Botox is one of the most common cosmetic procedures in the medical aesthetics market, and for good reason. Botox treatments are well-known and highly sought-after for their reliable safety profile, efficacy, and versatility—with over millions of satisfied patients yearly.
However, despite its longevity in the market and good safety record as one of the top nonsurgical cosmetic enhancements in the industry, Botox is not without potential risks and side effects.
As a patient, it’s normal to feel both curious and cautious about the side effects of Botox injections, especially the worst ones that can cause discomfort or harm to your well-being. The good news is that the worst facial Botox side effects are rare. Still, making a fully informed decision never hurts anyone.
Knowing the potential side effects of Botox on the face, from the common, temporary ones that typically resolve on their own, to those with more severe, adverse effects, is the best way to make a well-informed and educated decision as a consumer.
Botox, or botulinum toxin type A, is a trusted and well-known brand of botulinum neurotoxin. It is clinically approved for aesthetic use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Botox injections, when administered properly by a licensed provider, are generally viewed as safe and largely devoid of serious side effects and risks.
If this is the case, then you might be wondering when these side effects do happen. To get a better grasp of this, let’s first categorize these Botox-related side effects by severity, as knowing the difference between the two can help you be more well-informed and take more appropriate actions.
These are well-localized, self-maintained, and reversible side effects that may appear posttreatment but typically disappear or resolve on their own after a few days.
Minor, temporary side effects of Botox include:
The causes for these benign, nonthreatening side effects are often needle-related and can happen due to tiny blood vessels breaking as the syringe penetrates your skin or because of your body’s natural response to being injected.
With these side effects, you usually have nothing to worry about, especially if you follow your provider’s aftercare instructions for optimal healing.
Now, the more serious side effects of Botulinum toxin injections can be a cause for concern. But before diving into these, let’s understand why they happen in the first place.
Factors that increase potential risks and side effects include the following:
Here are the more severe side effects of Botox to remember and watch out for as a patient. Keep in mind, however, that these are rare and wouldn’t usually happen when your Botox treatment is performed by an experienced master nurse injector like those at InjectCo.
You should seek medical help and contact a doctor or your healthcare provider immediately when you experience the following after your Botox injections:
Serious side effects like difficulty swallowing and/or breathing (shortness of breath), while very rare, can happen hours to weeks after a counterfeit or mishandled Botox treatment.
Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia) occurs when the botulinum toxin spreads from the injection site to unintended areas like your pharyngeal muscles, leading to weakness and trouble swallowing. You may also experience a similar complication and have trouble breathing (dyspnea) when the toxin weakens the muscles involved in breathing.
How to prevent: These side effects are uncommon, so they’re generally avoidable. Get Botox injections only from credible licensed providers, and steer clear of counterfeit products.
When Botox near the eyes spreads beyond the intended muscle area or targeted injection site, problems like blurred vision, drooping eyelids, or double vision can occur.
Double vision, for instance, is an aftereffect that can happen months after Botox injections. This is usually a result of uneven muscle contractions around your eye, or your muscles relaxing beyond Botox’s intended effect posttreatment.
While these risks are on the more serious side, you still shouldn’t worry too much; they are typically mild and temporary and tend to resolve on their own, though it may take longer. To speed up the process and reverse the effects, your doctor may also offer special eyedrops.
How to prevent: Research the muscle-relaxing abilities of Botox for specific target areas, or consult with a qualified professional before your treatment to avoid unintended effects.
Muscle weakness occurs when Botulinum toxin spreads to unintended nearby muscles. It can also be caused by the Botox dosage affecting muscle control in a specific area.
While patients can expect temporary muscle weakness at the injection site after Botox, generalized muscle weakness, which has spread to surrounding areas, should be taken seriously. If symptoms worsen over time, contact a doctor immediately.
In rare cases, excessive, repeated, or prolonged Botox injections in the same area without rest or enough intervals in between can lead to weakened facial muscles over time. A more severe case would be muscle atrophy, or the wasting or thinning of muscles from lack of use.
How to prevent: Give your facial muscles enough time to rest and allow intervals (at least 3–4 months) between Botox injections.
While rare, an infection may develop after Botox treatment if bacteria manage to enter the injection site. Infection from Botox may show through the following symptoms:
If this happens, contact your medical care provider right away. The good news is that, while infection is a serious side effect, it can be treated and resolved by taking prescription medicine like antibiotics promptly and properly.
How to prevent: Do your research thoroughly so you can safely avoid providers that perform unsafe practices, like not cleaning the injection site prior to pretreatment, or reusing old needles.
If there’s one thing the worst side effects of Botox all have in common, it’s that they are all rare and uncommon. This means that serious adverse effects are avoidable with expert care from master nurse injectors and physician assistants who only administer safe, FDA-approved Botox.
Receiving Botox injections from a qualified provider is a game-changer not only for your aesthetic goals but also for your overall health and well-being, which is why awareness of bad Botox side effects before you undergo treatment is key.
At InjectCo, our expert providers take these serious side effects into consideration in offering premium aesthetic services to our patients, ultimately tailoring treatment plans to your unique goals and needs.
Interested in learning more about Botox side effects? InjectCo’s master nurse injectors and physician assistants can help. Book a free consultation today, so you can minimize your worries and choose a safe and effective Botox treatment that works for you.
The worst side effects of Botox include difficulty swallowing, breathing problems, vision problems, severe muscle weakness, and skin infections, though the good news is these are rare and not likely to happen with master nurse injectors who use authentic products.
Yes, Botox is safe for the face, backed by both FDA approval and patient testimonials. Botox Cosmetic is FDA-approved for cosmetic indications like wrinkle and facial line reduction.
Moreover, Botox can be safely used for therapeutic indications and medical conditions like chronic migraines, overactive bladder, and neck spasms or involuntary muscle activity, making it safe for body areas other than the face.
Realistically speaking, there isn’t a single cosmetic treatment that’s 100% safe since risks and side effects may occur, but Botox boasts a strong safety profile—with FDA approval and testimonials from satisfied patients to back it up.
At InjectCo, our master nurse injectors ensure that only FDA-approved, authentic Botox injections are administered at our premier clinic, ensuring patients’ safety at all times.
The long-term side effects of Botox, particularly of prolonged, chronic Botox use in the same injection area without proper intervals, include muscle weakness and reduced toxin effectiveness.
Fortunately, this is avoidable when you give injected muscles enough time to return to normal activity, which is at least 3–4 months for Botox.
