Is Botox Bad for Your Liver?
Millions of people choose to get Botox each year. They love that they can reduce the look of lines and wrinkles all around the face with a simple injection. It is safe and effective for most patients and can last for several months, reversing many of the signs of aging. But when you are considering whether it is time to give Botox a chance or not, you may worry about whether it is bad for your liver.
Botox is not bad for the liver. While Botox is going to use a toxin that can cause botulism, it is in very small amounts and injected in targeted doses to the face in most cases. When it is injected, it will block signals from the nerves to the muscles, meaning that the muscles will not contract, and wrinkles and fine lines will be improved.
Since the amount of the toxin is so small, it is not going to cause damage to the liver at all, but it will improve the look and appearance of the face, explains NUVO Cosmedispa, LLC, a med spa in Houston.
Many people want to get Botox treatment because it can provide them with youthful-looking skin they can’t get anywhere else. Before getting your Botox treatment, you want to make sure that you are prepared for everything and learn whether it is safe or not for you. Let’s take a look at whether Botox is bad for the liver and some of the other safety concerns that can come up with Botox.
Will Botox Cause Damage to the Liver?
Some people worry that botulism that is found in Botox is going to make them sick and could cause some damage to their liver. While botulism is generally bad and can be life-threatening when ingested, something different happens when you get a Botox injection done in the skin.
The effects of botulism are going to vary based on the amount and the type of exposure to it. Botox is only done in small and targeted doses. The amount of botulism that is found in the treatment is so small that the body is able to process it, and no damage will happen to the liver in the process.
In the smaller doses, Botox is going to be able to block some of the signals that go from your nerves to the muscles, preventing them from contracting, and can improve the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. And all of this can be done without harming the liver at all.
Is Botox Safe?
Now that we know that Botox is not going to ruin the liver, you may wonder whether Botox is going to be safe for you to use. While the botulinum toxin on its own, and in high doses, can be life-threatening, when you get small doses of it, like what is found in Botox, then it is considered completely safe.
In fact, there were only 36 reported cases of adverse effects associated with Botox between 1989 to 2003 to the FDA. And out of those, 13 of the cases could have had more to do with an underlying condition the patient had compared to the drug itself. These are incredibly low numbers when we consider how many people get Botox each year.
In one study done in 2005, it was found that most of the adverse effects that came with this botulinum tox were from therapeutic uses. This could be more due to the underlying condition or because the patient would need higher doses of Botox to see the results they wanted compared to the cosmetic use.
In a more recent study done in 2021, it was included that most of the side effects of Botox were safe and did not last long. Most patients who had side effects would experience things like:
- Skin discoloration
- Pain in the area where Botox was injected
- Drooping brow or eyelid
- Swelling
- Superficial reddening of the skin
Most of these side effects were mild and did not last long. Because of this, Botox is considered safe. However, it is best for you to go to a plastic surgeon or a board-certified dermatologist for your treatment. They will be able to look at your medical history and determine whether Botox is safe for you to receive or not. They can also help during the injections and give advice if you do have a side effect to the treatment.
Choosing Botox for Younger-Looking Skin
For most patients, Botox can be a safe and effective treatment to use. You should always discuss the use of Botox with your healthcare professional ahead of time in case there are any issues that can come up. However, most patients will find that Botox is effective and will give them a youthful-looking appearance without any damage to their skin.
