Is Botox For You? A lot of people, especially celebrities, are concerned with the way they look. People just do not want to look old and are forever obsessed with searching for the fountain of youth. With all the beauty products available these days, it is definitely easy to look young and beautiful. One such product that does this is the popular cosmetic procedure called Botox. Botox was not actually used for cosmetic purposes when it first came out in the market. Botox, or technically known as Botulinum toxin, is a kind of neurotoxin protein that is produced by the bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. Botox is in fact one of the most naturally occurring poisonous substances in the world. Even though it is very toxic, it can be used to treat painful muscle spasms and as a cosmetic treatment. It was in 1949 when a group of doctors discovered that Botox could block neuromuscular transmission. But it was not until 1989 when the use of Botox was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It was then used to treat eye muscle disorders like misaligned eyes (strabismus) and uncontrollable blinking (blepharospasm). In 2000, it was approved for the use of treating cervical dystonia, a neurological movement disorder that causes severe neck and shoulder contractions. Doctors also discovered that when Botox is used to treat eye disorders, there is an unusual side effect that causes the vertical frown (glabellar) lines to soften. Usually, the lines between the eyebrows tend to make people look angry or tired. After several clinical studies that proved that Botox could actually reduce the severity of frown lines for up to four months, the FDA approved the use of this drug for this condition. So how can Botulinum Toxin Type A (Botox Cosmetic), which contains the same toxin that causes food poisoning, be effective in cosmetic treatments? In a medical setting, small doses of the injectable form of sterile, purified Botox stops the release of a chemical called acetylcholine by nerve cells that signal muscle contraction. In effect, the frown lines are smoothed out by selectively interfering with the ability of the muscles to contract. Typically, after a Botox injection, frown lines become nearly invisible in a week. Since this discovery, it has been the fastest-growing cosmetic procedure according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. It has even become more popular than breast enhancement surgery. The Botox Cosmetic is so popular that almost 3.3 million procedures of it were performed in 2005. Aside from the favorable effect that it brings, Botox Cosmetic is a simple and nonsurgical treatment that people form 18 to 65 years of age can take. It only takes a single 10-minute treatment and a few tiny injections to see the noticeable improvement in moderate to severe frown lines within a few days. Results may differ from person to person. It is ideal to get a Botox treatment every four months to help maintain the results. Discontinuing the treatment would mean that the frown lines between the brows would gradually return to what they originally looked like before the treatment. Before considering a Botox Cosmetic treatment, you should make sure that a qualified doctor will perform the procedure and that the doctor is trained and qualified in cosmetic skin surgery of the face. It is also recommended that you ask questions and be informed about the benefits and complications involved in the treatment. You should also select a medical setting that uses sterile techniques. There should be an access to necessary equipment in case there are any potential problems. The Botox Cosmetic treatment is a very simple procedure. No anesthesia is even required for this procedure, although the doctor may prefer to numb the area with an anesthetic cream or a cold pack before injecting. Then the doctor will determine where to perform the injections by examining your ability to move particular muscles in your brow area. The size, location and use of the muscles that produce a furrowed brow differ among individuals. After this, the doctor will administer several small Botox injections directly into the muscles that cause frown lines between the brows. You may experience some discomfort but it is very minimal and brief. Expect to be in and out of the doctor’s office without experiencing any downtime. Do try to avoid alcohol and remain upright for several hours after the Botox procedure. Within days, you will see a marked improvement in the frown lines between your brows but the Botox Cosmetic will not radically change your facial appearance. You will still be able to frown or even look surprised but without the creases and wrinkles between your brows. Aside from cosmetic purposes, Botox can also be used in the treatment of cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, migraine headaches and severe primary axillary hyperhidosis (excessive sweating). There are also other well-known uses of Botox that are not specifically approved by the FDA. These include diabetic neuropathy; excessive salivation; wound healing; anal fissure; TMJ pain disorders; focal dystonias that affect the face, jaw, limbs or vocal chords; overactive bladder syndrome with or without incontinence; involuntary microexpression facial triggers; and spastic disorders that are associated with injury or disease of the central nervous system (including stroke, trauma, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy or Parkinson’s disease). In the medical world, the Botox neurotoxin is useful in treating cervical dystonia, blepharospasm, strabismus and severe underarm sweating. These medical conditions make it difficult for afflicted people to perform simple daily tasks like dressing up or driving a car. But treatment with Botox makes it easier to manage the symptoms of these medical conditions. Cervical dystonia is a medical condition that affects the neck muscles, which can force the head and neck into movements that can be awkward and painful. Having this condition makes it hard to do simple things and having a Botox treatment can help manage the symptoms and make it possible to performing normal activities. The Botox injection works directly on the muscles that cause spasms. Patients usually get relief from muscle spasms for up to three months after a Botox treatment. Botox also reduces neck pain. Blepharospasm can also be cured with Botox injections. This condition produces spasms in and around the eyelids and this results in frequent uncontrollable blinking. These symptoms would make it difficult for a person to see. Using Botox injections to treat this condition can help reduce the muscle spasms and the blinking, and in effect, restores the ability to see. Strabismus, or crossed eyes, can also be treated with Botox. Getting crossed eyes is due to the tightening of certain muscles around the eye, which in turn, pulls the eyeball to the side. The Botox treatment can help cure this condition by relaxing the affected muscles, which makes it possible for the eyeball to return to its normal position. For severe underarm sweating that cannot be cured by topical agents, Botox can be the answer. Botox is effective in curing this condition because it temporarily blocks the chemical signals from the nerves that stimulate the sweat glands. When the chemical signals do not reach the sweat glands, the severe sweating will cease. According to a clinical study involving 322 patients, 81 percent of Botox treated patients achieved a greater than 50 percent reduction in sweating, compared to only 41 percent treated without Botox. While 55 percent of Botox treated patients achieved a generally effective response, compared to only 6 percent of those treated without Botox. Botox may generally be beneficial but it is not for everyone. Those who have an infection or sensitivity to any ingredient in the Botox product should not take it. Also, people who have neuromuscular disorders like ALS, myasthenia gravis, or Lambert-Eaton syndrome may be at higher risk for serious side effects. Only those whose conditions respond to Botox and those who do not have any allergic reactions or other significant side effects can continue to get repeat Botox injections. Like any other procedures, Botox comes with some side effects. The usual ones include allergic reaction and paralysis of the wrong muscle group. Other common side effects are headache, nausea, flu syndrome and respiratory infection. And less frequent adverse reactions are muscle weakness, facial pain, and redness in the injection site. If bruising at the site of the injection occurs, that is not a side effect of Botox, but rather due to the method of administration. If bruising occurs in the cosmetic treatment of Botox, the patient will complain of experiencing inappropriate facial expressions like loss of ability to close the eyes, drooping eyelid or an uneven smile. These effects will most likely wear off in about six weeks while the bruising will only last for about seven to ten days. If the Botox injection is properly administered, its effects can last for about a period of three to six months, although results may vary. For many people though, the outcome has been very favorable. 

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