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• Liposuction
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FOR MEN

• Male Breast Reduction
• Liposuction
• Facial Procedures
• Poland's Syndrome
• Brow Lift

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Botox: Is It Safe for the Body?

Houston, Texas

Botox Cosmetic injections are one of the safest cosmetic procedures available. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), over five million Botox Cosmetic injections were performed last year, up about 10% from the year before, representing a continuation of the steady growth in popularity of Botox injections since they were first approved for cosmetic use in 2001 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Yet, despite those millions of Botox Cosmetic injections, there is only one suspected--and not even confirmed--death due to Botox injections. For comparison, aspirin, ibuprofen, and similar drugs were responsible for an estimated 60,000 deaths during that same period. Botox injections are, by comparison, very safe.

Is Botox a Poison?

Yes. Botox is short for botulinum toxin A, a variety of toxin produced by botulin organisms, the type responsible for the potentially deadly form of food poisoning, botulism. The organism was discovered in the 19th century, and its name derived from the Latin "botulus," meaning "sausage." Weaponized forms of the toxin were considered by several powers, including the United States, during the 20th century, but never became practical.

How Can Botox Be Safe?

The difference between poison and medicine is often only one of dosage. Even the most benign nutrients can be deadly in large quantities. Necessary nutrients like oxygen, water, and others can poison the body and lead to dangerous effects in too large quantities. In contrast, even deadly poisons are harmless in small quantities. Trace amounts of cyanide give almonds their flavor, but a person could not possibly eat enough almonds to die of cyanide poisoning.

Botox is a refined and precisely diluted form of botulinum toxin. The amount and location of injection is carefully designed by Dr. Lapuerta to give a positive cosmetic result with a minimal risk of side effects.

Can Botox Be Dangerous?

Botox can be dangerous, when handled and injected by inexperienced and/or uneducated injectors. Be wary of medi-spas, beauty parlors, or other practices where there is no doctor to oversee treatment. Also avoid situations where Botox is injected without good controls, such as so-called "Botox parties." Discount Botox may also be of a different form, one not approved for use by the FDA, and may be inconsistent in quality and/or purity. Or it may not even be botulinum toxin.

Safe Practices

At the Aesthetic Plastic Surgery Center, only Pearland, Texas plastic surgeon Dr. Leo Lapuerta administers Botox injections to ensure the safety of our patients. If you would like to learn more about how we work to give the best results with the safest practices for our plastic surgery and non-surgical procedure patients, please schedule a cosmetic procedure consultation today.