Soreness or bruising at the injection site can occur. Applying ice packs over the treated site before and after the injections can reduce this problem.
Another side effect when BoTox is used around the forehead is eyelid droop, known as ptosis. This temporary condition occurs in about 5% of patients. It usually appears 7 to 14 days after the injection and can last 4 to 6 weeks. A more speedy method of treating ptosis is the application of prescription eye drops (iopidine). In many cases, these drops will help resolve the droop within a few days. To reduce the risk of ptosis, patients should obtain BOTOX from a physician who is experienced in its use. It is also important for a patient to remain vertical for 4-6 hours after the injection. This allows the BOTOX to be taken up in the treated area and reduces the chance of displacement to other muscles. It is also helpful to contract the treated muscles repeatedly (smile or squint depending on the area treated). Do not touch the injected sites for two to three hours.
A welcome side effect for some patients is the disappearance of "tension headaches." Researchers are now experimenting with BOTOX to determine whether it can help in eliminating migraine headaches for persons who are affected by them.
BOTOX can reduce or eliminate wrinkles without surgery. It is a unique treatment because unlike other non-surgical treatments such as chemical/laser peels and collagen injection, BOTOX corrects underlying muscle instead of the skin surface or subsurface.
BOTOX appears to be a safe cosmetic procedure when administered by a well-trained physician to an appropriate candidate. In terms of safety, muscle biopsies taken from patients after repeated injections of BoTox have not shown any evidence of muscle weakness or degeneration.
Furthermore, the Food and Drug Administration state that there have been no reports of systemic toxicity from injections. BOTOX is recognized by the American Academy of Neurology, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the National Institutes of Health as safe and effective.
Patients should be aware, however, that presently BOTOX is not officially approved for cosmetic use. According to one expert, BOTOX may be the "ideal cosmetic procedure" because it produces "dramatic results, has few side effects and is reversible." For persons who are not candidates for cosmetic surgery or cannot afford it, BOTOX may provide the solution for their quest for a more youthful appearance without the risks of other procedures.
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