Are Botox Parties a Bad Idea?
In 2007, 4.6 million Americans had Botox injections performed for cosmetic purposes. In 2008, the FDA notified the public about potential adverse reactions and death related to Botox injections. But the public has seemed somewhat disinterested overall in the potentially serious problems that can arise from Botox injections. Indeed, the Botox craze has continued and morphed into a variety of new formats that have led some experts to become concerned. The rise of the Botox party is one such format that has inspired controversy.
Cosmetic surgeons all across the country have started doing Botox parties in an attempt to build clientele and create a laid back atmosphere that will draw in new patients. The idea of a Botox party certainly sounds like more fun than an “appointment” but this kind of easy-going take on a fairly serious treatment has motivated Public Citizen, a citizen’s organization, to try to get the FDA to be more vocal about the real risks involved with Botox treatments. It seems that the general public is just not taking heed, and the laid-back nature of the treatment just seems to be going farther and farther.
There are a number of benefits to Botox. The neurotoxic protein can relax muscular contractions which can be useful in a number of medical situations that are not related to cosmetics or aesthetics. It has been used to control uncontrollable blinking, and to help patients who suffer from chronic migraines. The neurotoxin has some surprising applications besides the cosmetic ones that have made it famous. Unfortunately, the benefits of the drug are fairly well-known in comparison with the potential risks.
In large doses, Botox can cause botulism, a serious and rare disorder characterized by paralysis, difficulty swallowing, weakness of the limbs, and breathing problems or respiratory failure and death. Though most individuals do not have to worry about having large doses of Botox and the potential associated effects, they do need to worry about repeated exposure to the drug. Indeed, even with one small dose, there is the possibility that the neurotoxin will migrate to other areas of the body. For example, patients who have fine lines and wrinkles on the forehead treated may find that they develop a droopy eye, or experience respiratory distress later on from the procedure.
Many of the medical and biological problems associated with Botox are not well understood, but a number of doctors have noted that patients with repeated expose to the neurotoxin can end up with a face that looks a bit “frozen”. With repeated doses administered to the same area of the face, patients’ muscles slowly become trained. As such, a patient can lose the ability to make certain facial expressions. For any person working in a profession that relies on making facial expressions this can be a rather serious issues.
Psychologically speaking, patients can get addicted to Botox treatments as well. Doctors admit that anyone with an addictive personality is apt to become addicted to something like Botox. Which brings us back to the problem of Botox parties? Is it really wise to pair cupcakes and socializing with something as serious as Botox? Though most doctors throwing Botox parties don’t serve alcohol, Pavlov would say that Botox parties are a recipe for disaster.
Are Botox Parties a Bad Idea? is a post from: Plastic Surgery News