The Misconceptions about Botox

Author: Dr. Patrick Treacy

Botulinum neurotoxin, which was once called the 'most poisonous poison on the planet'has recently seen a surge in the number of medical conditions that this elegant and specific chemical can treat. In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the pharmaceutical comes in two differing forms, Botox ® and Dysport ®. Botox was the original word patented by Allergan but it has now crept into the common use amongst the public for both. Within the first few months of 2006 the application of this novel compound was extended to use in urinary incontinence, voice tremors, prostatic disease and then came news that it could be used to treat depression. Despite these increasing novel uses of the compound many people are still frustrated by the many misconceptions surrounding it. There is not a day passes but someone asks me "is it a toxin?" "Will it give me a glazed look?" "Will it leave me expressionless?"

Misconception No 1: Botox injections are highly toxic

Nearly every worthwhile drug in medicine is a diluted solution of a toxin. If you had a major cardiac event today and ended up in hospital most of the drugs that would be used to save your life, digoxin, atropine, lignocaine or adrenalin are all chemicals extracted from plants, microbes or animals that are used in a controlled fashion. Some drugs such as digoxin are extracted from the foxglove plant can actually stop your heart beating if they are used in a strong enough strength. If we dilute them they have less effect but could stop your heart from beating uncontrollably and allow it to beat normally. Other drugs such as atropine are extracted from deadly nightshade can block the nerves that slow down your heart and allow it to beat normally again. Roman girls put a diluted form of this compound into their eyes to dilate them and make their suitors feel they were chemically attracted to them. In a similar way, Botox is a mild dilution of botulinum toxin, which can cause a serious form of food poisoning. The safety of Botox is also ensured by its selective administration into a certain muscle or a group of muscles, which leaves it largely incapable of action outside the given area. Remember we give new born babies who suffer cerebral palsy or muscle spasms much higher doses every day without evidence of problems. Many physicians would agree that aspirin and antibiotics are potentially more harmful than Botox. However like any drug, anaphylaxis can occur and Botox procedures should be performed by trained physicians in proper clinics with adrenaline on standby.

Misconception No 2 Patients can develop an "addiction" to Botox injections

This misconception was based on a recent UK psychological study, which was apparently based on a survey of clients at eighty-one clinics. The study reached the conclusion that more than forty per cent of patients regularly using Botox expressed a "compulsive motive" for doing so. The research was conducted by Dr Carter Singh, a psychologist, and Martin Kelly, a plastic surgeon with London Plastic Surgery Associates. The results of the study showed that about forty percent of people who have resorted to Botox injections to reduce wrinkles were very prone to request another such treatment in the near future. Those who had received five or more injections displayed more "addictive traits" than those who had not. However, I personally feel the study was totally unscientific and as I stated in a press release at the time was "nothing but a PR exercise for the authors involved". We really have to ask some simple questions. Firstly, "how could a procedure that a patient requires only twice a year be labeled as addictive?" The authors apparently forget to mention that "if the patient has the procedure more often they build up antibodies against the pharmaceutical and it stops working". "This is something akin to an alcoholic having wine turning into water after the second drink…I don't think alcohol addiction would last very long!" As well as that the medical definition of addiction means it has to involve repeated use of a substance or behaviour despite the patient being aware that it is detrimental to their health. There is no evidence that Botox has any detrimental side effects, in fact to the contrary it has a built in mechanism to protect the patient by the use of new nerve regeneration". In essence, this type of tawdry science appears from time to time and should not get a public airing. It only serves to confuse the public and give these people some short lived glory that the rest of responsible medical doctors takes many years to diffuse.

Misconception No 3: Botox injections are a painful experience

On the contrary, an injection of Botox is usually quite painless. The needle that is used to administer Botox is tiny, in fact it is the same size used by diabetics every day to give insulin. Those who were given Botoxinjections compare their sensations to those experienced during an insect bite. Some patients do prefer applying an anaesthetic cream to the face about fifteen minutes before the procedure and this totally eliminates any possibility of pain. There is no pain after injection as Botox works as a kind of anaesthetic itself.

