Most people tolerate this medication well, but side effects are still possible. Pain and bruising at the injection site, droopy eyelids and eyebrows, and headaches are the most common. But more serious side effects, like difficulty breathing and swallowing, can also happen.
Like other medications however, there are certain people who should not undergo this treatment. Who are the people who shouldn't be using Botox, then? Among those who should not be using Botox are pregnant or breastfeeding women, people with neuromuscular disorders, and people with neurological diseases.
Is It Safe to Use BOTOX in the Long Term? BOTOX is an FDA-approved, low-risk treatment with a great safety record. If you continue to work with an experienced, credentialed injector, it is unlikely you will experience any negative effects of long-term BOTOX use.
Be aware that there are also a botox danger. You should avoid injecting botulinum toxin into the frontalis muscle, which is the muscle that raises your eyebrows and arches your forehead. You should also try to not inject botox into several other facial muscles, such as those that allow you to smile or chew.
Botox and fillers are generally considered safe for people of all ages, whether they are 30 years old, 60 years old, or 80 years old.
Botox Might Make Skin Visibly Thinner
In these cases, "The skin of the forehead [can] get prematurely thinner, and the muscles weaker," she says. Sometimes, after many years of use, this can even result in the look of heavier brows and eyelids, "making the toxin more difficult to continue using."
The 3 Areas would typically be Forehead Lines, Frown Lines and Crows Feet.
“Your skin will still look younger, smoother with softer wrinkles as the muscle itself will have weakened over time.” She continued, “You will still look much younger than you would have if you hadn't gotten injected, but you will be at risk of getting wrinkles again as the effect of Botox wears off in 3 to 6 months.”
The neurotoxin protein in Botox blocks neurotransmitters from engaging with your facial muscles. Over time, the Botox components are broken down into harmless particles called amino acids. The broken-down components are excreted from the kidneys as waste, or they're used in other proteins.
People in their 50s will want to tackle lax skin and loss of collagen too. So, Botox treatment is usually combined with dermal filler to help lift and tighten areas such as the jawline to improve the appearance and to treat loss of volume in the face and cheek area.
The most common side effects associated with Botox injections are minor and temporary, such as swelling, redness, and bruising. However, if you have a history of liver disease, you may be at an increased risk of more serious side effects, including nerve damage, muscle weakness, and even liver damage.
With Botox, “we're limiting the muscle contractions that lead to folds, so yes, it can feel funny in the beginning, because you're not able to move muscles that would normally contract on command,” he explains.
One case that may lead to Botox actually accelerating skin aging is if a patient starts treatment too early and too much. Because facial muscles, collagen production, and skin structure overall weaken with age, consistent freezing of your muscles can make them weaker and thinner.
Most side effects of Botox are mild and don't cause any major discomfort, such as bruising and swelling at the injection site, as well as some headaches. But some major issues can occur in a tiny percentage of patients, such as neck pain, upper respiratory tract infection, nausea, minor loss of speech, eyelid drooping.
Is it ever too late for Botox? The good news is that, in most cases, you can safely use Botox – even as a first-timer – over the age of 60.
There is no definite age when you should start BOTOX®—it's more about the state of your skin, and everyone's timeline is different. For wrinkle treatments, it's best to start when you notice forehead lines, frown lines, or crow's feet even when your expression is neutral.
Having heavy Botox from a young age is likely to make you look older over time. An early start and heavy-handed approach can leave a face looking frozen and over-treated.
Alternatives to Botox include different types of injectable neurotoxins and fillers, laser resurfacing, and cosmetic surgeries. Diet and a healthy lifestyle can also help reduce the signs of aging.
Botox injections are commonly injected into three main sites – forehead lines, crow's feet lines around the eyes and the vertical '11' frown lines between the eyebrows.
Your patient may not be showing any “bad” side effects such as Spock brows, ptosis, facial asymmetry, or a frozen expression, but if they look the same even after they have had Botox, then it means the treatment didn't work as intended.