“Is Botox Safe?” FDA Approved Cosmetic & Medical Applications for the Drug the Media Loves to Hate

From celebrities to stay-at-home moms, people all over the country use Botox to look years younger. Although you likely know the benefits of Botox, you might still be asking yourself, “Is Botox safe?” It’s hard to ignore media stories showcasing botched Botox results, but it’s important to understand that these cases are rare and often related to poorly trained providers, often non-physicians.

Is Botox Safe? What We Know About Botched Botox Results

When you come across the story of someone who experienced botched Botox results, it’s natural to ask, “Is Botox safe?” If you look closer at these cases, however, you’ll discover that it wasn’t the Botox that caused the botched results but an improperly trained provider. When you receive Botox from a physician with specialized training and experience, such as a board-certified dermatologic surgeon, the procedure is safe and provides patients with excellent cosmetic results.

FDA-Approved Uses for Botox

Botox Cosmetic

Approved for use by the FDA in 2002, Botox Cosmetic is an injectable treatment that temporarily reduces the appearance of frown lines, forehead lines, and crow’s feet. Botox Cosmetic injections contain small amounts of a purified form of botulinum toxin, which works by temporarily relaxing the muscles that cause lines and wrinkles. During treatment, your dermatologic surgeon uses a fine needle to inject Botox directly into the muscles. Within 24 to 48 hours, you can expect a noticeable reduction in lines and wrinkles.

Botox for Hyperhidrosis

In addition to reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles in the upper face, Botox also works to control excessive sweating, a condition known as hyperhidrosis. While it’s normal to sweat when you get too warm, or even if you’re nervous, patients with hyperhidrosis sweat even when the body doesn’t need to cool down. Dr. Hanke was the clinical investigator for Botox prior to FDA approval for hyperhidrosis.

During treatment, your physician uses a fine needle to make a series of injections. Within five days, most patients enjoy a noticeable reduction in sweating. Results typically last six months or more. Is Botox safe for hyperhidrosis? Is it really safe to reduce sweating? Patients have little to no discomfort during treatment, and their ability to cool off naturally when necessary is not hindered.

Other FDA-Approved Medical Uses for Botox

Is Botox safe? Ten FDA approvals and counting shows that it is. Consider these medical applications for Botox:

1. In 2013, the FDA approved Botox to treat overactive bladder. Treatment consists of injecting Botox into the bladder muscle. With treatment, bladder muscles relax, increase storage capacity, and reduce incontinence and urgency.
2. The FDA approved Botox for chronic migraines in 2013. With treatment every 12 weeks, Botox can prevent up to nine migraine days a month.
3. In 1989, the FDA approved Botox for people suffering from strabismus and blepharospasm. Botox works by reducing muscle activity, helping the eyes properly align while controlling excessive eyelid twitching.
4. In 2000, Botox was FDA approved for cervical dystonia, a condition that causes the muscles in the neck to spasm or tighten involuntarily. With Botox, patients can control muscle tension, reduce stiffness and improve head posture.

Is Botox Safe for You?

While Botox is considered safe for most patients, some people aren’t good candidates. This includes people who are allergic to any Botox ingredients or have had a reaction to botulinum toxin injectables. However, this is very rare. During your consultation, we will go over your medical history to ensure that you’re a good candidate prior to treatment.

Is Botox the Aspirin or Antibiotic of Our Time?

Due to its range of possible treatments, many physicians and medical researchers are hailing Botox as the new miracle drug of our time. Uses for Botox are still being investigated by researchers – specifically how it can treat conditions like depression, fibromyalgia, and asthma. Gaining FDA approval takes a considerable amount of time, but it’s possible for new uses of Botox to be discovered in the future.

Safe and Effective Botox at the LASSI

The difference between safe and unsafe Botox ultimately boils down to the provider administering the treatment. Choosing a board-certified dermatologic surgeon like Dr. C. William Hanke at the LASSI will ensure that you’re in good hands. Dr. Hanke not only administers Botox to patients, he trains other physicians in proper injection techniques as well. In the skilled hands of Dr. Hanke, Botox is not only safe, it’s effective.

At the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of Indiana, Dr. Hanke administers Botox for facial anti-aging and as a treatment for hyperhidrosis. Schedule a consultation today to find out if Botox is right for you.