The dangers of anti-ageing injections
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Personal Injury
An unprecedented study by University of Wisconsin Madison has revealed that, despite previous scientific consensus, the paralysing toxins inside Botox can travel to other parts of your body.
What is Botox?
Botox contains the active ingredient ‘botulinum toxin’, which is a neurotoxin injected into the face in very small doses. It works by temporarily paralysing muscle, resulting in a smoothing effect getting rid of those unwanted lines and wrinkles. The injections last for an average of 3-6 months before requiring a top-up dose.
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Karen
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Botox was originally approved for use in the US by the FDA in 2002 on the basis that the muscle-freezing chemical was unlikely to be dangerous to patients as it was unable to travel from the injection site.
Since its approval, procedures involving Botox have boomed, with its main producer Allergan PLC reporting global sales of nearly $2 billion in 2015. These injections are thought of as a ‘safe’ alternative to the traditional cosmetic procedures as they only take a few minutes to administer and have virtually no recovery time.
However, research carried out by the FDA as early as 2009 has suggested that actually the toxin could spread further than the targeted area, and this most recent study proves ‘unambiguously’ that botulinum toxins can travel the body’s neural networks!
What do these results mean?
Currently, the dangers posed by the ability of Botox to move around the body are unknown. However, the results are frightening when you consider that Botulinum toxin is one of the most poisonous substances known to man; in fact a BBC article reported that just two teaspoons of the substance would be enough to kill every person currently living in the UK.
What to do if you have been affected by Botox or other anti-ageing injections
Whilst the long-term effects of these findings are unknown, many people have made successful personal injury claims as a result of botched cosmetic injections. For example, in 2009, former pop star Pete Burns agreed a £450,000 out-of-Court settlement after he suffered a severe reaction to injections of lip filler which resulted in swelling, blisters, discharge and lumps. Similarly, in 2013, 53-year-old Meiska Mamajeska was able to agree a sizeable out of Court settlement after she was left blinded in her left eye following the negligent administration of facial fillers.
Karen Watts, Chartered Legal Executive at Lester Aldridge, comments: “People continue to have Botox treatment despite not knowing or fully understanding the effects that this drug has on our bodies, and I don’t see this changing anytime soon, or until at least there has been some more definitive information. Many people confuse what Botox is, thinking that it is like a filler treatment, when actually all it is doing is freezing your muscle. I would advise for anyone who is thinking of having this treatment to make sure they seek advice and the treatment from a reputable and qualified surgeon, and avoid searching for deals of budget priced Botox treatment.”
17th August 2016
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