Myth 1: "Botox® is dangerous"Botox® has a great safety recordOver 2.8 million Botox® procedures are done annually without any reported significant side effects.The pioneers of Botox®, Drs. Caruthers, the Canadian husband and wife team, have been using Botox® for treatment of facial lines since 1987. At a meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology in July 2004, they demonstrated that no long-term side effects were seen with repeated Botox® injections, even among patients who received 30 injection sessions over a nine-year period. In fact, Botox® is also effective for a variety of other debilitating medical disorders such as migraine headaches, back pain, spastic limbs due to stroke, cerebral palsy, writer's cramp, tic disorders, hand tremors, vocal cord disorders, excessive underarm sweating and is currently under study for many other medical indications. Myth 2: "Botox® will cause a frozen face with no facial expressions"Botox® can give you a naturally youthful appearanceThere is a harmonious balance between the muscles of the face. If too much Botox® is injected, one can easily lose the action of muscles of expression. However, if this muscular balance is maintained, by only injecting small doses into specific muscles, one can have a natural softening of unwanted lines and wrinkles without compromising facial expressions.Myth 3: "Botox® will poison my body"As with any medication, Botox® is safe with proper dosingFor cosmetic use, the typical patient receives an average of 20-70 units of Botox® per treatment. Over time, the body naturally eliminates the administered Botox®. This is why the effects of Botox® are temporary. As with every medication, excessive amounts can be dangerous. The lethal dose of Botox® is 2800 units, 100 times the average dose given for the treatment of lines and wrinkles. Even Tylenol, one of the safest pain medications can cause liver failure and death when used in very large doses.Myth 4: "I am afraid of painful injections"Botox® injections are virtually painlessYour Botox® treatment involves a few tiny injections that require no anesthesia. However, an attentive doctor will provide an anesthetic cream or ice pack prior to your treatment to make it as comfortable as possible. Talk to your doctor about your fears, as she/he can alleviate your concerns through proper education.Myth 5: " Botox® treatments can cause droopy eyelids"Droopy eyelids is a rare side effectIf your Botox® treatment is administered properly, the risk of suffering from droopy eyelids is lower than 2%. As with any potential side effect, the condition is temporary and should resolve within a few weeks. Choose an experienced medical professional for your Botox® treatment to lower all risks of side effects. |