Home > Appearance > Botox®

BOTOX®: Utilizing Toxins for Successful Cosmetic Enhancements

BOTOX® is a highly popular cosmetic enhancement that reduces wrinkles and the fine lines of aging. For many individuals, it serves as a less invasive alternative to surgical lifts. Unlike surgical lifts, BOTOX® has nearly no serious, short-term complications and a fast recovery. Long-term effects have yet to be identified.

Some of the places where BOTOX® can eliminate fine lines include:

• crow's feet
• eyebrow lines
• forehead lines
• frown/smile lines around the mouth
• nose lines.

When it first came on the market with FDA approval, BOTOX® was intended to treat specific medical conditions. However, by 2002, BOTOX® received approval for use in facial improvements. Many celebrities and well-known personalities were among the first to accept and then promote BOTOX® Cosmetic.

Because it is less expensive than surgery, almost anyone can afford and get BOTOX® treatment. Keep in mind that pregnant or nursing women and those who suffer from neurological disorders should not get this procedur. And BOTOX® cannot noticeably improve facial imperfections caused by sun damage or scarring.

The Toxin in BOTOX®
BOTOX® is made from the bacterium scientifically known as Clostridium botulinum. In its non-purified form, it causes botulism, the food-borne illness. Allergan, an Irvine, CA-based company, manufactures BOTOX®, technically known as Botulinum A.

How BOTOX® Affects the Nerves
Wrinkles form over time due to the continual use of a specific muscle or set of muscles. In order to move a muscle, the brain sends signals to the nerves to release acetylcholine, a chemical that causes muscles to tighten. As they continually tense over time, fine lines begin to appear around eyes and creep across foreheads. These are the usual sites for BOTOX® injections. Less frequently, lips are treated. Newer techniques involve areas of sagging around the neck.

The amount of BOTOX® injected depends on the degree of muscle control a person has in a given area. As a result, the loss of muscle control may limit the extent of shots applied in this area. When injected into the nerve site, BOTOX® effectively paralyzes the nerve's ability to transmit acetylcholine. This means that the particular muscle in the injected area won't tense, producing smoother, tighter, younger looking skin.

Treatments are generally brief and mildly painful. While numbing agents lessen the sensation, many physicians employ no deadening aids. Following treatment, individuals can return immediately to normal activities.

BOTOX® injections require a few days to reach their full potential. Results may last from 3-6 months. There is no danger in repeating the process, unless you start to note an allergic reaction to the toxin or an outbreak of an infection.

Although fees per visit will vary by region and by doctor, they range from $300 to $1,300, depending on the size of facial area to be treated. Insurance companies don't cover BOTOX® treatments for aesthetic enhancements.

Medical Applications for BOTOX®
Although BOTOX® is popularly known for its ability to provide cosmetic enhancements, it is also used as a treatment for several medical conditions, including: 

• blepharospasm: eyelid spasms and movement
  
  
• cervical dystonia: neck and shoulder involvement that causes unusual and uncontrollable head tilting 
  
  
• hyperhidrosis: excessive and uncontrollable underarm sweating
  
  
• migranes: intense, prolonged headaches
  
  
• overactive bladder: the constant urge to urinate
  
  
• strabismus: crossed eyes attributed to decreased muscle control
  
  
• TMJ syndrome: inflammation of the mandible/ jaw.
  
  

BOTOX® treatments for medical purposes work in the same way as it does for cosmetic purposes: both relax the muscles that cause contractions. Children and adults alike have reported great benefits from BOTOX® treatment, especially for conditions such as cerebral palsy.

BOTOX® Side Effects and Toxin Resistance
As individuals continue to receive BOTOX® treatments, some may experience a reduction in its effectiveness. As nerves continue to heal, they can develop resistance to the toxin. Some of the other more notable side effects include:

• allergic reactions
• bleeding
• bruising
• double vision
• drooling
• eyelid drooping
• infections at injection sites
• nausea.
  
  

When used for medical reasons, other symptomatic emergencies can rise. These include difficulty breathing or swallowing and speech impairment. Although some of these symptoms generally subside, others require professional treatment.

Alternatives to BOTOX®
While newer alternatives to BOTOX® have reached the consumer marketplace, some are waiting for required FDA approvals. The Federal Trade Commission continues to investigate claims from competitors.

Penetrating creams are one of the most popular alternatives to BOTOX® but haven't been proven to produce the same results.

Myobloc® (comprised of Botulinum B) and Restylane (a naturally occurring human protein) are injection alternatives that work in the same way as BOTOX®. At this point, however, they are not nearly as popular.

Licensed BOTOX® Practitioners
Allergan provides specialized training in administering BOTOX®. Because the toxin first received approval for treating eye disorders in the 1980s, many ophthalmologists are familiar with proper procedure. While BOTOX® is not a cure for the signs of aging, it can improve your appearance in the short-term if correctly administered by a licensed practitioner.