What is Botox ®
The media has a profound effect upon our lives and the power of it can take an unknown word and make it universally known within only a few months. Two decades or so ago hardly anybody had heard of Botox but today there are few who could deny some knowledge of it but what is Botox? The article below will attempt to explain exactly what it is in a way that anybody can understand (rather than technical medical speak).
The most simple way in which to explain what Botox is, is to say that it is the Botulinum Toxin that has been specially processed for use in humans. Obviously, being a toxin, Botulinum is extremely poisonous to humans, and, in its natural state it is considered one of the most poisonous substances in the world. Technically Botox® is a trade name for a product derived from botulinum toxin A. Botulinum toxin A is one of seven neurotoxins (A-G) which are produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Most of us know this by the term Botulism which is a form of food poisoning caused by the bacterium. In the worst cases Botulism causes paralysis and death by stopping the nerves from transmitting the messages to muscles which tell them to contract.
Botox® is considered safe and has been FDA-approved, since 1989, for use by humans. Clinically it has a number of uses, especially for stopping spasms (involuntary muscle contractions) seen in the likes of cervical dystonia, strabismus(lazy eye), blepharospasm and memifacial spasm. Although a commercial brand name Botox® is now used rather generically to describe the process of injecting Botox underneath the skin to successfully reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Over ten years after Botox was initially approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) they approved it for aesthetic use. However they recommended that only lowest effective dosage of Botox Cosmetic should only be injected once every three months and that it only be available by prescription. Botox still carries some dangers and it is strongly advised that pregnant women should not use it, or women who are breast feeding. There is also a risk of adverse reaction in those people using Botox while also taking an antibiotic medicine.
The Botox treatment is a cosmetic procedure performed in a controlled medical environment. The popularity has increased dramatically due to the incredible ability of the product to, temporarily, remove even deep furrow lines and is especially effective in the treatment of severe glabellar lines ((frown lines). The treatment works by paralyzing the muscles in the brow or other areas of the face so that they simply can not appear. Of course the effects of Botox depreciate over time and the wrinkles thus return. The cosmetic procedure has become so popular that people have so called "BOTOX® Parties" where people receive the treatment is a social setting rather than a clinic. At such parties it is common for folk to consume large amounts of alcohol and, unfortunately, the two do not mix well as alcohol can increase the bruising of the tissues which are injected. So popular are these parties that the FDA have been forced to issue warnings.
As Botox® is a registered product there are alternatives, one of which is the popular Dysport brand. Due to the unfortunate side effect of a somewhat expressionless face many folk are looking to a completely different treatment to gain the desired effect of removing fine lines and wrinkles. Two of the most popular alternatives are microdermabrasion and chemical peels, both of which have their plus and minus points but merit further investigation.
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