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BOTOX® is part of a family of
drugs called "botulinum toxins". Specifically,
it is the Registered Trademark and brand name for
"botulinum toxin type A" which is manufactured
by a company called "Allergan". Nothing else
that is made by any other company is allowed to be called
BOTOX®.
Botox is actually a first
cousin to the dreaded botulism food poisoning that is
caused by the evil bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
Yikes! That sounds scary
enough to make you stop reading right now -- but don't run
away quite yet. Just as atomic energy can be used for good
and bad, there's room in your life for Botox if used and
administered properly.
Although you may have only
heard of it recently, Botox has been around since the
early 1960's when it was first approved for use as a
treatment for Strabismus (crossed eyes). It later received
approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a
treatment for three specific medical conditions known as
blepharospasm, strabismus, and cervical dystonia.
Essentially, each of these conditions involve the
appearance of involuntary muscle contractions.
In order for a muscle to
move, it must receive a signal from your brain. That
signal is carried to the muscle by a chemical called
acetylcholin. If your body produces too much acetylcholine
then the affected muscles will go into "spasm"
or begin twitching. BOTOX® blocks the release of
acetylcholine to the affected muscle which stops or
reduces the spasm. Since Botox is injected only into the
affected muscle the rest of the body is not affected.
Unless you have one of the
diseases that regular Botox is designed to treat, the
chances are your real interest is in a derivative called
"BOTOX® Cosmetic". Although most people simply
refer to this derivative as Botox, there is a marked
difference. BOTOX® Cosmetic is a protein which is
produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium. It is FDA
approved for reducing the activity of the muscles that
cause "frown lines".
According to the
manufacturer, "Treatment with BOTOX® Cosmetic can
visibly smooth and soften moderate to severe frown lines
between your brows. An improvement can be seen within days
and may last up to 4 months, although results may vary. In
clinical trials, nearly 90% of men and women surveyed
rated the improvement in the appearance of frown lines
between their brows as moderate to better 1 month after
treatment."
This means that while BOTOX
Cosmetic doesn't work for everyone, there is a 90% chance
that it will work for you. BOTOX Cosmetic is administered
by injection directly into the muscles that are causing
your frown lines. The process takes 10 minutes or less and
there is no "recovery period". That makes it
perfect to get done during your lunch break or anytime
that you have a free 10 minutes.
A "normal"
treatment can last for up to 4 months although this time
period varies widely among different people. Regardless,
the manufacturer recommends that you get treatments no
more frequently than every 4 months.
Here are some guidelines
for you to consider:
BOTOX Cosmetic may not be
for you if you have any diseases that affect your nerves
or muscles or if you are pregnant, planning to become
pregnant soon, or are nursing.
Be sure to give your doctor
a COMPLETE listing of all medications that you are taking
prior to receiving a BOTOX Cosmetic treatment.
Once you stop treatment
your frown lines will gradually reappear until they look
the same as before you began the BOTOX Cosmetic program.
It is not a permanent cure
for your wrinkles!
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