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Can Botox Cosmetic Affect the Brain?

I just read in the about how new studies are saying that Botox Cosmetic can affect the brain in mice. I am freaking out! Is this for real? I've had a lot of Botox over the past 5+ years...should I stop getting Botox injections? How do I know if the Botox Cosmetic has affected my brain? If it has, can I fix it? Need more info please!

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side effects

Botox is safe for the brain

The myriad of clinical trials and millions of actual injections have shown us that Botox has a better safety profile for humans than Aspirin. While the study you read about was published, it did not involve humans and did not use Botox Cosmetic. While we would like to think that those publicizing this study were doing so for the common good, we think it is more likely that they wanted an increase in readership or viewership and chose to sensationalize the study. Don't worry, Botox is safe... more

Doctor's Website

Harold J. Kaplan, MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

Don't Worry - I inject patients with Botox every day and I get injected every 4 months

The article in the Journal of Neuroscience earlier this year drew great attention to Botox. The most attention was paid by news media outlets sensationalizing the topic and generating fear to help sell their news. The studies were conducted in rodents, not humans. Additionally, the formulation of Botox used in the studies is not the same as manufactured by Allergan. Millions and millions of people have had Botox without any problems. The handful of cases reported with adverse effects of... more

Doctor's Website

David Shafer, MD

New York Plastic Surgeon

ASPS

Unlikely Problem for Humans

Hello Devora, Please be at ease about Botox and your brain! The study you are referring to was Published in the Journal of Neuroscience earlier this year. The study was conducted in Italy and involved scientists injecting Botox into mice and rats by their whiskers and portions of the brain itself (hippocampus). The study found that certain proteins that result from the actions of Botox were detected in the brain tissue of the mice and rats. The theory is that the Botox travels from the... more

Kamran Jafri, MD

New York Facial Plastic Surgeon

BOTOX and the brain

I agree that BOTOX should not be injected in high doses into the brains of mice and rats ;) Presuming that you are not a rodent, there has been no scientific data or clinical experience to suggest any danger to the human brain.