Botox Cosmetic: What You Need to Know

Botox has become one of the most popular treatments for reducing wrinkles, frown lines, and crow's feet. In addition, Botox has been found to be effective in treating migraine headaches, excessive sweating, and muscle spasms in the neck. Botox has soared in popularity in recent years and last year botox injections were given to over 2 million Americans.

Botox is the short name for something called botulinum toxin. Botulinum Toxin Type A is a protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.

When used in medical settings as an injectable form of sterile, purified botulinum toxin (Botox), small doses of the toxin are injected into the affected muscles and block the release of the chemical acetylcholine that would otherwise signal the muscle to contract. The toxin thus paralyzes or weakens the injected muscle.

Doctors use a very small dose of this toxin to help smooth wrinkles, creases in the forehead, crow's feet around the eyes, and frown lines. Botox was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1989 for the treatement of double vision and uncontolled eyelid spasms. Botox has been been called today's "fountain of youth" since it was approved by the FDA in 2002 for the reduction of frown lines.

The injections typically last for 3 to 4 months and then have to be repeated. The most common adverse events following injection of Botox are headache, respiratory infection, flu syndrome, blepharoptosis (droopy eyelids) and nausea. Less frequent adverse reactions (less than 3% of patients) include pain in the face, redness at the injection site and muscle weakness. These reactions are generally temporary, but could last several months.

Because Botox is a prescription drug, it must be used carefully under medical supervision. Botox "parties" may diminish the seriousness of the procedure and if alcohol is served at these parties it may worsen any bruising at the injection site. The FDA has issued warning statements about botox "parties" and recommends that botox injections be performed in a controlled medical environment that is equipped to handle an emergency situation.