What problems could arise with Botox and how to avoid them

Firstly, you probably will have heard of Botox before, but maybe not botulinum toxin A. Botox is a registered trademark name owned by a company called Allergen Inc, and is the most well-known brand of botulinum toxin A. To save confusion, I will refer to the product as Botox in this article. You may have already done some research into Botox, and what can go wrong with Botox. Botox was approved for cosmetic use since 2002. Since then, more than a million procedures and climbing are performed each year in the UK. 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. More serious complications include allergic reactions, shortness of breath and headache or flu-like symptoms. However, these side effects can be limited or prevented if you have your treatment done by a skilled professional with anatomical knowledge.

Have you been considering Botox treatments or have any concerns about potential side effects? In this article I will explore these issues, as well as problems with Botox and how to avoid them.

Why consider Botox?

Botox reduces wrinkles and fine lines by temporarily relaxing the underlying muscles. Botox has had an undeserved reputation, usually invoking images of frozen-faced, or permanently surprised celebrities. However, when done right can provide subtle, natural results and you should still look like you. Botox does not work to change the shape of your face, or eliminate existing wrinkles. Botox is a preventative measure; it prevents your muscles from over-working and causing wrinkles and fine lines to appear. Botox is extremely safe when administered by an experienced medical professional, such as a doctor, nurse or dentist. It is the most used cosmetic treatment regimen, as it is not as invasive as surgery, it is less expensive and carries lower risks than alternatives.

Botox in the UK

In the UK, Botox is a prescription only medicine, which means that it must be prescribed and given to a patient by a qualified prescriber. If you are not having the treatment done by a qualified prescriber, they should still refer you to a medical professional (the person who prescribes the Botox for them) to check that you are fit for the treatment. By law, the person prescribing the Botox should be a doctor, nurse, dentist or prescribing pharmacist. Guidelines from the General Medical Council (GMC) state that they should meet you face to face and must be present at the client consultation. When the prescriber is happy, you can then be treated.

The prescriber also has responsibility for the outcome of the treatment. Many doctors and nurses are unlikely to want to take responsibility for a non-medical person’s injecting work, so be sure to check that you are happy with the person you have chosen for your Botox treatments.

Is Botox dangerous?

Botox has been regulated for a long time now, and is actually a very safe treatment, even compared to having dermal filler. This is because the Botox is injected directly into the muscle being treated, rather than the layers of the skin. This means that there is less room for error by injecting into the wrong layer of the skin as with dermal filler, for example. Botox is not permanent, and the effects of the treatment eventually wear off. However, although very rare, it is important for you to know the potential for more serious side effects. The best way to minimise risk if you are considering Botox is to have the treatment done by a qualified practitioner.

In Scotland, the best way to ensure that the clinic or practitioner is of a high standard is to check to see if they are registered with Healthcare Improvement Scotland. Healthcare Improvement Scotland regulate medical practices and clinics to ensure that they are providing the best and safest service.

Find out about Healthcare Improvement Scotland here

What are the side effects of having Botox?

Swelling or bruising

Bruising can be a general risk of any sort of injection, and so naturally Botox injections have the potential to cause some bruising. An experienced practitioner or doctor will know the best techniques to avoid the chances of bruising. They will also be able to provide you with advice to minimise or treat any bruising that has developed after your treatment. The area that has been treated may be a bit red, sore or swollen after the treatment. These symptoms should settle down after a few days if they occur.

Pain at the injection site

Although getting Botox is not particularly painful for most people, since there are needles involved, you will feel a slight pinch of the needle piercing your skin. There are topical numbing creams involved for people who have a low tolerance or needle sensitivity. The pain induced by the injection depends mainly on your skin and the skill of the person who is injecting you.

Bleeding

Similarly than with bruising, minor visible bleeding may occur at the injection site after the Botox has been injected. This can happen with Botox injections similarly to how bruising can occur. As the needle enters your skin, it can nick a small capillary or vein, causing blood to come out of the injection site. This bleeding should be minor, and stop very quickly. Whether or not you bleed after Botox injections can depend on the injector’s experience and skill level, and may also occur if you are particularly prone to bleeding.

How can I prevent these symptoms?

Book a consultation first

What you do before you go for Botox, how your skin reacts, the needle size and the skill of the injector are all factors that can influence whether or not you experience any of the above side effects. It’s important to speak to your doctor or clinician for a complete picture of what to expect from Botox injections. This will enable you to make informed decisions, in turn making your Botox treatment as comfortable as possible.

An experienced doctor or injector will advise a consultation be carried out before you have your Botox treatment. This is to make sure they are clear on what you are looking to achieve from your appointment. If you’re in the right place, the doctor or injector should be happy to answer any questions you may have, and will probably answer your questions for you before you need to ask them. I have written some suggestions to give you a head start:

• What is your level of experience and qualifications?
• What is the name or brand of product you are using?
• Are there any risks or side effects I could experience?
• What will happen if anything goes wrong?
• What insurance cover do you have for Botox treatments?
• Do you register with Healthcare Improvement Scotland?

Afterwards, book in a review appointment

Similarly to consultation appointments, your doctor or injector will offer you a review appointment. They are able to use these to find out how you feel about your treatment and ask how you are getting on. It is also a good opportunity for you to discuss any further questions you may have. Most importantly, it shows you doctor or injector cares about you and whether or not you are happy with your treatment results.

Are there any more serious risks or side effects to having Botox?

