NY Facial Plastic Surgeons Warn About Unsafe Botox Parties
Botox parties are the latest home party fad. Women are getting together for wine, hors d’oeuvres and a shot of Botox. Unfortunately, a night of fun can turn ugly if something goes wrong. When you’re gambling with your face, the stakes are pretty high. If something goes wrong, you might only suffer a few months of embarrassment until the effects of the injections wear off; but you could suffer permanent facial damage.
Botox has become so popular that many consumers have forgotten that it is a medical procedure that carries risks if not properly administered. Botox treatments are safe when performed by a qualified Manhattan facial plastic surgeon in an appropriate sterile environment. But that’s not what you find at Botox parties. Often, injections are given in the hostess’ living room by someone with no formal medical training. Participants may risk infection from lack of sanitary practices or unsterilized or reused needles. When Botox injections are improperly administered, they can cause swelling or drooping or muscle paralysis that can affect the appearance of the face.
The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery has issued warnings against Botox parties and the risks they pose since 2008 when they first became popular. Among the red flags that concern the ASAPS are:
- Failure to obtain patient’s complete medical history.
- Failure to advise patients about alternative treatments.
- Failure to explain risks and obtain patient’s informed consent.
- Administration by an unqualified person without appropriate medical training.
- Inappropriate setting for treatment administration.
- Failure to reveal specific products being injected.
- Lack of adequate post-treatment instructions and follow-up care.