What if the quick Botox touch-up you get before vacation could leave you struggling to see, swallow—or even move normally? It sounds terrifying, but it actually happened to a 45-year-old California woman who wanted a Botox glow-up before a trip. She later developed blurred vision, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, extreme fatigue, and muscle weakness—and ended up hospitalized for seven days from a neuromodulator injection.

Botox and other neuromodulator injections are incredibly popular. In 2025, nearly 10 million neuromodulator treatments were performed in the U.S., making them the dominant minimally invasive cosmetic procedure. The FDA-approved Botox label carries a boxed warning—the FDA's strongest safety warning—because, in rare cases, the toxin can spread beyond where it was injected. Symptoms can include generalized muscle weakness, double vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty speaking or swallowing, and breathing problems. In severe cases, those breathing and swallowing complications can be life-threatening.

In this episode, we go beyond the beauty trend to talk about what Botox and other neurotoxins actually do, the potential risks and side effects, and the questions you should ask before putting a neurotoxin into your body.

Our guest, Sarah Danielle, viewed neurotoxin injections as a routine cosmetic treatment and never imagined that an appointment intended to help her feel her best would be followed by frightening neurological symptoms and ultimately a seven-night hospitalization.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Sarah explains what happened on that dreaded day as she was getting what she thought was a simple and safe cosmetic touch-up for an upcoming girls' trip
2. Whether Sarah had been informed about any risks or the potential spread of the toxin on that day or previous Botox appointments
3. Was Sarah told what brand of neurotoxin Sarah was injected with?
4. The number of units Sarah requested versus what she was actually given
5. Was Sarah told about or offered the antitoxin?
6. Would Sarah ever do this type of treatment again, and how does she feel about filler injectables
7. What Sarah wishes other women knew after going through this experience
8. What the FAERS database is

è You can learn more about Sarah Danielle on TikTok or Instagram @HelloSarahDanielle

è You can find all of the links in the show notes at https://ronandlisa.com/podcast/.

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