Misconception No 4:Botox injections cause headaches

On the contrary, although Botox can cause headaches in about 2-3% of people, it actually relieves them in the vast majority of patients treated. It has been known for some time that Botox can help prevent and treat migraine sufferers. To do this, doctors usually inject it into various trigger points that can differ from patient to patient. The duration of action of Botox in migraine prevention varies from about 10 to 13 weeks and the onset of effect may take a few weeks. Ideally, the medication should not be administered more frequently than every 3-4 months. I was interested to see a recent paper by Brazilian dermatologists Dr Bertha Miyuki Tamura and Dr Bobby Chang (Dermatol Surg 2003) who used known acupuncture points to achieve temporary relief of pain in acute migraine. They gave the treatment to 10 women who regularly suffered from severe and prolonged migraines and after 2 weeks, 90% were pain free and one had minimal pain. The results lasted between 4-6 months. This is about the same level of effect that we see in clinical practice.

Misconception No 5: Botox injections distort a facial expression

This is one of the most common misconceptionsabout Botox procedures. Many people seem to forget that the resultant expression on a patient's face is really dependent on the skill of the proceduralist and has little to do with the Botox. This means that the ability of the brow to raise or lower, the ability of the frown to move or not, the ability of the crows feet to disappear or slightly remain is usually dependent on two factors, the amount of Botox added and to the location to where it is added.

Accordingly, facial expressions can be distorted only in case of an overdose or misdirected injection of the drug. By analogy, if your house flooded after installing a new washing machine, surely you would blame the plumber and not the water company. The bottom line is those who want to look five years younger are strongly recommended to use services provided by certified experienced doctors rather than attending home-based charlatans who frequent beauty parlours and salons.

Misconception No 6: Botox injections can cure depression

The idea that Botox can cure depression came from a study in the May 2006 issue of the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery , where Dr. Eric Finzi from the Chevy Chase Cosmetic Center in Marylandclaimed to have treated clinically depressed patients with Botox. This led to further exposure on Good Morning America, where he claimed that by taking away the ability to frown, he was breaking a neurological feedback mechanism to the brain and thereby taking away the ability of his patients to feel depressed. I must say that I was initially heartened to see the study of the treatment of depression with Botox as many doctors will reveal a similar picture from their patient's own experience. I examined Finzi's paper in the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and was concerned that this doctor used a very small number of patients, lacked a control group, had no psychiatrist assessing the patients and even allowed the patients to assess themselves. I noted in an accompanying commentary, the editor Alastair Carruthers, cited a series of flaws with the study and concluded that its finding must be considered anecdotal. It is of more than passing interest that this doctor has now filed a patent concerning this treatment. If Botox does relieve depression then this is not the paper to prove it.

Misconception No 7: Botox injections can create new wrinkles

This misconception started back in 2002 when Dr David Becker, an assistant professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, suggested people unconsciously recreate facial expressions in the area where the facial muscles have been paralysed. His work was published in Cosmetic Dermatology (2002; 12: 35-36). The doctor noted increased wrinkle prominence and the development of fine lines following botulinum toxin therapy for vertical frown lines. His feeling that paralysis of a set of muscles in one area might lead to recruitment of other nearby muscles to compensate was not shared by Allergan (the maker of Botox) who immediately repudiated the results. Other doctors around the world including Dr Robert Sinclair, from the Australasian College of Dermatologists, stated that he had also seen the effects of muscle recruitment after Botox was used in the forehead and frown area. Many other doctors disagreed and in the end Dr. Becker retracted his findings somewhat afraid he was being misquoted. My own impression after treating tens of thousands of patients is that it probably happens to a lot of patients to a very minor extent, but because you can usually easily treat the new muscular activity there is little to worry about. The doctor involved later said "Doctors can minimise the risk of new wrinkles by altering their technique to include potential accessory muscles when rectifying an abnormal expression — so you weaken all muscles, not just the ones responsible for the expression.'

