Posts Tagged ‘botox hazards’
What you might not know about Botox
Posted by: Suzanne Costa in Botox on June 15th, 2010
Botox is becoming an increasingly common replacement for the traditional face lift. Using strategic placements, injections of Botulinum Toxin Type A are administered to various regions of the face and neck, reducing the appearance of brow wrinkles, crow’s feet, laugh lines and more. Botox also has a rich history in the world of medical science, having been used as a treatment for many ailments over the years. It’s a convenient and affordable alternative to face lifts, although not permanent. Here are a few things you should know about Botox.
Depression:
According to Medical News Today.com, “Some studies have indicated that Botox used for aesthetic purposes can help people with mental illness. A study published in Dermatologic Surgery found that treating clinically depressed patients with Botox on the frown lines of their faces actually got rid of their depression.” A trial was conducted on major depression and Dr. Eric Finzi and Dr. Ericka Wasserman found that when they used botox to treat frown lines on the face, the botox actually removed the depression as well.
According to Wasserman and Finzi, “Major depression is sometime resistant to drug therapy and psychotherapeutic treatment approaches.” 10 people were tested for depression and after two months 9 of the people in the trial no longer had any depression.
Medical Problems and Eye Twitching:
Surprisingly Botox is aiding patients with diseases not just cosmetic repairs. At Mohammad Ali Parkinson Center, Botox was used to provide relief for its patients with Parkinson. “Botox is the most powerful nerve toxin known to man and it’s dramatically improving the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s,” says Guillermo Moguel-Cobos, MD, Movement Disorder Neurologist at the Center. “For this type of treatment, it’s a miracle drug.”
Botox is also used as a medical treatment for eye twitches and more. It was a Canadian ophthalmologist, Dr. Jean Carruthers, who first noticed the cosmetic effects of Botox. A patient of her had undergone Botox injection treatment for an eye twitch. When Carruthers saw her patient after treatment commenced, she noticed a significant reduction in the appearance of wrinkles. Soon after, she began to study the use of Botulinum Toxin Type A as a cosmetic treatment option. It is still used today as a method of treatment for a wide variety of muscular control ailments including bell’s palsy.
Botox was shown to aide patients with Bell’s Palsy according to the Melbourne Brain Research Institute (BRI). Bell’s Palsy is a type of paralysis which affects the facial nerves. In the past shock therapy was used with little results. Again Botox is being used for other than removing wrinkles.
Botox’s Hidden Dangers
An overdose of Botox can be very dangerous. As with any drug, overdoses are extremely dangerous at any level. It may take several weeks for the effects to wear off also. It is possible to be overdosed on Botox, and those who find themselves addicted to the treatment may come up with very creative ways of endangering themselves. The results of such an overdose vary from person to person, and could include (but are not limited to) rash, swelling, anaphylaxis, muscular paralysis in the injection site, nerve damage and more. With quick response after a suspected overdose, an antitoxin can be used. Doctor’s supervision is a must during this time also.
Like all drugs, Botox can be mismanaged and sometimes the patient can become addicted to the injections. As it is relatively inexpensive and easily injected, the possibility still exists. It is always best to be under a doctor’s supervision to avoid any overdose or becoming addictive to this medical wonder. Botox is approved by the FDA which does not mean it is necessarily alternative to a facelift or other cosmetic surgery.
NEW FDA RELEASE on Lipodissolve
Posted by: Suzanne Costa in Dangerous Procedures, Face Lifts on April 18th, 2010
The FDA has sent out 7 warning letters to 6 US medical spas (cosmetic medical businesses that operate under the supervision of a licensed health care professional) and one in Brazil. The letters were issued due to the spas issuing false and misleading statements on their websites about Lipodissolve. Lipodissolve is also known as lipozap, lipotherapy, mesotherapy and/or injection lipolysis. Lipodissolve is a procedure where the patient has a series of injections using a cocktail of supplements with the intent of eliminating the fat in the body. It is often used as an alternative to facelifts or liposuction.
According to the FDA, “these Lipodissolve products include statements that they eliminate unwanted fat, have an outstanding safety record, and are superior to other fat loss procedures. Some medical spas also claim that Lipodissolve products can treat medical conditions, such as male breast enlargement, benign fatty growths, and surgical deformities.” There is no current proof that these statements are correct.
The FDA has not approved any drug used in this cocktail which may include: phosphatidylcholine (PC), deoxycholate (DC) and pentoxifylline, lidocaine, aminophylline, calcitonin, isoproterenol, caffeine, vitamins, minerals, and herbal extracts. Not all Lipodissolve cocktails are the same and may have some undocumented supplements or herbs in them.
Side Effects Being Watched by the FDA:
According to the FDA, “The overall safety of Lipodissolve products is not known. There are reports in the scientific literature of complications and adverse effects ranging from injection-site reactions (e.g., prolonged swelling, redness, pain), skin reactions (e.g., panniculitis, ulceration, abscess, necrosis, scarring) and skin infections. These adverse events may be attributed to the drugs injected, injection technique, or the formulation of the solution.”
If anyone has any adverse effects with Lipodissolve, they are asked to contact the MedWatch program (FDA voluntary reporting program). You can reach them by calling 800-FDA-1088 or electronically at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm.
Comparing Apples to Oranges:
Although it is good to keep the public informed, it is very difficult to compare a few side effects to sometimes fatal consequences with liposuction. With liposuction surgery, 25% of the patients have complications and 7% of them are considered major. There have been some fatalities with liposuction and some near fatalities, as with the comedian, Kathy Griffin.
Note: There have never been any documented deaths with Lipodissolve or mesotherapy in the US.
