Yes. The diluted form of botulinum toxin A used in BOTOX® Cosmetic is safe when used in the recommended amounts by a skilled injector.
If you understand how it works, you can understand how safe BOTOX® Cosmetic is. Botulinum toxin A works by entering nerves responsible for muscle action. It enters the nerve ending and prevents it from sending signals to the muscle by inhibiting the release of a specific chemical. Over time, the treated nerve grows a new nerve ending that allows it to send uninhibited signals. Over a longer period of time, the original nerve ending regains its ability to transmit signals and the secondary nerve ending retracts, leaving the nerve exactly as it was before treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic.
You can also understand how safe BOTOX® Cosmetic is by looking at the number of safe BOTOX® Cosmetic treatments performed every year. BOTOX® Cosmetic is the most popular cosmetic medical treatment in the world. In the US alone, over 5 million BOTOX® Cosmetic and similar injections were performed last year. Overall, between 20 and 30 million botulinum injection procedures have been performed since 2000, and in that time, only one death has been allegedly associated with BOTOX® Cosmetic. By comparison, more than 60,000 deaths every year are associated with prescription drugs, and from 450-500 every year die from acetaminophen (Tylenol) alone.
By comparison, BOTOX® Cosmetic is very safe.
To learn more about the safety and effectiveness of BOTOX® Cosmetic, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Antonio J. Gayoso at Gayoso Plastic Surgery in the Tampa area.
