The FDA is now officially warning people that using Botox, whether for cosmetic purposes or for muscle spasming purposes and other less conventional uses for the originally cosmetic purpose, there are small chances that there could be serious side effects, even some fatal (which is indeed very rare). This drug was approved by the FDA for cosmetic purposes as an anti aging tool against wrinkles since, when injected into localized sites on the face, it relaxes the muscles that cause wrinkles such as crows feet, smile lines, laugh lines, and forehead creases. Those smooth foreheads you see in Hollywood even on forty something actresses? Most likely due to Botox!
The most incidents they have seen that are serious are in children that have cerebral palsy, and have recieved injections of Botox to avoid the muscle spasms that are uncontrollable which are a hallmark of cerebral palsy. What happens is that the toxin travels from the site that it was injected at, and causes muscle paralysis or partial paralysis in areas that it’s not supposed to. This can result in shallow breathing, labored swallowing and other potentially very dangerous side effects.
The FDA has said that while Botox injections have not been specifically approved for the use in patients with cerebral palsy, they do not want to discourage it’s use for them since this does really help a lot of young patients with uncontrollable muscle spasms, but they do want them and their parents to understand the risks involved with this choice in treatment. As far as actual Botox use for cosmetic purposes, there have not really been that many difficulties reported, perhaps because of the age of the patients as well as the fact that the injection sites are very shallow and have a smaller risk of migrating.
I have to admit, that as I age and the creases become more noticeable around my eyes, I’ve found Botox to become a bit more appealing, but after reading things like this and the fact that they really don’t have much long term data about possible long term side effects of Botox, it still makes me hesitant. I think I’m sufficiently keeping the signs of aging at bay by using my preferred choice of anti aging and wrinkle treatments, so I’ll keep taking my chances going natural for now!
