Injured During A Cosmetic Procedure – The Risks of Botox and Fillers
Cosmetic treatments like fillers and Botox injections are more popular than ever. The procedures are not only cosmetic. Botox injections can provide relief for a variety of neurological symptoms including headaches.
In Canada, medical professionals such as licensed physicians, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and dentists can perform cosmetic injections. The specific rules change in each Province.
Providers of cosmetic injections must have training and education. Training focusses on anatomy, injection technique, patient care, ethics, the law, and the chemistry of the materials.
Despite these procedures being medical in nature, you don’t need to go to a doctor’s office to get them done. Injectables are available at aesthetician offices and spas. A qualified medical professional should always be the one administering the procedure.
Health Canada identifies several known risks associated with these procedures. Risks include:
- pain;
- bruising;
- redness;
- swelling or edema;
- nodules (raised bumps);
- abscesses (sores);
- infection;
- skin discoloration or hyper-pigmentation;
- allergic reaction;
- improper placement of the material;
- muscle weakness and swallowing difficulties;
- pain/bruising at the injection site;
- headache, face pain, eye swelling;
- skin rash/allergic reaction;
- local muscle weakness/paralysis of the face;
- irregular heart beat/chest pain;
- malaise (feeling generally unwell);
- toxin spreading to other parts of the body;
- muscle weakness away from the injection site;
- pneumonia;;
- swallowing difficulties
- difficulty speaking; and
- difficulty breathing.
Providers of cosmetic procedures owe a duty to their patients. Providers of cosmetic procedures must tell their patients of risks, get their consent, and take reasonable steps to avoid causing harm. Unfortunately, issues might arise because the provider has done something wrong. When that has happened, and the issues last and are serious, the patient may be able to pursue a lawsuit against the provider.
This is a very complicated area of the law. If you have experienced a lasting injury due to a cosmetic procedure, you should talk to a lawyer with experience in medical malpractice and personal injury cases. Remember that you have two years from the date of our injury to start a lawsuit.
Sources:
Who Can Perform Botox and Fillers in Canada? – CBAM (cbamedicine.com)
Cosmetic injections – Canada.ca
Are you considering a career in cosmetic nursing? – Canadian Nurses Protective Society (cnps.ca)
About the Authors
Holly is has always been passionate about assisting others and meeting them with care and understanding. For Holly, a career in personal injury law was a natural extension of her goal to help people as they navigate complex and difficult life changes.