What are the symptoms of a bad Botox reaction?

What is botulinum toxin?

Botulinum toxin, better known by its commercial name Botox, is a toxic protein secreted by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The main effect of this natural substance, which causes botulism, is to paralyse muscles by blocking the release of neurotransmitters.

Botulinum toxin is best known for its use in aesthetic medicine, in the form of injections. Its paralysing properties are used to block the muscle contractions responsible for expression lines, or dynamic facial wrinkles. It is therefore a highly effective anti-ageing treatment for localised wrinkles.

Botox is also commonly used to treat hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) and to correct a square jaw, through injections into the masseter muscle.

Which areas of the face are most frequently treated with Botox?

Botox is mainly used to treat facial expression lines, the most common of which are:

• Horizontal forehead wrinkles
• Frown lines, located between the eyebrows
• Crow’s feet, at the outer corners of the eyes

What these wrinkles have in common is that they are caused by the expressions we make most often, which correspond to the contraction of specific muscles; hence their name. Over time, our expressions end up forming permanent creases on the face, contributing to a tired, aged or severe appearance.

Botox can also be injected into the masseter muscle to correct an excessively square jaw. Excessive contraction of this muscle gives the jaw a prominent, masculine appearance. This request generally comes from women who wish to soften the contours of their face.

What are the symptoms of a bad Botox reaction?

After a Botox injection, patients should avoid lying down for 6 hours, and avoid sport and touching the face for 24 hours. If these precautions are not observed, the Botox may diffuse around the treated area, leading, depending on the area affected, to muscle weakness, a drooping eyebrow, or even difficulty swallowing or speaking.

Allergic complications are rarer and present with the following symptoms:

• A skin rash
• Fever
• Dry mouth
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Flu-like symptoms

Unfortunately, no test can detect an allergy to botulinum toxin, so you need to remain vigilant and consult your doctor urgently if such symptoms appear.

Why choose Dr Hayot for Botox injections?

To achieve a natural result with a minimal risk of complications, we strongly recommend choosing an experienced doctor who specialises in aesthetic medicine.

Dr Hayot has been performing Botox injections for over 25 years, and his watchword is naturalness. Whatever the reason for your consultation, injections are given only after a careful examination of the area to be treated, during your initial consultation.

Dr Hayot is an expert in injection techniques targeting dynamic facial wrinkles and the square jaw. In particular, he has perfected the micro-Botox technique, which involves injections into the superficial layers of the skin. This technique presents fewer risks than conventional muscle injections.