One in six people who have Botox injected into their face suffer complications such as bruising, headache, nausea and “frozen” features, a study into the anti-ageing treatment has found.
Signs of a Bad Botox Injection
There are two signs you've had a bad Botox injection: Unusual results such as facial asymmetry (one side doesn't match the other), overarching eyebrows, a drooping eyelid, or not being able to move the forehead at all.
The most common causes of botched Botox are: Improper injection techniques. Many unskilled injectors make the mistake of injecting Botox too deeply or too superficially into the skin.
However, an adverse or allergic reaction to Botox is very rare. Only 36 cases involving adverse effects were reported to the FDA between 1989-2003. Out of the 36 cases, doctors reported that 13 of them had more to do with an underlying condition.
The good news is that Botox is a procedure that produces temporary results, meaning even a “bad” case of Botox will eventually disappear over time. The bad news is that not much can be done to reverse the effects.
At times, results may look slightly uneven at first, because the Botox may “kick in” at different rates. It is important to gently exercise the muscle areas that you have received the Botox treatment in by making facial expressions such as frowning, smiling, gently raising the eyebrows and squinting.
You Experienced Unreasonable Damage
Even Botox treatment, which is reasonably straightforward, doesn't always come without a few side effects that lead to Botox legal issues. However, you may be able to make a botched cosmetic surgery claim if your procedure resulted in unreasonable damage.
Risks are very minor with Botox, but just like any other medical or cosmetic treatment, things can go wrong. The short answer is that similarly to any invasive treatment or procedure, there can be side effects or complications. You may experience redness, bruising, bleeding or swelling.
It's important that injections be placed precisely in order to avoid side effects. Botox therapy can be dangerous if it's administered incorrectly. Ask for a referral from your primary care doctor or look for a doctor who specializes in your condition and who has experience in administering Botox treatments.
Who Should Not Get Botox? People who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have a neurological disease shouldn't use Botox. Because Botox doesn't work for all wrinkles, check with a doctor first. You shouldn't have Botox shots if you're allergic to cow's milk protein.
But in many cases, the best thing to do is to wait things out. There's no enzyme that can reverse Botox, so it might just be that you have to wait for it to wear off. Although it's something to avoid, going through Bad Botox can be a learning experience.
In most cases, droopy eyelid occurs between one and three weeks after treatment, and patients typically experience this adverse effect for just a few weeks. According to Dr. Holman, “It's important to remember that, like Botox treatments, a drooping eyelid is usually temporary. The effect will wear off after a while.
Botox onset is 5 to 7 days. Botox peaks at 10 to 14 days.
Too much Botox in the forehead muscles can cause the eyebrows to droop, making the upper eyelids look very heavy and hooded. The face may look angry or sad all the time. Too much Botox around the eyes can dramatically affect facial expression. The face is simply frozen.
When Botox is applied to problem areas around the eyebrows, the muscles relax and the skin on top of them becomes smoother. The muscles around the eyebrows are pulled upwards, elevating the eyebrows and making a patient's eyes appear more open.
A good injector should know where to never inject.
A qualified, experienced injector should never inject the area near the orbital bone right above the pupil. If Botox is injected here, it can drift down toward the upper eyelid and cause an eyelid droop. This can last from weeks to even months.
At what age should you stop using Botox? There is no upper age limit for people who want to have Botox. In fact, many women enjoy the refreshed look they can get from Botox and complementary treatments when they are in their 60s or older.
The only person you never need to tip is a doctor, even for aesthetic treatments like Botox (another reason to only get injections from a dermatologist or plastic surgeon). At the end of the day, all of these stylists, aestheticians, and technicians live off their tips, so be sure to help them after they've helped you.
There's a common misconception that Botox makes you look older when it wears off. On the contrary, regular Botox treatments make you look younger even after the neurotoxin wears off.
Studies have shown that Botox (most commonly known as the brand name Botox), when used in low but effective doses, does not ruin your face, but rather is a temporary paralyzation of the microscopic muscle nerve endings.
To put it plainly, Botox resistance (immunity) does occur in some patients. According to those who do recognize the phenomenon of Botox resistance, the numbers are low—about 1% to 3% of patients who are injected will develop toxin-blocking antibodies.
“If you do too much Botox on your forehead for many, many years, the muscles will get weaker and flatter,” cautions Wexler, adding that the skin can also appear thinner and looser. Moreover, as your muscles become weaker, they can start to recruit surrounding muscles when you make facial expressions.
Over the next two to three weeks, any swelling and bruising should disappear, and you'll notice the reduced appearance of wrinkles and facial lines. Botox can help smooth out wrinkles, smile, and facial lines that you don't like.