Botox Before and After
Botox. A word that brings a crow’s-feet-free, joyful smile to the mouths of many. Botulinum toxin, or onabotulinumtoxinA, is an injectable serum derived from the bacteria, Clostridium botulinum, and purified for medical use. It has been the number one choice for non-surgical cosmetic enhancement over many years since its FDA approval for cosmetic use in April of 2002. Botox is widely celebrated by celebrities and non-celebrities as the minimally invasive answer to extended youth.
Why Is Botox So Popular?
First of all, Botox users seem to be met with less criticism than would a woman who got breast augmentation or liposuction. Botox seems less false and shallow, and is thus more accepted. Other helpful factors are:
- It’s affordable ($300 to $400 per treatment)
- It’s non-committal (wears off in about 4 months)
- It takes years off of your appearance
- It typically only risks minor side effects, like possible nausea, headache, and flu-like symptoms (botulism may occur, but is rare)
Botox achieves its most widely beloved and revered feat by targeting and temporarily paralyzing the muscles that cause wrinkles. What fewer people realize is that it didn’t start out as a cosmetic. Its muscle-manipulating powers were being put to medical use back in the 80’s, but for very different reasons.
Additional Uses of Botox
Earlier applications for Botox arbitrarily led to its use as a wrinkle-reducer. First, Botox was used for other muscle-relaxation purposes, like:
- Relaxing the muscles that cause migraines and headaches
- Relieving uncontrollable tightening of neck muscles in relation to cervical dystonia
- Treating strabismus and blepharospasm (both eye-related)
- Relieving muscle stiffness in the elbows, wrists and fingers
- Controlling severe underarm sweating
The relief of crow’s feet and the like were initially secondary, as a result of the functions listed. With growing demand for anti-aging treatments, Allergan saw a place in the market for Botox Cosmetic.
But the facets of Botox don’t stop there. Amazingly, these injections may also be used to improve the mobility in children with cerebral palsy and adults who’ve suffered a stroke. There are many more reasons, beyond the cosmetic, for people to celebrate Botox.