Botox complications are rare, but the injectable can cause serious side effects for some people. These side effects could be attributed to technical error (someone giving you a Botox treatment who does not know what they are doing). For example, drooping eyelids or double vision could be attributed to an improper Botox injection. Here is a list of some symptoms that may occur after a Botox injection:

• Problems swallowing
• Problems breathing
• Muscle weakness
• Double or blurred vision
• Drooping eyelids
• Change or loss of voice
• Trouble enunciating words
• Loss of bladder control
• Headache
• Itchiness or rash

In general, serious side effects are very rare and most minor side effects are mild and tolerable. If you experience any serious symptoms after your treatment, seek medical attention immediately. Some of these side effects will subside after the Botox wears off.  However, you should speak with your Botox provider for further checks. The main benefit of choosing someone who is a qualified doctor or surgeon is that they will have the most knowledge and experience to avoid serious side effects from occurring.

It is important to keep in mind that side effects and complications tend to be natural reactions to the treatment. The best thing you can do is ask your doctor of the risks before your appointment, or during your consultation if your injector is a qualified doctor. Some people have bad experiences with Botox due to mistakes, but you can avoid this by ensuring your injector is qualified and regulated, and that you have a proper consultation and review appointments booked in.

Red flags to be aware of when considering Botox injections

Prioritise skill and experience

It is essential that your injector is skilled and experienced in delivering Botox injections. Consider this when looking at a clinics cost or the convenience of a location. Side effects and adverse reactions are possible with any medical treatment, so choose a clinic and injector with the credentials to keep you safe.

It doesn’t mean that another clinic is less talented if they have a lack of formal credentials. Safety can come into question however; if you are placing a substance that causes mild paralysis into your skin, you should want to be in the hands of the most trained professional possible.

Check the cost

Another red flag to consider is cost. If a deal on Botox seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Look for a high-volume clinic to ensure your Botox is safe and effective. If your clinician is only administering a few treatments a week then chances are the products are sitting on their shelves and they aren’t providing you with fresh Botox. This can degrade the efficiency of the product. So if you are seeing discounts and offers on Botox treatments it might be worth asking yourself why they are trying to move the product so badly.

The right clinician or doctor will be able to appropriately advise you

If the injector thinks that Botox is the wrong treatment for what you are trying to achieve with your face, they will tell you. Botox is designed to relax and smooth lines. If you already have defined resting lines, then you may be better using dermal fillers to reduce these lines.

Less is certainly more with Botox, especially if you are looking for a natural result. An experienced injector will start you off with minimal treatments with a view to adding more if required. This is because Botox cannot be undone. If you are unhappy with your results, you will have to wait until the Botox wears off. The right person to administer the treatment should never advertise bulk discounts or start heavy. Ultimately the injector should want you to feel amazing after your treatment and for many months afterwards.

To summarise

I hope this article helps to answer some of the questions you may have if you have been considering Botox treatments. As with any injectable treatments, there is always more to consider than with non-invasive treatments, and you should definitely do your homework. For many, Botox treatments have made a huge difference to their lives. The majority have experienced little to no side effects.

There are a lot of benefits to Botox; it has been around for anti-ageing purposes since 2002 and can also be used for a number of medicinal treatment purposes including hyperhidrosis, migraines, overactive bladder symptoms and cervical dystonia. In addition, a study published in 2009 by the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology proved that the patients who had Botox injections had lower depression, anxiety and irritability than the patients who had not. What’s more, the Botox patients didn’t feel any more or less attractive than the others. In other words, the Botox group’s improvement in mood didn’t just make them feel more confident, it made them happier people.

Whether you choose not to have Botox treatments, choose to have the treatments elsewhere, or decide to have them with us here at Tay Medispa, we want you to have the facts. It is so important for you to feel confident and comfortable in your choice, so that you experience as many of the positives of having Botox treatments as possible. The more qualified the clinician is, the less likely it is that you will experience any side effects. Make sure you’re in safe hands!

About us

Here at Tay Medispa, we take your safety very seriously. We want every client to get the most out of their treatment and leave us feeling incredible. It is for this reason that only our in-house aesthetics expert Dr Julia Langford administers medical and prescriptive treatments. Dr Julia also conducts all of our consultations and review appointments. She has over a decade’s experience and training in the field of aesthetics. Not only that, but Dr Julia and Tay Medispa are regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland, so you can be comfortable in the knowledge that you are in safe and caring hands.

Reviews and further information

Some of our reviews:

“Took time to enquire how my treatment had been since last time and how satisfied I was… understood the overall effect I wanted to achieve and advised accordingly to the level of treatment required. Treatment was painless and quick. Thank you.”

Mary

“I had my first consultation with Dr Julia today. I am very happy with her attitude and suggestions of how to proceed with my Botox treatment. Dr Julia also advised me on other aspects of how to improve my skin. I went ahead with Botox and have a review appointment in two weeks. She was friendly, professional, knowledgeable and I feel lucky to have found her after moving into Scotland only a few weeks ago.”

Sarah

“I visited Tay Spa for the first time last week. I really enjoyed my visit. The decor is lovely. I found Julia to be extremely friendly, very experienced and highly professional.
A first class and welcoming service from the minute you walk in the door. Thank you :)x”

Ruth

Our consultation and review appointments are complimentary, and there is absolutely no obligation to have the treatment. We advise you to take some time to think about it before you come back to us, if you choose to have your treatment with Dr Julia.

If you would like to read more about Botox:

Find out more about Botox

What’s the difference between Botox and filler?

If you would like to know more about us or meet Dr Julia:

About Tay Medispa

Book your Facial Aesthetics Consultation

Finally…

As always, if you have any questions still left unanswered, feel free to give us a call on 01738 451 567 or leave us a message on Facebook

Hannah – Tay Medispa

55 York Place, Perth, Perthshire, PH2 8EH