Botox- Side Effects of treatment

[frownfree]

The common side effects of Botox injections are side effects associated
with /any /injection. These injection related side effects may include
some redness, bruising, localized tenderness, swelling, inflammation
and infection. Very rarely Botox injection could cause a temporary eyelid
droop. The cause of the temporary droop is not fully understood, but
it naturally resolves usually within weeks to a few months. During this
period eye drops can be used to manage the symptoms

[doctornev]

Thank you frownfree. Do you have a medical background?

The jury is still out on the cause of the ptosis (eyelid droop). We used to think it was due to the botox sorta infiltrating its way out of the corrugator muscles and towards the lids. All sorts of things were done to try to minimise this 'seepage'.

Times change and now we think its actually more likely secondary to us trying to immobilise the forehead frown lines. At our clinic we use a LOT less botox in the areas above the eyes, if at all. The same affect can be achieved by injecting elsewhere.


regards,


DoctorNev

[Kimmy]

Thank you frownfree. Do you have a medical background?

The jury is still out on the cause of the ptosis (eyelid droop). We used to think it was due to the botox sorta infiltrating its way out of the corrugator muscles and towards the lids. All sorts of things were done to try to minimise this 'seepage'.

Times change and now we think its actually more likely secondary to us trying to immobilise the forehead frown lines. At our clinic we use a LOT less botox in the areas above the eyes, if at all. The same affect can be achieved by injecting elsewhere.


regards,


DoctorNev


One of my cynical medical friends once described botox as the perfect cosmetic procedure. Since it only lasts 3-5 months if something goes wrong ..... well by the time you get to our ever efficient courts *sarcasm, heavy* the botox is longgggg gone.

[audreyfan]

I heard this treatment has an increased risk on those with muscle disorders. I have friend who has epilepsy, but is still interested in getting botox treatment. Would she still be okay or it?

[jomol31]

I heard this treatment has an increased risk on those with muscle disorders. I have friend who has epilepsy, but is still interested in getting botox treatment. Would she still be okay or it?



I'm not sure but I from my memory of physiology 101 epilepsy wasn't a neuro-muscular disorder as such. It was more of a central nervous system disorder. I'm not sure. Doctornev can you shed some light on this?

[Kimmy]

I heard this treatment has an increased risk on those with muscle disorders. I have friend who has epilepsy, but is still interested in getting botox treatment. Would she still be okay or it?


I concur with jomol31 From my dim dark memory of physiology I don't think epilepsy was one of the neuro-muscular disorders.

[doctornev]

I concur with jomol31 From my dim dark memory of physiology I don't think epilepsy was one of the neuro-muscular disorders.


Hi AudreyFan. In the medical game we have learnt never to say "never." But we can still say what is highly unlikely.

The use of botox is contraindicated in neuromuscular disorders such as myasthenia gravis, huntington's chorea or Eton's Lambert syndrome.

Epilepsy is fairly complex but it is a disorder of the central nervous system ,not the neuromuscular system. In fact botox was first used in cerebal palsy *****ren who often had both epilepsy and abnormal contractures. It is caused by a lowered seizure threshold. For various reasons the brain is easily "excited" and minor things can trigger disorganised firing of the neurons in the brain. The result of this disorganised firing of the brain is a seizure.

In over 20 years of research botox has not been found to have any effect on the brain or central nervous system. Its primary site of action is at the neuromuscular junction. It merely stops the muscle from receiving the message from its nerve.

Epilepsy is caused by problem much higher up in the brain itself rather than at the level where botox works.

Long answer. But epilepsy is not considered a contraindication to botox treatment.