Botox Gone Wrong: Here’s What Can Happen

Botox Gone Wrong: Here’s What Can Happen

Getting Botox injections is such a common procedure these days, my mailman must be getting them. I swear, the flyers and bills are being delivered with such a smooth, fashionable, wrinkle-free face, I’m convinced it’s happening.

Which is great. But while most procedures go down without a glitch and everyone leaves happy, it’s a reality that not all do.

Botox mishaps can often. If you get injections and you go to a medical doctor or an equivalently licensed professional who has been trained to do so, you’re likely in good hands.

But for those who may be trying to get the same effect for just a little bit cheaper: buyer beware.

Here’s some of the bad news:

1) It Might Hurt Badly Because…It Might Not Be Botox

Botox injections, like any injections, can cause slight bruising, pain and swelling in the spot it’s been shot into your body, but it shouldn’t cause extreme pain.

The BBC tells this story of how two nurses who had been ordered to stop practicing in Britain started selling their services as injectors at Botox parties for about half the regular market price.

And one has to wonder what they were really injecting into people.

At least one woman, Diane Roberts, 52, suffered from a severe headache after being injected by one of the nurses. And to top it off, the substance didn’t eventually alter her appearance.

“It felt like someone had put an axe in the middle of my head. It was horrible,” she is reported as saying to the BBC.

2) You Could Turn Into Dr. Spock

It has happened before. As Becca writes on narcissista.me,

“6 months later, my first Botox party (more on that later). Despite the doctor’s excellent credentials, I had too much Pinot Grigio and didn’t tell him about my earlier Botox injections, so wound up with more than I needed.  My eyebrows were now so high and arched it looked like they were going to fly off my forehead.”

3) Drooling and a Crooked Smile Could Become the New Norm

Eerie. Well, it wouldn’t be the norm forever- but it could last for a while.

“4657anon” from Australia wrote on www.realself.com:

“I have had Botox in my chin to try and prevent large vertical smile lines and now I have a crooked mouth. I am horrified at the result of this that has left me with a crooked mouth when I smile, talk, laugh, grimace or eat. It is like one side of my mouth is frozen. The nurse who I am not sure I trust, suggests this ‘can happen’ and should wear off in around 2 weeks. It is almost that and no change! HELP!”

A plastic surgeon in Miami responded with this:

“Unfortunately you had an injection that has effected the depressor labii inferioris and other very small oral action muscles. I have had the same issue in a very few of my patients. The problem it can take weeks to a few months to resolve, but it does resolve.”

And in the meantime?

4) Your Body Could Become Weak All Over

The Mayo Clinic points out that one of the rare side effects of Botox is having its effect spread all over your body. Crazy!

Apparently, the effect of botulinum toxin, (the stuff in Botox), can spread to other parts of the body and cause botulism-like signs and symptoms to pop up elsewhere.

Needless to say, if your body feels weak all over, see a doctor right away.

5) You Might Lose Control of Your Bladder (Among Other Troubles)

In addition to the craziness of #4, victims of bad Botox can also suffer from vision troubles, speaking problems, breathing problems and a loss of bladder control. Terrible.

How to play it safe? It seems best to really think it over and consider if Botox is right for you before going under the needle. Consult your doctor about it and ask for a referral to a professional who knows what they’re doing and has experience administering Botox treatments.

Do yourself a favor and do it right.

Photo Credit: Lucky Business/Shutterstock

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