Misconception No 8: Botox injections should be administered only to persons above 40

It is difficult to know where this misconception came from or in reality if it really still exists amongst young people in most developed parts of the world. The feeling possibly exists amongst an older generation who are less exposed to media and peer pressure. These people often feel it is a big event to approach a doctor who get Botox and wish to keep it a secret known only to themselves. In reality, the average age of starting Botox in the US has now dropped to 19 years and Australia is considering legislation not to allow patients below 18years to have it freely available. So, why is there such a generational difference in attitudes to Botox?. It is really simple…young people now realise that it is a lot easier to tackle a problem at its early stage and if they start early they will not develop wrinkles at all. If you start early then you probably get a better response and require less to continue into your later life.

Misconception No 9: Botox will be less effective if it is used to often

There is evidence that about 5% of patients injected continually with BOTOX® can develop neutralizing antibodies that can cause the injections to stop working. The chances of this happening depend on large doses being injected, repeat or booster injections given within four weeks of treatment. There is a new form of German Botox coming onto the market in early 2007, which has a lower potential for neutralizing antibody production because of its decreased protein load. Hopefully this will minimise the problem of non-response.

Misconception No 10: There are risky side effects from Botox injections

This is a total misconception as side effects are uncommon, generally mild, and generally transient. These side effects include nausea, fatigue, malaise, flulike symptoms, and rashes at sites distant from the injections.

 

The needle used can cause some side effects including bruising, pain, redness, headache and local numbness. The most common bothersome side effect is unwanted weakness in a muscle usually around the eye. Fortunately, this usually resolves in a few weeks and in the worst case scenario may last until the action of the toxin usually disappears in four to six months.

Misconception No 11: There is no effective treatment if a brow or an eyelid drops after Botox injections and patients have to wait until it wears off.

This is a misconception to an extent, although any person who has had to sit out four months with a lowered eyelid may think differently. Lowering of the upper brow or eyelid (ptosis) can occur after injection in the frown muscles. This may occur as late as 2 weeks after injection and is more common in older patients receiving Botox for the first time. Patients are usually instructed to avoid rubbing the area. Some doctors feel that actively contracting the muscles under treatment may increase the uptake of toxin and decrease its diffusion. Most lowered brows tend to settle after about 4 weeks. Elevated brows can easily be corrected. It is more difficult to treat eyelid drop, although many patients are responsive to a special adrenergic agonist eyedrop called apraclonidine. This medicine causes specific Müller muscles to contract but it should not be used in patients with documented sensitivity. Phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine) 2.5% can be used when apraclonidine is not available. Neo-Synephrine is contraindicated in patients with narrow-angle glaucoma and in patients with aneurysms. Use 1-2 drops 3 times daily until the ptosis resolves. Doctors will try and minimise this happening by placing injections 1 cm above the eyebrow and not crossing the line of the pupil.

Misconception No 12: Patients are not allowed to lie down for four hours after receiving a Botox injection

This is probably a misconception although many doctors still give patients this instruction. The perceived logic comes from the fact that lowering of the eyelid (p tosis) is thought to be caused by migration of toxin through the orbital septum. Patients are thereby instructed to remain in an upright position for 3-4 hours following injection. However, if this was the only reason then patients should really stand on their heads to prevent this type of diffusion. In general I don't tend to give patients this instruction but do tell them to avoid manual manipulation of the area. Active contraction of the muscles under treatment may increase the uptake of toxin and decrease its diffusion.

Misconception No 13: Patients are not allowed to fly after receiving a Botox injection

This is also probably a misconception although many doctors still give patients this instruction. The perceived logic comes from the fact that different cabin pressures could contribute to causing migration of toxin through the orbital septum. Patients are thereby instructed not to fly following injection. However, cabin pressures are generally the same as the air pressure on the ground. It is the air pressure outside the cabin that is different. In general I treat many patients from overseas and usually don't tend to give patients this instruction but do tell them to avoid manual manipulation of the area. Active contraction of the muscles under treatment may increase the uptake of toxin and decrease its diffusion. If they are flying long haul, I tell them to wait one day.

Misconception No 14: Patients will always look better after Botox injections.

This is a misconception as weakness of the lower eyelid can occur following injection of a muscle in this area called the lateral orbicularis oculi. This weakness then allows the fat pad under the eye to bulge out causing the patient to appear more tired than they were before they had the Botox injections. This effect will eventually disappear but it will last the four to six months that the Botox has effect.

Misconception No 15: Botox injections are dangerous if given during pregnancy

This is another misconception. From evidence from millions of people all around the world, women who inadvertently were injected during pregnancy thus far have had uneventful deliveries, and to date no fetal abnormalities have been attributed to botulinum toxin. Nonetheless, it is a category C medication, and delay of injections is recommended until pregnancy is complete and breastfeeding has ended

Misconception No 16: Botox injections are good for facial lines only

This is a total misconception that is still held by a few people. In fact many of my patients are surprised to learn that young infants with muscular spasms and cerebral palsy receive higher concentrations of Botox than they do. They are also surprised to learn that it was actually doctors who were treating muscular spasms that discovered it had an anti-wrinkle effect as a beneficial side effect. In reality Botox is now used to treat sweating, migraine, incontinence, spasms, strokes, multiple sclerosis, anal fissures, writers cramp, cross eyes, cerebral palsy, prostate disease as well as chronic back and neck pain.

Misconception No 17 : Botox is not yet used to treat back pain

On the contrary, there are many UK and Irish doctors already using Botox for this clinical indication. Studies began when researchers from the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., studied 31 patients with lower back pain. (Bahman Jabbari: Neurology, 2001). All of the patients had experienced pain for at least six months, with an average of six years, and were taking standard medications, which they continued to take during the study. Patients received either Botox injections or injections of a saline solution. Three weeks after the injections, 73% of those who received Botox injections said the amount of pain they experienced had gone down by 50% or more. Two months later, 60% of those who received Botox said their pain was still decreased by 50% or more.

Misconception No 18: Botox has little effect on underarm sweating

On the contrary, Botox has nearly a 100% effect on excessive sweating that can last up to a year. The condition known as hyperhydrosis is caused by the overstimulation of sweat glands by the autonomic nerves. Other sites commonly affected include the palms, soles, back and face. Botox injections now have been cleared for this use in most western countries are extremely effective in treated the condition. Although I have been treating patients for underarm sweating since 2001, the earliest publication that I can find relating to the subject is a study at the University of California San Francisco ( Derm Surgery 2002). The study involved twelve patients who received injections of Botox® directly in the underarms. Amounts of the medicine used were similar to those used for wrinkles and frown lines. All patients reported decrease of underarm sweating within 48 hours of the treatment. Further follow-up suggested the treatment is effective for five to twelve months.

Misconception No 19: Different types of Botox last for different periods in patients

In the United Kingdom and Ireland, the pharmaceutical comes in two differing forms. One is known as Botox ® and the other Dysport ®. There is anecdotal suspicion amongst many doctors and patients that the UK variety Dysport ® lasts six months while the US based formulation Botox ® lasts four months. Various clinical studies have shown no difference between the two groups. However, my own experience would tend to favour the patients anecdotal beliefs.

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About the Author

Dr. Patrick Treacy won "Professional Journalist of the Year" in 2003 for his award winning column "The Cutting Edge" published weekly in the Irish Medical Times. His lecture series on minor surgery was published in Modern Medicine of Ireland Dr. Treacy is a cosmetic columnist with Ireland's Rejuvenate Cosmetic Surgery Magazine, Health & Living Magazine as well as the UK Aesthetic Medicine and MediSpa Destinations Magazines. Dr. Treacy is regularly invited to speak about Cosmetic Medicine on Irish breakfast television (TV3), RTE TV and Discovery Health and has been an expert panelist with the BBC World Services on many occasions.