is used for non-cosmetic reasons, it is normally a safe, effective treatment. Since 1980, Botox has been used for the treatment of strabismus (cross-eyed or wall-eyed) and blepharospasm (uncontrolled eyelid twitching). Sweaty palms and migraine headaches are also ailments that may be safely addressed with Botox.

Botox was first used to treat forehead lines and wrinkles in 1989. In April 2002, it was FDA approved to temporarily improve the appearance of moderate-to-severe frown lines between the eyebrows. In the vast majority of cases, it has been safe and successful. However, there are some Botox health risks that all patients should be made a ware of. They include the aforementioned ptosis, as well as temporary (seven to 10 days) loss of other facial muscle functions.

Other Botox health problems that have been reported after cosmetic use include headaches, flu-like symptoms, blurred vision, dry mouth, fatigue, allergic reactions, and swelling or redness at the injection site. Again, these are rare and temporary.

During a consultation appointment at Magnolia Plastic Surgery, we can explain these risks in detail and answer any questions you may have in determining if Botox is the right treatment for you. We understand your need to be 100 percent comfortable with your decision to receive Botox injections, and will help become better-informed.

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Is Getting a Facelift Safer These Days?

In the wake of technological advancements, many cosmetic procedures are far safer today than they were in past decades. Facelift surgery is often cited as one such procedure. Over the past 25 years, facelift surgery has become more sophisticated, replacing the slightly riskier methods of the past that created a “tight” look and were known to be accompanied by some visible scarring. At Magnolia Plastic Surgery, we ensure that facelift surgery is a safe surgical procedure for our patients.

Our practice takes the needs of the whole face into account. We believe that in many cases, a facelift is necessary; and in others, less extensive procedures can be combined to attain the result the patient is seeking. For example, some patients are better suited for minimally invasive anti-aging facial rejuvenation, such as facial fillers (i.e., Alloderm®, fat injections, collagen), Botox®, skin resurfacing thread lifts, or PhotoFacial treatment.

It is estimated that facelift surgery has a 90 percent success rate; so using that statistic as a guide, it is logical to conclude that it is safer today than it was in the past. However, only a skilled plastic surgeon can assess whether facelift surgery is the right option for you at this point in the aging process. During a two-part consultation series with Dr. Carli, you can receive a personalized skin analysis and a complete skin care program, and all questions regarding facelift surgery and/or facial rejuvenation can be answered. We look forward to meeting with you for this appointment. Please contact Magnolia Plastic Surgery to schedule your consultation today.

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Is Botox Right for You?

Botox ® may be one of the most sought-after anti-aging treatments available today, but is it right for you? There are a few questions you should ask yourself before considering Botox injections, as is the case with any medical procedure.

First, it is important to be aware of what Botox does and how it works. Doctors inject Botox into facial muscles to block nerve impulses. This results in a temporary semi-paralysis of muscle contractions, which then smoothes the skin and flattens wrinkles. The treatment is effective and lasts several weeks to a few months. The potential side effects are mild and resolve within days.

Now to determining if you are a good candidate. Consider where your wrinkles are. If they are in the brow, around the eyes, or in the forehead, these are prime areas for Botox. These are incredibly active facial areas and the muscles here are used countless times a day without our even knowing it.

If your wrinkles are around your mouth, you have bags under your eyes, or you would like to have fuller lips, then a dermal filler such as Juvederm ™ or Restylane ® would be a better bet.

The other criteria to consider if Botox is right for you are the same factors that you should consider before any treatment of any kind. Do you have significant sun damage? Do you have any disorders that affect your nerves or muscles? And if you are a woman, are you breastfeeding or planning on becoming pregnant soon? If you answered yes to any of these questions, be sure to talk to your doctor to get his/her advice on whether Botox would be safe for you. And as with all procedures, ideal candidates are in good, stable health and do not smoke.

If you have further questions regarding whether you would be a good candidate for Botox treatments, or would like to schedule a consultation, call Dr. Carli’s office today.

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Will my Friends Notice if I Get Botox?

If you are curious whether or not your friends will notice that you received Botox ® treatments, the honest answer is – probably. Unless your wrinkles are very subtle, the difference that Botox will bring will be striking. But then that’s the point of getting Botox in the first place!

The real question doesn’t have to do with if your friends notice or not, because if they don’t, then what’s the point anyway? The question has to do with any type of stigma that could possibly be attached to the treatment. The truth is that these days, there really isn’t one. Botox remains one of the top cosmetic treatments sought today. In fact, there were 2,437,165 Botox treatments performed in 2010 alone. If you get Botox done, you’re not exactly in rare company.

Botox is so popular because it is safe and effective. While side effects are a risk with any treatment, those associated with Botox are typically very mild and disappear quickly.

Botox works by temporarily paralyzing the more mobile muscles in the face around your eyes and forehead. This prevents wrinkles from forming and gives patients a more youthful, smoother face for several weeks at a time.

Botox treatments are widely available and only becoming more popular today. So if you are shy about what your friends might think, you really have nothing to worry about at all. You can call Dr. Carli’s office today and he will be happy to further explain Botox treatments during an appointment.

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Is Botox a Better Option than a Facelift through Cosmetic Surgery?

It could be, but that depends on several factors. To start, let’s define what Botox® is. Botox is the trade name of Botulinum toxin type A, a purified toxin that in specific amounts, can block nerve impulses that cause muscle movement.

Botox is ideal for targeting frown lines (a furrowed brow), which are caused by the action of a muscle called the corrugator. When you intentionally make yourself frown, you can feel this as a thickening just below the inside of your eyebrows.

Injecting Botox directly into this corrugator muscle stops your ability to draw your eyebrows together when you frown. Once the muscle is “paralyzed,” it cannot contract, and the frown line gradually fades away. Although the results of Botox will typically last three to five months, it may be a better option for you than a facelift if frown lines are your primary complaint. In order to maintain a youthful-looking appearance, repeat treatment sessions will be necessary.

Botox may also be a better option than facelift surgery if your signs of facial aging are limited to:

• Crows’ feet
• Forehead wrinkles
• Neck folds

So, when is facelift surgery a better option than Botox? When the effects of time and gravity lead to facial sagging, Botox is not an effective remedy. Botox merely addresses facial lines – not sagging skin. Only facelift surgery can reverse the appearance of sagging facial skin. The results of a facelift may last up to several years, but the specific number of years depends on the amount of elasticity the skin still has prior to surgery. For that reason, Dr. Carli recommends considering a facelift procedure at the onset of facial sagging, rather than waiting until you reach a specific age.

Whether you believe your best option is Botox or facelift surgery, we have the solution at Magnolia Plastic Surgery. Contact our office today to request more information.

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