(1) Can the
Botox® injections be performed the same day than the clinic?
Yes, for most of the conditions. A second clinic is only required when electromyography to select deep muscles is needed for the treatment of writer’s cramp, musician’s cramp and jaw spasms.
(2) Could I go back to work after the injections?
Yes, there is no effect of the injections during the first 3 days. You may have small red marks where the injections have been performed for 1 or 2 hours after the treatment. Bruising is very rare, and happens mainly when patients are taking aspirin or anticoagulants.
(3) Is it very painful?
No, the pain is not an issue for the injection into facial muscles and into the sweat glands in the armpits. It’s an issue mainly for the hands sweating when injecting into the palms, but ice is used to minimise the pain and in the eyelids after blepharoplasty (local anaesthetic cream is used).
Back to top
(4) Am I going to be tired after?
Usually not, but in very rare cases after large dosages of
Botox®, patients have described tiredeness and flu-like symptoms 1 week after the injections and lasting 2 to 3 weeks.
Back to top
(5) What happen after the injection?
Nothing immediately, the effect will start 3 days later and the maximum effect will occur 8 to 10 days after the injection.
The patient is ask to come back for a follow up clinic 4 to 6 weeks after the initial injection to check if this protocol of injection (dose, site) is optimal and if the protocol needs to be adjusted for the next session.
Back to top
(6) Can I be pregnant at the time of the injections?
No, Botox® injections are not adviseable for pregnant woman.
(7) What are the side effects, which can occur after the injections?
The side effects are due to the Botox® diffusing to adjacent muscles from the site of injection. They occurred about 10 days after the injection. The location of the injection will determine the type of side effects. After injections around the eyes, the risk will be a droopy eyelid; after injections of the forehead the risk is a slight droop or the change of shape of one of the eyebrows; after injections around the neck, the risk is swallowing difficulties, and choking; after injections into the arm the risk is weakness of adjacent fingers or the wrist. All these side effects are always transient and will disappear in 4 to 6 weeks time.
The dose and the injection technique are important in reducing the risk of side effects. Injections in the arm and in the deep jaw muscles need to be more precise and may require to be guided by electromyography.
Back to top
(8) Is there any risk to use
Botox® for many years?
2 studies published in peer neurological journals had shown that the
Botox® injections after up to 15 years were still as efficient as the first initial injections in patients treated for facial movement disorders. A small proportion (9% in American series and 2% in European series) became resistant, that is to say vaccinated to
Botox®, and did not benefit any more from the injections. Resistance to
Botox® occur mainly after large dosages of Botox®, administered at short intervals (less than 9 weeks ).
Back to top
|
