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Are There Reported Deaths of People Who've Gotten Botox for Cosmetic Purposes?

asked 4 months ago by anon
Latest answer by Julio Garcia, MD
Question viewed 271 times
Tags: death, probability

Some of the fine print in literature about Botox injections can be pretty scary. Hello, death? I'm wondering if anyone who has received Botox for cosmetic reasons has died, or has this only happened in people who've used larger, off-label doses of Botox?

12 answers to Are There Reported Deaths of People Who've Gotten Botox for Cosmetic Purposes?

+1

Botox Cosmetic Safety Record

As the panel member indicated, there are no reported cases of deaths related to the use of Botox Cosmetic. For medicinal use wherein adverse outcomes or an allegation that death was related to the use of medicinal Botox, the factors involved were high doses of product for therapeutic benefits wherein risks vs. benefits were considered, and patients had co-existing medical conditions that attributed to poor health or immunocompromised systems. On a side note, the safety issue is... more
Harold J. Kaplan, MD

Los Angeles Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.celibre.com

+1

Botox death risk

I have not read of a single death from a Botox injection, but I guess if a large amount was injected into a vein, it could cause some issues.
Julio Garcia, MD

Las Vegas Plastic Surgeon
+1

Be careful when injecting the neck with Botox!

It is important to note that the relative potencies of the various botulinum toxin products differ significantly within the toxin types and brands (Botox,Dysport,Xeomin and Myobloc). The potency of botulinum toxin is measured in functional units that correspond to the calculated median dose that would kill a mouse when injected into the stomach. Clinical doses range widely depending on the size of the muscle to be treated, the... more
Arnold W. Klein, MD

Beverly Hills Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Botox cosmetic from Allergan has a proven high safety record

There have been cases in which providers have used non FDA approved botulinum toxin with serious complications. I am not aware of fatalities from cosmetic uses of Allergan Botox Cosmetic or Dysport from Medicis.
Ronald Shelton, MD

Manhattan Dermatologist
+1

Botox deaths

As the others have mentioned, botox for cosmetic use is very safe. I've never heard of a death from it's use in standard cosmetic doses. The news stories about serious consequences of botox injection have been due to the use of much higher doses than normal or the use of non-FDA approved forms of the drug.
Thomas A Lamperti, MD

Seattle Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Death by Botox? Never heard of it.

I am unaware of Botox Cosmetic being the cause of death or even anything more serious that some untintended or asymmetrical weakness near the area of injection. The dose is really, really small and really, really targeted. Jillions and jillions of injections have been done and the safety margin of Botox is really, really, really high. Dr. Prendiville mentions in his answer a case of a doctor injecting some form of botulinum toxin not meant for human use and getting... more
Lisa L. Sowder, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon
+1

Deaths with Botox Cosmetic?

I am unaware of any deaths associated with Botox cosmetic, Dysport, or Xeomin (all form of Botulinum toxin type A used for cosmetic purposes), all of which are utilized in controlled, safe therapeutic doses. A number of years ago, a Physician on the East coast of Florida injected a form of research grade Botulinum toxin type A (not Botox) into his own face in addition to several of his friends. This misadventure landed the whole party in the ICU on ventilators. It is... more
Stephen Prendiville, MD

Fort Myers Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Death after botox

First, you should understand that Allergan (the company that makes the stuff) distinguishes between Botox Cosmetic, which we use for facial wrinkles, and Botox which is used for functional issues like hyperhydrosis, torticollis, headaches, cerebral palsy spasm, and a hole host of other sites. Botox Cosmetic has not had any deaths. I am personally aware of only three times that significant problems hit the news cycle concerning Botox Cosmetic, and in each case,... more
Kevin Robertson, MD

Madison Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.robertsonplasticsurgery.com

+1

Botox Safety

No one has ever died, or for that matter suffered anything more than a temporary nuisance side affect from Botox Cosmetic. By a huge margin, the most dangerous part of getting Botox is the drive to the doctors office.
Louis W. Apostolakis, MD

Austin Facial Plastic Surgeon

www.dr-apo.com

+1

Risks of Botox

Botox and other FDA-approved alternatives (Dysport or Xeomin) are extraordinarily safe. I am not aware of a single death from use of Botox for cosmetic purposes. There have been a few cases of rogue doctors using fake Botox from China and elsewhere who got into trouble and actually gave botulinism to their patients because they injected uncontrolled amounts of toxin. In those cases, they did not use Botox. That is why you should only... more
Richard Ort, MD

Lone Tree Dermatologic Surgeon
+1

Are There Reported Deaths of People Who've Gotten Botox for Cosmetic Purposes?

Not that I am aware of but it's best to send an e-mail to the Botox Cosmetic general info site to ask this question. IMHO, the real risk of complication with Botox and other aesthetic medical treatments and surgeries is the MD not understanding and following the proper aesthetics of facial beauty.
Francis R. Palmer, III, MD

Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon
+1

Botox Cosmetic is very safe

You are right about the wording in the "Medication Guide" that the FDA requires for Botox but below the list of serious possible reactions it also states that none of this has ever happened with Botox Cosmetic. To quote: "There has not been a confirmed case of of spread of toxin effect away from the injection site when BOTOX has been used at the recommended dose to treat severe underarm sweating, blepharospasm, or strabismus, or when BOTOX Cosmetic has been used at the... more
Richard Baxter, MD

Seattle Plastic Surgeon

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