BTX is a popular brand of neurotoxin in Singapore used by medical professionals to improve wrinkles and treat certain muscular conditions.
BTX stands for Botulinum Toxin. Due to google copyright regulations, we have to use the shortform BTX in this article.
BTX or Neurotoxins are produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum and many brands exist in the market such as Dysport and Xeomin.
When BTX is injected, it blocks certain nerve signals that stimulate muscle contraction. This leads to relaxation of muscles which reduces the appearance of unwanted wrinkles.
The effect of BTX lasts 3–6 months.
Over time, the muscles will gradually regain movement causing wrinkles to re-appear.
BTX injections are safe when performed by an experienced doctor.
Possible mild side effects and complications include:
Potential life-threatening complications are very rare and related to high doses of BTX injections used to treat medical conditions such as cerebral palsy and cervical dystonia.
These severe side effects may manifest as:
Studies have reported the toxic dose for severe side effects to be more than 6 BTX Units per Kg.
Taking an average adult female to weigh 50kg, this translates to 300 units of BTX. It is extremely unlikely that a patient will require close to 300 units of BTX for Aesthetic treatments.
In 2019, it was reported in the news that a lady passed away after receiving BTX in a medical clinic.
After investigation, it was reported on 11th October 2022 that in fact, she suffered a cardiac arrest after injection of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and not BTX.
Quoted in the news "EDTA is a common ingredient in skincare and cosmetic products. It acts as a chelator or binding agent that suppresses chemical activity."
Link to news article here
In the hands of an experienced doctor, BTX injections are safe and effective.
Severe side effects are extremely rare and are associated with high doses of BTX.
Quote of the day
“All things are poisons and there is nothing that is harmless, the dose alone decides that something is not poison” -Paracelsus (1493–1541).