It is always important to remember that any botulinum toxin including Botox
is a prescription product and hence there are risks of side effects and complications. Hence, it is important to only have injections performed by a medical professional who can screen for anything in your medical history that would make Botox injections inappropriate such as:
Previous allergy to botulinum toxin
Muscle or nerve conditions such as ALS, myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome
Pregnancy or breastfeeding
Skin infections
There are many potential side effects of Botox. Common problems include immediate redness, swelling, bruising or skin irritation which resolve within a few hours or days. Some people may also experience headaches or flu-like symptoms after the injection. These side effects are generally temporary and resolve after a few days but it is important to have treatment by a doctor (or nurse) who can assess whether they will simply resolve or if you need any aftercare.
There are potential complications that can arise from Botox injections. The most common of these are infections which may require antibiotics or paralysis of the wrong muscle. An example of the latter is if Botox to treat frown lines is incorrectly injected into the muscle that opens the eye, it can result in drooping of the eye. This normally requires the Botox treatment to wear off before it can completely resolve.