We are a premier Medical Aesthetic Clinic conveniently located in 2 locations. East at #02-12/13 Changi City Point and Orchard at #05-51 Lucky Plaza.
Dr Edwin Lim
Dr Edwin Lim has a fond interest in Aesthetic Injectable Procedures (Neurotoxin and Fillers) and using Lasers with specially formulated skincare products to treat various skin concerns.
Neurotoxin BTX “Death” in Singapore. Can BTX Really Kill?
What is BTX (Neurotoxin)?
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.
How does BTX Neurotoxin work?
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 Neurotoxin risks
BTX injections are safe when performed by an experienced doctor.
Possible mild side effects and complications include:
Pain, swelling or bruising at the site of injection
Headache (Forehead BTX)
Droopy eyelid or “spock” eyebrows (Forehead BTX)
Crooked smile or drooling (Jaw BTX)
Eye dryness (Crow’s Feet BTX)
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:
Muscle weakness
Vision problems
Trouble speaking or swallowing
Breathing difficulty
Loss of bladder control
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.
BTX Death Case in Singapore - Update
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."
