Botox was first used in 1977. It is a treatment to cure strabismus, a problem with eye muscles. Botox is most commonly used (injected) especially on the wrinkles of the eyes. It is only permitted to be used by a licensed practitioner. Botox cosmetic is commonly used by surgeons to treat facial wrinkles and other purposes specified by the FDA.
What is botox made of? Botox or botulinum toxin is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It is found naturally in several animals, the intestinal of fish, and also in sediments. It causes botulism, a disabling paralytic disease. Botulism works by paralyzing the muscles of the mouth, face, and throat then it spreads to the body.
How it works
If wrinkles start appearing, Botox comes to our minds. Do you know how it works? Once injected into a muscle, botulinum toxin spreads to the nerve terminal to prevent the release of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter. When you inject it, it blocks the signals from the nerve to the muscle. It doesn’t affect the skin when the muscle is paralyzed as a result it reduces the wrinkles.
1. Botox isn't permanent.
- A. True
- B. False
Botox origin
Botulinum toxin type-A is popular in cosmetic surgery. It is commonly known as botox and the origin of the name is a toxin from Clostridium botulinum bacteria, produced in 1977. The Food and Drug Administration approved it in 1989 for botulinum toxin( i.e Strabismus and blepharospasm). Later, it was utilized for the treatment of uncontrolled muscle spasms in the face, as a result, patients had fewer wrinkles in the skin particularly in the treated muscle. Surgeons began using botox for cosmetic purposes in 1996 and 2002; FDA had approved for cosmetic use.
Growth of Botox Business
In 1997, sixty thousand Botox injections were used for treatments. In the United States alone, 3.3 million injections were supplied in 2005. The manufacturer Allergan sold $831 million worth of injections in the same year. Why did the number of injections rise? First, the drug worked well and served the purpose with less associated issues. With these people’s increasing desire to look young constantly increased. Botox is generally a common poison produced by botulinum bacteria. It utilized toxin A whereas other companies produced similar drugs with different toxins.
Long-Term Botox Use
The purpose of long-term Botox is to keep muscles from repairing themselves between injections. The drug prevents atrophy of the muscles when awaiting regrowth of nerves. So muscles start to function when the nerves join. On the contrary, repeatedly injecting muscles won’t contribute to a better result, it will hurt the muscles.
The effects of Botox cosmetic treatment are not long-lasting. Consumers need to undergo the same treatment every 4-6 months to keep a wrinkle free-look. It only fulfills temporary desires with a little recovery time with the procedure. In May 2017, California faced a botulism outbreak where nacho cheese sauce was sold near gas stations. The outcome was there were ten people hospitalized and one person died.
Botox facts
- Botox was found in the 1800s.
- It became a popular cosmetic treatment in the world.
- It had a few risk factors and side effects.
- It became the highest standard of clinical quality.
- It had many FDA approvals for uses.
- It didn’t treat the skin, it treated the muscles.
- It couldn’t do anything for sun damage.