Hanoi – A few days after receiving botox injections at a spa to remove wrinkles, a 37-year-old woman developed numerous granulomas on her forehead and her eyelids drooped.
On May 26th, Dr. Vu Thai Ha, Head of the Stem Cell Research and Application Department at the Central Dermatology Hospital, provided information about this case at the 6th National Conference on Aesthetic Dermatology , aiming to warn about complications caused by injecting botox from unknown sources or using incorrect techniques that do not ensure sterility.
According to the doctor, the patient had many wrinkles on her forehead and around her eyes, and had received Botox injections to remove them at a massage parlor (spa). After the injection, she experienced drooping eyelids affecting her vision, and developed numerous granulomas and nodules on her forehead. The doctor diagnosed the patient with severe complications following Botox injections of unknown origin.
"The patient received skin treatment, but the drooping eyelid problem cannot be addressed immediately; it will take at least 2-3 months to recover after the complication," Dr. Ha said.
Botox is an abbreviation for botulinum toxin, a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. This toxin blocks nerve impulses to the muscles, causing muscle paralysis. Due to its muscle-paralyzing effect, botox is used in medicine to treat involuntary muscle spasms.
There are seven types of botulinum bacteria (A, B, C, D, E, F, and G), but only two types, A and B, are used in medicine, with type A accounting for 90-95% – this is botox. Since 1992, botulinum type A has been used in cosmetic procedures to reduce wrinkles on the forehead, eyebrows, and around the eyes, and to slim the jawline and calves.
According to Dr. Ha, many patients who receive botox injections at small, unregulated beauty clinics experience complications due to incorrect injection techniques, lack of hygiene, use of botox of unknown origin, and improper dosages. The lethal dose of botox for a 70 kg person is 2,000-3,000 IU. Typically, a vial of botox contains about 100 units (UI). The dose used in cosmetic treatments for large muscle areas averages 60 to 400 IU. For smaller areas, such as wrinkle removal around the eyes, only 10-15 IU is needed, and for the forehead, 20-30 IU of botox is considered safe as it is not enough to cause toxicity.
Patients undergoing skin examination at the National Dermatology Hospital. Photo: Le Nga
Associate Professor Dr. Le Huu Doanh, Director of the Central Dermatology Hospital, said that the demand for cosmetic procedures has increased after the Covid-19 pandemic, and the number of complications has also risen.
In 2022, the National Dermatology Hospital received nearly 400,000 patient visits, with approximately 50-100 patients seeking treatment each month due to complications from unsafe cosmetic procedures. For example, a 30-year-old woman suffered complications after receiving Botox injections to slim her jawline at a spa. The patient developed an abscess in her cheek, requiring doctors to incise it to drain the pus and administer long-term antibiotics to control the infection.
Doctors advise that when undergoing cosmetic procedures like Botox injections, it's crucial to choose reputable medical facilities and avoid buying or using Botox from unregulated sources or of unknown origin. The Botox injection process must be performed by a qualified doctor who understands anatomy, administering the correct and sufficient dosage to avoid complications.
Le Nga
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