Botox and fillers Dr. Irwin answers on Skintour

Bad reaction to Botox and fillers

Dr. Irwin
March 19, 2019
Hello, I received Botox and fillers more than two years ago. My doctor missed the tear through and injected into the fat pads. I knew something wasn’t quite right straight away. I had a lot of pressure under my eyes as well as in between my eyes where the Botox was injected. I didn’t know if that was normal or not because I have never received these treatments before. After about a week I started to experience very odd sensations, my whole face became numb and tingling under my eyes all the way down to my chin. As well as burning pain in my forehead especially in between my eyes. I went to the emergency room on the 8th day because my tongue and throat became tingly and numb. It was so scary. They didn’t know what it was because they have never seen this before... they said possible I had a reaction to Botox? I went back to my injector and she didn’t know what to say. She said it was probably a reaction or maybe to much Botox. I am still dealing with all this to this day... and it sometimes feels normal and then other times its as bad as the day I went to the hospital. I did try to dissolve the filler on the right eye but it almost seems to have gotten worse on that side. I have to sleep with my head elevated, I am from a small town and my GP didn’t even know what fillers were until I told him... where should I go from here? I am feeling depressed over the whole thing and want my life back. Thank you for taking the time too read my question.

My heart goes out to you on this one. Please hang in there, and you may need to go to a larger city to get help. I know it’s a crazy world for non invasive skin improvement and aging prevention right now!! So much marketing. So much Instagram where the truthfulness of the photos isn’t verifiable. And, even IF real, what percentage of patients got that result? Heavy sales pressure in some clinics or medispas. And then… what do you do when things go wrong with thing like Botox and fillers? Sometimes very wrong! First of all, this was extremely unlikely to be a Botox/Dysport problem and VERY likely to be a filler problem. I’m hoping this has resolved by now. But if not, please see a board certified ENT (ear, nose and throat) physician. Before you schedule, make sure she/he is familiar with filler problems. Describe what you experienced and still are experiencing, and ask whether a head CT or MRI might help see if there is filler that migrated or was injected somewhere where it absolutely should NOT be. Sometimes CT or MRI can “find” it. First a diagnosis… then treatment.

Some thoughts for everyone on Botox and fillers:

  1. If you are get “book now” same day pressure to do something… walk out the door and get a second opinion before you decide.
  2. Ignore the marketing and the promises. Do the work to find solid information like SkinTour, your doctors, friends you trust, then web reviews. Many web reviews are “managed.” RealSelf is ALL anecdotes and conflicting information.
  3. Only book injectables with dermatologist and other doctors. Or ARNPs, PA-C, RNs who have a supervising physician ON SITE, FULL TIME. Many spas have a “Medical Director” who visits once a month or… never visits. Anyone can put up a website now and proclaim themselves an expert. Be careful.
  4. If something goes wrong, first try to go back to the provider that did the treatment. If they can’t solve it, get a copy of what was injected and where. Then start looking for second opinions quickly.
Hope this helps,
Dr. Brandith Irwin
Founder, SkinTour
Director, Madison Skin & Laser Center
Follow my skin tips and travels on Instagram!
Dr. Brandith Irwin, MD

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Hi, I’m Dr. Irwin. I believe that consumers deserve a medically trained and unbiased skin care advocate.

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