What options do I have if I'm allergic to Botox? (Photo)

Thank you for your question. I firmly believe that Botox allergies are not actually a reaction to the product but may be due to another factor. That being said, if you are allergic to Botox it is very likely you may also be allergic to Dysport or Xeomin as well. I would suggest consulting with a physician in person to assess the best alternative for you. 

if someone thinks they're allergic to botox, one important question to answer, is if a numbing cream had been applied prior to the procedure if that was the cause.  It doesn't matter how many times you might have had that same cream before as allergens take time to sensitize people.  An alternative to Botox for the frown lines in the glabella (the 11 ) is ThermiRase. This is a procedure that will cause swelling for  a week or slightly more.The information provided in Dr. Shelton's answer is for educational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical advice.  The information provided should not be relied upon as a substitute for consultations with a qualified health professional who may be familiar with your individual medical needs

You should see a specialist on allergies to determine which component you’re allergic to before considering alternative options. Botox is mixed with saline which has preservatives and this could be the cause. You may consider Dysport and Xeonim, but if they use the same allergen to mix you’ll continue to have reactions. Get tested by an allergy doctor. Good luck! Dr. Aldo

If you are allergic to Botox, the safest thing to to would be to avoid all botulinum toxin products like Botox, Dysport and Xeomin. You do have some alternatives. You can use dermal fillers or laser resurfacing to soften the lines or you can have a nerve ablation with ThermiRase. 

Xeomin is an alternative for those who may be allergic to Botox. Other fillers may provide desirable results, as well, including PRP.

reactions to Botox are very rare and more likely it is either some prep used or the preservative in the saline.  find out what was used and see if that may be the issue. also, Botox is not as pure a product as Xeomin as Botox has some extra protein that Xeomin does not have so you might have that injected

Thank you for your question and for sharing your photographs 2 DillonBoys. 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 in the office where I can view the skin in multiple angles. However, I hope the information provided here is useful.Allergies to Botox itself are so rare that I have never seen one after having treated thousands of patients. Sometimes people can have an allergy to the diluent which was used to reconstitute the product. To test this a small amount of the diluent can be injected into the forearm with a different diluent on the other forearm. If there is a true allergy to Botox, then a different neuromodulator could be used. If I had a patient with such an allergy I would recommend that she consult with an allergist.Botox (onabolutimun toxin) is what we call a neuromodulator. This means that it controls nerves to relax the muscles by preventing them from contracting. Botox is the most popular neuromodulator available, has been the most studied, and is cleared for the most number of indications. Other neuromodulators available in the United States include Dysport (abobolutimun toxin), Xeomin (incobolutimun toxin), and Mybloc (rimabolutimun toxin). Botox, Dysport, and Xeomin are type A toxins while Myobloc is a type B toxin. This means the structure of the protein is slightly different. Overseas many others are also available. Dysport is the most commonly used neuromodulator other than Botox in the United States. The dosing for Dysport is different than that for Botox. Approximately 2.5 to 3 units of Dysport are required for every unit of Botox. For example, in the glabella 20 units of Botox is most commonly used. If Dysport were to be used in this area 50 to 60 units of Dysport would be required. The investment per unit of Dysport is approximately 2.5 to 3 times less than that of Botox. While the manufacturer states that the units of Xeomin are a one to one equivalent of Botox, many doctors find that a higher dose of Xeomin is required to produce the same effects as Botox. Each product has slight differences, but all of them work. Dysport, for example, is known to spread more than Botox. This makes it useful in places like the underarms where it can be used for excessive sweating. However, if it spreads near the eyes it can lead to side effects such as a droopy eyelid. Xeomin is also called a naked protein, because it does not contain the accessory proteins that are included with Botox or Dysport. It is thought to have a slightly faster onset (by one to two days faster) than Botox or Dysport. It is also thought to have a decreased likelihood for allergic reactions, although allergic reactions to Botox and Dysport are incredibly rare. In the United States Myobloc is not FDA cleared for cosmetic use and is primarily used for muscle pain in those with cervical dystonia. The majority of our patients find that they like the results of Botox the best. Additionally, Allergan, the maker of Botox, offers the Brilliant Distinctions Program. This is a rewards program where patients receive points from their Botox treatments which can be used toward discounts at subsequent treatments. Points are also received when patients purchase other treatments in the Allergan portfolio including Juvederm Ultra, Juvederm Ultra Plus, Voluma, Volbella, Vollure, and Kybella or products such as Latisse or Skin Medica products.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.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!