When I was preparing for my explant surgery, I spent a lot of time researching all the things I believed may impact my breast removal surgery. Botox was one of them.
Safety Information
Allergan plc is the company behind Botox. On the Botox Medical website, you will find a PDF including "Important Safety Information". The PDF document has pages upon pages of fine print. Should you take the time to read the document in its entirety you may find yourself spending a lot more time determining whether or not Botox is the right solution for you.
We want to highlight a few things found directly within this document that consumers may not be aware of.
What Should I Tell My Doctor Before Taking BOTOX or BOTOX Cosmetic?
Buried deep within the fine print of the "Important Safety Information" document there is a section labeled "What should I tell my doctor before taking BOTOX or BOTOX Cosmetic?" It states "Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including if you:" and within this section is one line referring to surgery and if you "have plans to have surgery".
It took a lot of researching and the only thing we were able to come across on the internet was not located on the Allergan or Allergan-related websites. We found that if you are planning to have a facelift, some surgeons state that it is 'ideal' to stop using Botox prior to having facelift surgery.
So what about breast implant surgery or breast implant removal surgery?
What We Do Know
We know that according to the manufacturer of Botox that several symptoms can occur after getting Botox including problems swallowing, speaking, or breathing. We also know that with the spread of toxin effects there can also be a loss of strength and muscle weakness all over the body, double vision, blurred vision and drooping eyelids, loss of bladder control, and more.
We also know that or all of these symptoms can happen hours, days, to weeks after you receive an injection of BOTOX or BOTOX Cosmetic. So how exactly does getting Botox affect surgery? Well, the answer to this direct question appears to be a bit elusive.
Drug Interactions
There is also another section in the "Important Safety Information" titled "7. Drug Interactions". Section 7.4 states "Muscle Relaxants - excessive weakness may also be exaggerated by administration of a muscle relaxant before or after administration of BOTOX."
The statement comes with little or no information, but we did find that according to the January 2012 issue of Anesthesia & Analgesia, the official journal of the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS), researchers have discovered that injecting Botox affects muscles other than those that it is injected into.
Dr. Steven L. Shafer of Columbia University, Editor-in-Chief of Anesthesia & Analgesia, states that "Although we knew that Botox has lasting effects on muscle function, this study suggests that these muscle effects may be seen quite distant from the injected muscle. If you're a patient undergoing surgery who has had a recent Botox injection, it might be a good idea to mention it to your anesthesiologist."
What we do know is that muscle relaxants may be used both before and after breast implant and breast implant removal surgeries in addition to general anesthesia. So there is definitely some sort of link between Botox and undergoing any type of surgery.
Conclusion
At this point in time, there doesn't appear to be any adequate well-documented information regarding Botox and surgery. And to be honest, quite often many plastic and cosmetic surgeons in private clinics perform both types of procedures. So a direct and specific answer to the relationship between Botox and surgery appears as though it may remain a bit elusive for the time being.
The mere fact that it is mentioned in the Botox safety information document in itself should cause a red flag. Not to mention that the leader in Botox medication also manufactures breast implants. And now that several of these breast implants are in question the answer may never be brought to the forefront.
What we do know is that more research needs to be done with Botox and made readily available to the end consumer. The safety information does admit to not having "adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women" as well as admitting that"it is not known whether BOTOX is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when BOTOX is administered to a nursing woman".
Our advice? Take it directly from the manufacturers of Botox ... "Caution should be exercised".
Do your homework. Ask your medical professional and your plastic surgeon.
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All posts are intended strictly for educational purposes. It is not intended to make any representations or warranties about the outcome of any procedure. It is not a substitute for a thorough in-person consultation with a medical professional. If you have questions about your personal medical situation, please call your healthcare provider.