The demand for Botox is well known, but Botox complications can arise if improperly administered. The competition for corporate jobs among aging baby boomers, in addition to the quicker, cheaper, less invasive procedures like Botox, has driven a great number of women and men to these cosmetic techniques. Because women and men are living more health conscious lifestyles, procedures like Botox are a way for individuals to maintain the same physical energy and youthful feeling on the outside that they feel on the inside.

Botox was being used off-label by the end of the 1990s for wrinkle reduction but was FDA approved for aesthetic uses in 2002. Since then, Botox has become one of the most popular cosmetic procedures for both women and men. In 2003, 2.56 million Botox procedures were performed on women and nearly 334,000 on men. After Botox use really took off following FDA approval, the FDA was concerned with the toxin being abused and the risk of Botox complications suffered.

Although millions of people have been safety treated with Botox for a variety of medical conditions, patient safety is a prime concern because of the potential for Botox complications to arise. The growth of the entire cosmetic surgery field has been in response to demand, but some unqualified doctors have been trying to get a piece of the lucrative field, which increases the risk of Botox complications.

Only a trained and qualified doctor should administer Botox because an improper dose or improper injection can cause Botox complications. Some individuals will have a known hypersensitivity to an ingredient in the injection, and if this rare Botox complication does occur, a properly trained doctor will be able to appropriately handle the situation immediately. Even the most skilled doctors can have Botox complications, but with the proper education and training the potential problem can be minimized.

On average, Botox treatments typically cost between $300 and $500. Because of the widespread use of Botox, the emergence of counterfeit products is causing illegal Botox complications. With more Americans eager to smooth their wrinkles and regain a more youthful look, patients are being cautioned of the potential risk for Botox complications because of unqualified administers that are receiving their shipments from fraudulent sources at a fraction of the cost.

Patients are being advised to err on the side of caution if seeing Botox advertisements that appear too good to be true. Even though the Botox shipments may in fact be from credible sources, saving money in the short-term cannot outweigh potentially life-altering Botox complications. Botox should be treated like any other prescription drug and patients should avoid getting treatments from unqualified people dispensing the toxin in salons, spas, offices and other retail, non-medical places that run the risks of Botox complications including improper technique, inappropriate dosages and unsanitary conditions.

Since Botox's approval for an aesthetic prescription procedure, the popularity of the treatment has been in response to its effective ability to smooth out wrinkles. There are very few Botox complications reported when appropriately administered, but the most common side effects include headache, respiratory infection, flu syndrome, temporary eyelid droop and nausea.