What Is Botox

What is botox? Botox is the trade name for botulinum toxin A. In this way, botox is related to botulism. Botulism is a form of food poisoning. Botulinum toxin A is one of the neurotoxins (a neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve tissue) produced by Clostridium botulinum. The most serious symptom of botulism is paralysis, which has proved fatal in some cases. Botulinum toxins (there are seven of them - types A to G) attach to nerve endings. Once this happens, acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter responsible for triggering muscle contractions, cannot be released. A number of proteins are necessary for the release of acetylcholine. Some botulinum toxins attack these proteins. Basically, botulinum toxin blocks the signals that would normally tell your muscles to contract. For example, say it attacks the muscles in your chest - this could have a profound effect on your breathing. When people die from botulism, this is often the cause - the respiratory muscles are paralyzed, making it impossible to breathe. Why Botox? At this point you may be wondering why anyone would want to have botulinum toxin injected into their body. The answer is simple: If a part of the body cannot move, it cannot wrinkle. Botox injections are the fastest growing cosmetic procedure in the industry, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS). More than 1.6 million people received the injection in 2001, an increase of 46 percent over the previous year. More popular than breast augmentation surgery and a potential blockbuster, Botox is considered by some to be the ultimate fountain of youth. A bit of history Botox was first approved in 1989 to treat two disorders of the eye muscles – uncontrollable blinking (blepharospasm) and misaligned eyes (strabismus). In 2000, the toxin was approved to treat a neurological movement disorder that causes severe neck and shoulder contractions known as cervical dystonia. As an unusual side effect of treating the eye disorder, doctors observed that Botox softened the vertical frown (glabellar) lines between the eyebrows that tend to make people tired, angry, or dissatisfied. But until that improvement was actually demonstrated in clinical trials, Allergan Inc., of Irvine, Calif., was barred from making that claim about the product. In April 2002, the FDA was satisfied with its review of studies that indicated that Botox reduced the severity of wrinkles for up to 120 days. The agency then granted approval to use the drug for the condition. How is botox applied? Botox is administered with a very small needle. After the botox injection, the muscles relax and the skin smooths out in about 5 days. The effect usually lasts about six months and can be repeated if necessary. This procedure has very few side effects. While an allergy to any drug is possible, it is rare with Botox. While a small amount of drooping of the brow or eyelid is possible, it is unusual and can usually be avoided by not treating the area just above the outer part of the brow. If this happens, it will go away on its own. Originally used to treat nerve twitching of the eyelid muscles, it has been found that crow's feet, forehead lines and wrinkles can be dramatically flattened. Neck bands can sometimes help as well. Who can provide Botox cosmetic treatment? BOTOX can be administered by any licensed healthcare professional