Botox: When Things Go Wrong
As Botox becomes more and more common, it has, like many medical procedures, become safer. But as more people perform the procedure, there are more medical professionals who may be less qualified to actually do it safely. And although we tend to think of Botox as a routine, almost simply cosmetic procedure, it’s important to remember that it is still a medical procedure and as such, things can and do go wrong.
Who Can Perform The Procedure?
It would be nice to say that only a certain kind of physician can provide Botox. But all it takes is for any medical professional to take a short, often one day course, and they can be licensed to give Botox injections.
There are even dentists who are now providing Botox in their offices, although many are providing it for relief for things like TMJ. Unfortunately, there are many providers who may or may not be licensed, offering Botox procedures.
Botox can only be performed in offices or facilities that are properly licensed to prove the procedure, but again, seeing it as more of a “beauty procedure,” many facilities are not properly licensed.
What Went Wrong?
When things go wrong during a Botox procedure, one problem is the determination of what went wrong and whether it’s a case for malpractice or just ordinary negligence.
Malpractice is, of course, negligence in the course of performing any kind of medical procedure. But a lot can go wrong during a Botox procedure, that isn’t medical.
For example, instruments may be improperly sterilized, or the facility may be allowing unlicensed staff to perform routine procedures. These all may be ordinary routine negligence as opposed to medical malpractice.
Other times, things may go wrong which are medically related. For example, the failure to identify, react to, and treat, a sudden bad reaction to the Botox medicine, may be medical in nature, as may mistakes that are made during the administration of the medicine itself.
How Botched Botox Can Affect Victims
Botox is technically a poison or toxin. When procedures aren’t done right that toxin can spread to areas of the body that shouldn’t receive the toxin. That can result in patients having unexpected and potentially deadly side effects, especially when staff isn’t trained to recognize and respond to patient complaints of feeling abnormal, sick, or painful after the procedure.
Disfiguration and paralysis can sometimes result because Botox is injected into muscles. Muscle paralysis can happen, resulting in loss of feeling, as well as loss of use of the muscles, which can lead to visible facial drooping or the inability to use musculature.
Blood flow to the affected area can be blocked off which can lead to discoloration or even worse, the death of muscles, infection, or loss of limbs.
Schedule a consultation today with our Tampa personal injury lawyers at Barbas, Nunez, Sanders, Butler & Hovsepian for help after your injury or accident if you feel you may have been injured after, or because of, a Botox procedure.
Sources:
heffins.com/surging-demand-for-procedures-leads-to-botox-malpractice-liability-risks/
readfrontier.org/stories/in-oklahoma-laws-havent-kept-up-with-trendy-medical-spa-treatments/
