What is it?
It’s a popular and sometimes abused drug, best known for cosmetic procedures like the temporary removal of wrinkles, it comes from the toxin bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
Other than being used for getting rid of facial signs of aging it has other medical benefits. When this toxin is used in small doses it treats several health problems including neurological disorders that cause severe neck and shoulder muscle contractions, eye conditions like misaligned eyes or uncontainable blinking, and severe underarm sweating.
How it works:
In some cases the effect can last up to four months, the person being injected is asked to contract the muscles in the area being treated so the surgeon can determine the proper location for injection, then the injection with a small needle is inserted in the areas desired. It paralyzes certain muscles and blocks nerves in the affected area.
More about the drug:
– Approved in 88 countries
– 1977 was the first time it was used, to treat strabismus eye muscle spasm
– 65,000 Botox injections were performed in 1997, increased to 3.3 million injections in 2005
– It is now being used in the jaw and nose
– Prices can vary from $180-$700
Uses:
– Fixes head tilting, neck pain, and neck muscle spasms
– Eye spasms
– Chronic migraines
– “Chemical brow lift” trestores the arch to falling eyebrows
– Fixes crows feet and frown and forehead lines
– Crossed eyes, or strabismus
– Severe underarm sweating
– Muscle stiffness in fingers, hands, and other areas
– Clears wrinkles produced by facial movements and aging
BOTOX SIDE EFFECTS:
• Dry mouth
• Discomfort and pain
• Tiredness and muscle weakness
• Headache
• Blurred and other vision problems
• Swelling
• Breathing difficulty
• Swallowing problems
• Flu symptoms
• Serious allergic reactions
.
Before and after Botox:
Before and After Frown with Botox
Before and After Botox in Crows Feet
Before and After Botox in the Neck
Edited 8/17/14 SCD