Botox Injections
The FDA regulates products, but not
how they are used. Approved products are sometimes used by a licensed
practitioner for uses other than those stated in the product label.
Botox Cosmetic, for example, is currently being used by physicians to
treat facial wrinkles other than those specified by the FDA. Consumers
should be aware, however, that this "off-label" use has not been
independently reviewed by the agency, and the safety and effectiveness
of Botox injections into other regions of the face and neck, alone or
in combination with the frown-lines region, have not been clinically
evaluated.
If you are considering Botox
Cosmetic, keep the following things in mind:
• Be sure that a qualified doctor performs the procedure.
• Make sure that the doctor is trained and qualified in cosmetic skin
surgery of the face.
• Ask questions and be informed about the benefits and risks involved
in the procedure.
• Avoid alcohol and remain upright for several hours following the
procedure.
• Choose a medical setting using sterile techniques. Necessary
equipment should be available to respond to any potential problems.
Although there is no chance of contracting botulism from Botox
injections, there are some risks associated with the procedure. If too
much toxin is injected, for example, or if it is injected into the
wrong facial area, a person can end up with droopy eyelid muscles (ptosis)
that could last for weeks. This particular complication was observed
in clinical trials.
Other common side effects following Botox
injections were headache,
respiratory infection, flu syndrome, and nausea. Less frequent adverse
reactions included pain in the face, redness at the injection site,
and muscle weakness. These reactions were generally temporary, but
could last several months.
While the effects of Botox Cosmetic don't last, still, people don't
seem to mind repeating the procedure every four to six months in order
to maintain a wrinkle-free look. Battling the signs of aging in a
non-invasive way, after all, is part of the allure of the
product--that and the fact that there are no unsightly scars, and that
there is very little recovery time with the procedure.
The FDA recommends that
Botox Cosmetic be injected no more frequently
than once every three months, and that the lowest effective dose
should be used.
For more detailed information about Botox Cosmetic, ask your health
care provider.
Source: United States Food and Drug Administration
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