A study, from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, found that Botox injections became the most popular non-invasive cosmetic procedure in 2020, with 4.4 million procedures performed.
A simple Google search pulls up tons of articles insinuating that the procedure is generally safe (of course), but such a frequent procedure beckons the question: how safe is it, truly?
Many people are unaware that Botox can, and does, affect the entire body. Which makes sense when you're injecting a neurotoxin.
I personally have several issues with Botox, starting with the ingredients.
Botox, quite literally, is an injectable drug made from a neurotoxin, botulinum toxin type A. This toxin is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. (You know, the bacterium that causes life threatening Botulism 😬)
Botox ingredients include:
🚩Botulinum Type A
🚩Human Albumin
🚩Sodium Chloride
Human albumin is a common protein in blood plasma which is produced by the liver.
Sodium chloride is known to be poisonous itself, too, and is used in the dilution process. "Botox is supplied in a solid form. They come in capsules which have the botulinum toxin type A in them, so they obviously need to be diluted so it can be injected into the body. A saline solution (a sterile solution of salt and water) is used in the dilution process which is how salt (sodium chloride) ends up in Botox." https://cosmetbeauty.com/botox-ingredients/
When injected, Botox blocks signals from your nerves to your muscles. This prevents the targeted muscles from contracting, which can ease certain muscular conditions and "improve" the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
🚩Many studies have proven that botox can affect the entire body, including the brain. Repeat botox sessions, especially.
⚠️"For instance, some research shows Botox manages to make its way into the central nervous system ➡️ https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/04/150416094051.htm
⚠️Additionally, studies on rat found that when the active ingredient in Botox was injected into one side of the brain it could be found on the opposite side of the brain. Even Botox injected into the rats’ whiskers showed up in the brain.
⚠️A Swiss study on humans also found Botox affects the areas of the brain associated with the hands. This is because the face and the hands occupy areas of the brain that neighbor one another. The researchers found that the paralyzing effect of Botox on the face inhibited sensory input to the brain in this area, thus altering brain mapping of the hands.
⚠️A study in 2011 found subjects with Botox injections were less able to read the emotions of others compared to those who had received different types of fillers for wrinkle reduction. Additional research suggests Botox also makes it more difficult for a person to feel their own emotions. In other words, Botox injections can hinder the ability to empathize, read emotions in other people, and even feel your own emotions.
🚩The consumer watchdog group Public Citizen found Botox was linked to 180 life-threatening conditions, 87 hospitalizations, and 16 deaths during a 10-year period. Because Botox doesn’t have much regulation, it is believed harmful side effects go largely under reported.
🚩Other adverse side effects from Botox that have been reported include difficulty swallowing, respiratory compromise, generalized muscle weakness, a drooping eyelid, pseudoaneurysm of the frontal branch of the temporal artery, flesh-eating disease, sarcoidal granuloma, Fournier gangrene, and abnormal curvature of the spine in the neck, and death from anaphylactic shock." https://www.neurolifecenter.com/2019/04/26/studies-show-botox-injections-impact-the-brain/
