Can Botox cause an allergic reaction 2 months after injections? My lips have swollen up 3 times the size (Photo)

Question

Camille Cash, MD · Answer

Botox injections would not cause an allergic reaction two months after treatment.  I recommend seeing your primary care doctor for evaluation of your swelling.

Alex Eshaghian, MD, PhD · Answer

Thank you for your question and for sharing your photograph nazatda. I understand your concern. Botox is a purified protein used to address wrinkles associated with facial expression. When injected into the skin Botox will relax the muscles and smoothen out the overlying wrinkles. The most common areas of treatment are in the upper face. These include the horizontal lines seen on the upper forehead when one raises the brows, the vertical lines seen between the brows when one frowns (frown lines), and the crow's feet seen around the eyes when one smiles.It is difficult to make an assessment without a formal exam where the entire medical history is reviewed. However, I hope the information provided here is useful.The safety record of Botox is well established. The product has been used for over 20 years for a variety of treatments with minimal side effects. Botox is amongst the safest treatments for treating facial wrinkles.With any injection, there are risks such as pain, bleeding, bruising, redness, swelling, tenderness, and infection. We take special precautions to minimize these risks such as using a painless technique. We also treat bruises with a laser as early as the next day. Bruises usually resolve within two weeks if untreated. After a laser treatment bruises usually resolve in 1-3 days, but may still take two weeks for full resolution. In addition to these risks, with Botox there is also a risk that the product spreads or diffuses to nearby structures. Spread to nearby muscles can lead to side effects such as the temporary appearance of droopy eyelids or a temporary asymmetric smile.While Botox is one of the safest treatments offered, there are some situations where it is not appropriate. These include anyone who has an allergy to any of the inactive ingredients or who has had an allergic reaction to any botulinum product including Botox, Dysport, Xeomin, or Myobloc. The safety and efficacy of Botox has not been established in women who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or breast feeding. Therefore, women in these categories are advised to wait until breast feeding is completed prior to having a Botox treatment. Botox should not be placed in the skin on the site of an infection. Those who are taking an aminoglycoside antibiotic, an anesthetic, D-penicillamine, antimalarials, or immunosuppressants should not be treated, nor should those who have undergone chemotherapy within the previous six months. It is important to avoid blood thinners before and after a treatment. These include both prescription and non-prescription medications such as warfarin (coumadin), aspirin, ibuprofen, alcohol, fish oil, vitamin E, and ginko biloba. Those with conditions that affect muscles and nerves such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease), myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome should not undergo Botox treatments.With any injection, there are risks such as pain, bleeding, bruising, redness, swelling, tenderness, and infection. We take special precautions to minimize these risks such as using a painless technique. We also treat bruises with a laser as early as the next day. Bruises usually resolve within two weeks if untreated. After a laser treatment bruises usually resolve in 1-3 days, but may still take two weeks for full resolution. In addition to these risks, with Botox there is also a risk that the product spreads or diffuses to nearby structures. Spread to nearby muscles can lead to side effects such as the temporary appearance of droopy eyelids or a temporary asymmetric smile.If I had a patient who presented like the person in this photograph I would say that the swelling in the lips is unrelated to the Botox treatment and recommend that she consult her primary care provider.After a Botox treatment, I recommend that my patients avoid heat exposure, alcohol consumption, and strenuous exercise for 24 hours and not lie down flat for four hours. This is because all of these activities may possibly lead to the movement of the product and consequent side effects such as droopy eyelids as described above. Although there have been no definitive studies shown that these actually occur and some physicians do not provide such aftercare instructions, in the absence of data I err on the side of caution and recommend that my patients avoid such activities.Please consult with a doctor for specific recommendations. Good luck!

Jill C. Fichtel, MD · Answer

Thanks for sharing your image.  You should seek consult with a dermatologist to evaluate your lip swelling.  Botox injections will not cause recurrent lip swelling months after the procedure has been done.

Alix J. Charles, MD · Answer

Thanks for your question.  Your photo looks like you could have a condition called angioedema.  You should be evaluated by an experienced board certified dermatologist. This has nothing to do with your Botox. Best of luck to you.

Damon Thomas, FRACS · Answer

An allergy to Botox is very rare and at 2 months since your injectables it is almost certainly unrelated. Botox lip injection is not a standard procedure to have done either.
You should consult your local doctor to try and work out what is going on.
Hope you get to the bottom of it.

Can Botox cause an allergic reaction 2 months after injections? My lips have swollen up 3 times the size (Photo)

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Can Botox cause an allergic reaction 2 months after injections? My lips have swollen up 3 times the size (Photo)

Answers (5)

Answer: Botox and Delayed Allergic Reaction

Answer: Botox and Delayed Allergic Reaction

Answer: Botox

Answer: Botox

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Botox

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.