Botox – Fountain of Youth Or Poison in Your Face?
What Is Botox?
Derived from the botulinum toxin type A, Botox is a brand name for a highly purified and Cornelius lip filler diluted preparation of botulinum used in numerous medical and cosmetic applications. It is also sold under the names Dysport and Myobloc. Botox is most widely known for its use in removing wrinkles.
While the botulinum toxic itself is highly poisonous and even deadly, the same toxin in smaller doses can be used to safely treat a variety of conditions. Botox is most widely known for its use in removing wrinkles, but is also has numerous medical applications.
Botox was first used in medicine to treat strabismus, a condition in which a person’s eyes do not align normally, and blepahrospasm, or uncontrolled blinking. Today, