Published on March 1, 2023
Botox is a great way to reduce wrinkles and restore your youthful appearance. But is there such a thing as too much botox?
As a general rule of thumb, too much of something can be bad – including botox. Remember that it’s derived from a type of neurotoxin. So too much of it can lead to side effects of varying severity.
Unfortunately, it’s pretty easy to get a botox overdose. This usually happens if you have an inexperienced (or unlicensed) aesthetician who can’t be bothered with proper dosages. Though, sometimes, it can also happen if you get touch-up injections too soon.
If you’re worried that you might have had too much botox, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ll delve deeper into the risks associated with botox and what to do in case of botox overdose.
But first, let’s refresh our knowledge of how botox works.
How Does Botox Work?
Botox is a non-invasive medical procedure typically used to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It works by blocking certain nerve receptors, which prevents the muscles from moving and contracting. This, in turn, prevents the skin from creasing, thus, preventing the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.
Not many people know, however, that Botox got its name from its primary ingredient: Botulinum toxin. It’s a type of neurotoxin that paralyzes the muscles. It’s also one of the most poisonous substances ever known.
With that, it’s not hard to imagine why getting too much botox can pose certain health risks. However, the dosage used in most botox injections is too small to cause any harm. That’s why botox injections are generally safe. But if abused, it can cause several unwanted side effects.
Can Botox Kill You?
So far, there has been no documented case of someone dying from a botox injection for cosmetic purposes.
Yes, there have been reports of people dying after getting a botox injection. But it’s determined to be caused by an allergic reaction to the other ingredients in the botox injection rather than the botulinum toxin itself.
Besides, as mentioned, the approved dosage for cosmetic botox injections is too small to cause any harm. According to studies, the lethal dose of botox for an average human adult is 90 to 150 nanograms (ng). But a typical vial of 100U Botox injection has 0.73 ng of botulinum toxin.
In short, it takes at least 123 vials of 100U injections to kill someone. But for cosmetic purposes, the maximum cumulative dose for botox is only 400U in a 3-month interval.
All these numbers suggest there’s about zero chance that you’ll die from botox poisoning.
What Happens If You Had Too Much Botox?
Though botox can’t kill you, it can still cause unwanted side effects, especially if improperly administered. Some of the most common ones are:
- headaches
- bruising
- eye dryness
- severe tearing
- common cold/flu-like symptoms
- tenderness or swelling around the injection site
- numbness
- drooling
- crooked smile
- droopy eyelids
In rare instances, some patients have also reported:
- difficulty swallowing
- changes in their voice
- difficulty in closing their eyelids
- vision problems
- difficulty breathing
- loss of bladder control
- heart palpitations
As with any procedures that involve needles and breaching the skin barrier, infection is also a possibility. Though this, too, is quite rare.
How Often Should You Get Botox?
Your ideal botox treatment frequency usually depends on certain factors. This includes your age and the health concern you’re trying to address.
The effects of botox typically last between three to four months. That’s why most people usually get botox once every 4 months.
What To Do In Case of Botox Overdose
Symptoms of botox overdose can take some time to show up. But if you’re experiencing the symptoms mentioned above (especially the severe ones), don’t hesitate to seek medical help.
If it’s an emergency like severe palpitations or breathing difficulty, call 911. Otherwise, call your doctor and explain your symptoms. You can also reach out to your local poison center.
Remember that in cases like this, time is of the essence. If you don’t seek help right away, the symptoms may get worse.
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About The Author
Judy Ponio has been writing about health and beauty topics for years. As an experienced writer, she makes sure to only use information from reputable sources and peer-reviewed studies. Her writing has also appeared on various US-based sites.
