Can Botox Injected into the Forehead Go Through and Get into the Bloodstream?

If the injection damages a vein then it can go into your bloodstream, but this is rare. Some patients do experience a mild headache and feel a little "out of it", but it only lasts a day or two.

When symptoms have been attributed, extremely rarely,  to systemic effects, from possible circulatory absorption, the flu-like symptoms or headache these symptoms seemed to resolve after a couple or few days, not much longer. Again, this is very rare. It certainly is not an allergic reaction and you can have further treatments when this one wears off if you're comfortable with that option.

It is very unlikely the botox gets into the general circulation. Even if it does, only a small amount can get there when injected from the forehead and it should not have any systemic effects. It is possible to get a headache from the injection and there have been some isolated reports of flu-like symptoms but those usually go away after several weeks. I would check back with your treating physician to express your concerns.

What anything is possible, it is not probable.  Most likely the needle irritated a sensory nerve in your forehead which may give you temporary discomfort.  If your symptoms do not improve, you should see the advice of your doctor as it may just be coincidental and have nothing to do with the Botox at all.

 

Good Luck.

Dear Venus

The FDA recently required a much stronger warning regarding the use of BOTOX and other BoNT products.  Cosmetic BOTOX is very safe.  However, systemic side effects do occur.  Generally, for cosmetic treatments, they are short lived, like on the order of a week.  Headache and flu like symptoms are part of this syndrome.  It is not clear that the treatment has to actually be injected into a vessel for you to experience these symptoms.  Generally they are more bothersome than serious.  You will have to personally decide if the limited side effects are worrisome enough for you to continue receiving BOTOX treatment or to swear them off.  Personally, I find BOTOX so helpful that I am willing to put up with some minor short term side effects.