How Safe is BOTOX®?

Safety has got on the top of everybody’s list of concerns with BOTOX®, and of course it is a real and warranted concern. The name sounds really scary and everyone has heard at least one fearful story about BOTOX®, but in reality and in my opinion BOTOX® is one of the safest medicines around – here’s why.

1. Lots of history

Botox has been around since the mid 70’s – that’s over 30 years. It has been used to treat millions of people multiple times. This means that there is a huge depth and breadth of knowledge in the health sector about BOTOX® and its safety. I have never heard of any permanent side effects from the medicine. As with any medicine or treatment there can be side effects, but these are wear off and are discussed in full with our clients before they decide to have treatment.

2. Tiny amounts used

How harmful (or toxic) a medicine is, is very dependent on the amount (dose) taken. There are many examples of medicines that people commonly take that are regarded as very safe such as paracetamol or asprin. These medicines while safe at the advised doses are very toxic at high doses. Even certain food s that we eat daily like salt and sugar, have the potential to be toxic when eaten in large quantities. The amount of BOTOX® used for cosmetic treatments is incredibly small. For example the most common amount used for an adult to treat a frown would be 20-30units. Whereas 300-400 units may be safely used to treat a child with leg spasms.

I have been working with BOTOX® for around 10 years now. During this time I have been having regular BOTOX® treatments myself. I sincerely believe that in the hands of a well trained health professional BOTOX® is one of the safest medicines around. I have seen no evidence that makes me think that BOTOX® may have any long term safety issues and even better the lines around my eyes are better now at 48 than they were when I was 35. Those regular treatments have definitely been worth it for me.

Talk soon,

Jackie

ps - thought you might find this interesting. It's a 9 minute - Video from Close-Up all about Botox.

> Watch video

Need More Info/ Help ?

Email us Your Questions and we'll get back to you with the answers - Or - Phone 0800 438 438 to speak to your friendly local Caci team, who will be able to advise you which treatments or products are right for you.

The top 6 reasons that women use for not having a BOTOX® treatment

I can still remember the first time I heard of BOTOX® as a cosmetic treatment. It was on the 6 O’clock news not long after we opened our first Caci Clinic. That was 1994 – 15 years ago. The news item showed a Canadian doctor using BOTOX® to treat wrinkles around the eyes. We all discussed it at work the next day and decided it couldn’t possibly take off, people wouldn’t ever accept that kind of treatment around their eyes. How wrong we were! These days BOTOX® is an everyday treatment at Caci. It is a treatment that we have all grown to love. Nothing beats it for targeted treatment of lines and wrinkles. For a quick, simple and safe treatment for those that are time poor BOTOX® is the thing that will make the most difference. We read about BOTOX® regularly in the women’s magazines and at Caci those of us over the age of 35 (and some under…) indulge ourselves with regular Botox treatments. So if we are so comfortable with BOTOX® what stops other women from having BOTOX® treatments too.

These are the top 6 reasons that I hear:
 

1. I don’t want people to think I’m vain / I’m worried what others will think.
This has got to be reason number one; even amongst those people who do have BOTOX®. Most of my clients don’t discuss it with friends and partners. Time will change this. More and more women and men are seeing BOTOX® for what it is – a simple cost effective solution to grumpy lines. Eventually it will become commonplace – we will accept it in the same league as colouring our hair or wearing makeup – personal choice.
 

2. Is this the beginning of the end – where do we draw the line with cosmetic procedures? / It seems so excessive.
This reason also has ties to the fear of vanity. We are so conditioned that vanity is a bad thing, yet we know that we are also judged by how we look. How often do we hear comments like “hasn’t she let herself go”. While on one hand we wish that we didn’t “judge a book by its cover” – but we know it happens. I always tell people to address the things that bother them and leave the rest. In the end cosmetic treatments have to be about making you feel better – more confident.

3. My husband/partner doesn’t want me to have it.
I’m surprised in this day and age of enlightened and liberated women how often this reason comes up. Perhaps it is more about keeping the peace, but I’m not sure how well objections to duck shooting excursions and Rugby trips would be taken into consideration.

4. I’m worried about the side effects
On the face of it this would seem a realistic concern, after all BOTOX® is a toxin. However the truth is that most medicine and many foods can be toxic. Toxicity is all about dose. Many many things have both a therapeutic dose and toxic doses and BOTOX® is but one of them. This medicine has a proven safety record for cosmetic injections. In all the time it has been in use we have seen no long-term negative effects. There is always the potential for unwanted effects, which almost always resolve over a period of a few weeks.

5. I don’t really care about the lines and wrinkles
Everyone has personal choice, and I am a firm believer in “ if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” In other words if the wrinkle doesn’t bother you, brilliant – leave it alone.

6. I’m scared of needles
Fear of needles is a very deep-set and fundamental fear and although most people can learn to manage that fear (if they really have to), some never do. Having said that, I still have clients that fear needles so much that they feel physically ill, but it doesn’t stop them from having BOTOX®. Why? Because they love the difference.

So despite the needles, the naysayers, and the judgmental spouses, for the last fourteen years BOTOX® has become more popular with each passing year. There’s no doubt that you know at least one person who has had BOTOX® – they just haven’t told you – yet.

See you soon,

Jackie

Click here for more information on BOTOX® Treatment
 

Remember to Email us Your Questions and we'll get back to you with the answers - Or - Phone 0800 438 438. Thanks!