BOTOX^®

Side effects of cosmetic use of BOTOX^® treatments are generally mild and include bruising, tenderness, headache or swelling.  These side effects are transient, meaning they don’t last long.  A small percentage (less than 5%) experience a temporary eyebrow droop.  Sometimes, the medical practitioner may be able to add a small amount of BOTOX^® in opposing muscles to counteract or lessen the droop.  In very rare instances, a patient may temporarily be unable to lift an eyelid (ptosis), which can be treated with prescription eye drops to alleviate symptoms.  Although possible with any medical practitioner, some occurrences of these infrequent side effects are likely a result of injector inexperience. 

BOTOX^® is not recommended for individuals with infections at the injection sites,  neuromuscular disorders such as ALS, myasthenia gravis or Lambert-Eaton syndrome, and is not recommended for use during pregnancy, while breastfeeding or for children under 18.  With almost any medication there can be severe risks; however, for cosmetic use of BOTOX^® severe risks are very rare and include the possibility of anaphylaxis, dysphagia, dyspnea, myasthenia gravis, focal facial paralysis and spatial disorientation.  Be sure to inform your medical practitioner of any medical conditions and any medications you may be taking. 

Dermal Fillers

Side effects of dermal filler treatments are ordinarily mild and include redness, bruising, tenderness and swelling.  As with any injection, there is always the risk of infection, but it is rare with dermal filler treatments.  If the treatment is around the lips or mouth, and the individual has a history of cold sores or herpes virus outbreaks, the medical practitioner may prescribe specific medications like Acyclovir or Zovirax^® to minimize risks of an outbreak as a result of the dermal filler procedure. 

With any of the dermal fillers, it is possible to feel a lump or lumps around the injection area that is not usually visible to the naked eye and will typically resolve with time.

With Sculptra^®, massaging the area after treatment as directed by your medical practitioner will help avoid any lumps.

If Restylane^® is injected too superficially, it may appear as a faint blue line under the skin.  This, too, may persist for a protracted period of time, and is less likely with an injector who has extensive experience with Restylane^® procedures. 

Medical practitioners must avoid injecting Radiesse^® too superficially or too close to the mucous membrane in the mouth so that it will not form any visible lumps.  If this occurs, Radiesse^® should be extracted immediately by the medical practitioner.  Immediate extraction is typically easy; however, if Radiesse^® is injected too superficially and is not extracted immediately, it may be difficult or impossible to extract without excision.  These lumps, in some individuals, may persist for an extended period of time, but are very rare among medical practitioners who have extensive experience with Radiesse^® procedures. 

Dermal filler procedures should usually be postponed if there is an active skin sore, pimple, rash, cyst or infection near the proposed injection site.  In most instances, a patient should wait until the condition has resolved before undergoing a dermal filler procedure. 

In very rare instances, the injected area may react to a filler, becoming inflamed and forming a nodule, papule or granuloma.  In most cases these can be resolved with steroids and antibiotics.  In very rare instances, surgical excision may be necessary to remove a nodule, papule or granuloma.

Also in exceedingly rare instances, a medical practitioner can inject a blood vessel which could cause an embolism, necrosis or damage to the skin or an infarction.  While this is rare in any instance, a novice injector could put a patient at greater risk if the injector does not have a complete understanding of dermal filler injection technique.  For maximum safety, the injections of the fillers should take place at proper depths while the medical practitioner is withdrawing the needle.

Laser treatments, microdermabrasions, chemical peels and other skin treatments are not usually recommended at the time of dermal filler treatments.  Be sure to inform your medical practitioner of any medical conditions, as well as any medications (including anticoagulants or blood thinners) you may be taking.

For more information about potential adverse reactions, please consult the web sites of the appropriate manufacturers and your medical practitioner.