Last updated on November 28th, 2022 at 11:46 am
Can botox cause headaches? Though botox is a widely used medicine, it does of course come with some side-effects, sometimes including headaches…
Most people are familiar with what botox is used for. But they may not know about the compound itself or the mechanism by which it reduces signs of aging.
Botox is derived from Clostridium botulinum and is considered a neurotoxin. Contrary to popular belief, botox has many other uses in the field of healthcare. For instance, it is used for special muscle conditions.
Can I Get a Headache After Botox in Forehead?
There are side effects associated with botox treatments, like headaches. This article will explore this issue while also offering some solutions for the same.
So to answer the question, yes you can get a headache after undergoing a botox procedure. After an injection to the forehead, some patients complained of experiencing mild headaches.
The reasons behind this headache are unclear to doctors and scientists. However, some theories suggest the following explanations –
- An error in the technique of botox injection could result in the bumping of the frontal bone inside the forehead.
- Sometimes, certain muscle groups in the face over-contract, causing headaches.
- It is also possible that the batch of botox used was impure or expired.
Ironically, while some patients complain of headaches after botox, botox can actually alleviate problems of headaches and migraines in daily life as per a study in 2010.
Will I get a Sinus Headache after Botox?
Sinuses are spaces filled with air found in facial regions like forehead and cheekbones. There is not much evidence to suggest that botox results in sinus headache through blockage.
However, if the treatment is done improperly then it could lead to sinus-like symptoms. But even then, the effects would be temporary.
What are the Botox Wearing off Symptoms?
The side effects that you experience, after botox begins to wear off, will depend on what condition botox was trying to treat.
There are some common side effects of botox across many patients. These symptoms are not that serious and will dissipate on their own over time. Some of these effects are –
- Dry eyes
- Cough
- Dry mouth
- Fever
- Drooping eyelids
- Nausea
- Muscle aches
- Excessive sweating in body parts other than underarms.
- Pain in the neck
- Pain in the feet or hands
- Discomfort while urinating
- Sore throat
- Weakness in muscles at the site of injection
- Headaches
- UTI (urinary tract infection)
Botox has multiple uses. Therefore, its side effects also differ depending on the area being treated.
Botox for overactive bladder can cause UTI, pain while urinating and urinary retention as side effects.
Botox for axillary hyperhidrosis can lead to sore throat, excessive sweating, fevers, chills and pain in the injection site as side effects.
Botox for cervical dystonia can cause pain in the neck, coughing, respiratory tract infection and headaches as side effects.
Botox for blepharospasm results in dry eyes, drooping eyelids and inflammation of the eye as side effects.
Lastly, botox used for minimizing wrinkles could lead to side effects like – headaches, pain at the site of injection, temporary insensitivity and loss of muscle control.
What is a Botox Tension Headache?
According to many studies, the use of botox can help in the treatment of migraines. In fact patients of botox treatment reported significant improvement after the procedure.
Patients reported reduction in the total number of days they suffered from migraines. They also said that they enjoyed more days without any sort of migraine.
Another study found that patients who took two rounds of botox treatment had their monthly migraine episodes halved. This is a significant improvement for the sufferers of chronic migraines.
After 5 rounds of botox treatment, those same patients reported a 70% improvement in their migraines.
According to research, botox blocks neurotransmitters which carry pain signals from the body to the brain. These chemicals let us know when to withdraw from danger.
Botox blocks this transmission. As a result you do not feel pain in the neck and head area.
To treat migraines through botox you will require several treatments. An average treatment of migraine will look something like this –
- Several botox injections are required in the neck and head area once in 12 weeks.
- You need the same number of injections on each side of your head.
- You may require more botox shots in the area which is particularly prone to migraines.
To reap the benefits of botox treatment, you will have to wait for 2 to 3 weeks. Also, only go to doctors who have experience in using botox for migraines and not just wrinkles.
Can Botox cause Headaches a Week Later?
Most patients who experience side effects from botox procedures feel better after a few hours or a few days.
But some unlucky patients could suffer from severe headaches after undergoing a botox treatment, according to a study in 2001.
About 1 per cent of botox patients go through this, lasting anywhere between two weeks and one month. After that, the effects slowly wear off.
The reason for severe headaches is often attributed to a botched up procedure. This includes both poor injection technique and the use of impure or expired botox chemicals.
There are many reasons why patients experience headaches after a botox procedure.
- After botox, the targeted muscle groups spasm before being paralyzed. This could lead to headaches.
- An injury to a blood vessel leading to hematoma could also cause headaches.
- The fear of botox procedure could have a psychosomatic effect on the patients leading to headaches.
FAQ Relating to Headaches and Botox:
As you know by now, botox is used in the treatment of many health and cosmetic conditions. But if you still have some concerns, here are the most popular frequently asked questions.
What Happens when Botox Wears off?
If you stop undergoing botox treatments, the effects of botox will start wearing off. This largely depends on what you were using botox for.
If botox was preventing your skin from aging, your skin will slowly begin to show signs of aging a few weeks after stopping the treatment.
For sufferers of migraines, the frequency of headaches may gradually increase over a span of weeks after you stop taking botox injections.
Usually, the effects of one botox treatment can last for 3 to 4 months. How long do these effects last depends on a number of factors such as –
- High metabolism processes botox faster than slow metabolism.
- The deeper and bigger your wrinkles, the less effective botox will be. This is why botox is often recommended as a preventive measure.
- People who perform cardio exercises more than 5 times per week will lose the effects of botox faster.
- The condition of the botox chemical. If the botox is not kept away from heat it can turn less potent and effective.
- Botox in the forehead region (between the eyebrows) lasts the longest.
- People with very animated expressions will lose the effects of botox faster than those with still expressions.
Can you Feel when Botox Wears off?
Yes. Botox works by paralyzing and numbing the injected muscle group. Once the chemical begins to wear off, you can feel sensitivity in the treated area.
Many people will be able to move that particular muscle group very naturally.
In terms of appearance, your skin will not suddenly look old and haggard. That will take weeks after stopping the botox treatment.
How do you get Rid of a Headache from Botox?
To combat the headache caused by botox injections there are a couple of things you can do to feel better. These steps include –
- Use an OTC (over the counter) medicine for headaches (like Advil, Tylenol or Motrin).
- Try using less amount of botox in the next treatment. Observe the results. If you do not experience any headache post treatment then the problem was quantity.
- If you still get headaches after reducing the botox dosage, try botox alternatives like rimabotulinumtoxinB (or Myobloc).
- If possible, avoid any and all types of botox treatments to prevent unnecessary headaches.
What Happens when you Stop Getting Botox in your Forehead?
There could be any number of reasons why you may stop using botox in your forehead. For example, pregnant or breastfeeding women are advised not to go for botox.
Also, an accident or medical condition could also prevent you from taking botox treatments temporarily. If that happens, there will be some changes to your face, especially the areas of treatment.
Some people worry that their face will worsen dramatically. After all, botox disrupts the signal transmissions between your facial muscles and your nerves.
This relaxes your face and prevents the skin from folding or contracting. As a result you do not get dynamic wrinkles.
However, when the botox treatments stop, your muscles slowly go back to their natural state. They begin to work like they used to. But this does not mean you will look old overnight.
Long term patients of botox will continue to enjoy their younger looking skin for a while after the treatment is stopped.
Eventually, your face will catch up to your age, but it will still look better in comparison to those who never took a single botox treatment.
However, since you are used to seeing a younger person in the mirror, the appearance of wrinkles may shock you.
