They may look great but injectables like Botox come with substantial risks like trouble breathing and swallowing.
Do you love your wrinkles? Some people don’t mind the visible signs of aging and take them in stride, knowing that we all grow older everyday with increased wisdom and experience. Others try to fight off older age as it attacks our skin using all possible tools with mixed results.
Cosmetic injectables have been around since the 1980s but have more recently taken off in popularity. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2020, 4.4 million official procedures involving Botox injections were performed, making this the most popular non-invasive cosmetic procedure of the year.
Botox can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, bringing a more youthful look to aging skin and muscles, which can be appealing to those seeking the fountain of youth. But the injections don’t come without their risks.
Here are five of the worst side effects to be on the lookout for when it comes to cosmetic injectables.
Trouble speaking or swallowing
Botox is made from Botulinum toxin. The substance works by blocking chemical signals from your nerves that cause your muscles to contract. When Botox is applied to the wrinkles around your eyes and forehead, the result can be smoother, line-free skin. Following Botox injections, however, the muscles you use to speak and swallow can become weak as a side effect. In some people, this makes it harder for them to speak or even swallow. Unfortunately, this can actually go on for months in extreme cases, and in some rare instances, individuals actually need feeding tubes.
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Breathing problems
In the same way that Botox can cause the muscles in your face to relax, it may also cause your breathing muscles to weaken. In really extreme cases, you can die. The injected substance can affect parts of your body away from the injection site causing botulism, a serious condition that needs immediate medical attention.
Loss of bladder control
If your Botox injection has a larger effect on you, you may lose proper control of your bladder. If this happens, you might require the temporary use of a self-catheter. Botox can also result in incontinence, urinary infections, and urinary retention. These side effects can last up to 6 months.
Vision problems
Some people receiving Botox injections on their face have experienced problems with their vision. This can be the result of a drooping eyelid, and you may experience double vision, blurred vision, and dry eyes as a result.
Bruising and swelling
Botox injections can also cause bruising and swelling at the site of the injection. When a damaged blood vessel bleeds around the area of injection you may experience bruising for up to 7 days following your treatment.
Always be sure to research a qualified medical professional to administer your injectables. Look at their credentials and reviews. Don’t make a decision based solely on price as you might get what you paid for, to be blunt. Make sure your injections are coming from your physician, a registered nurse, or another type of licensed healthcare practitioner.
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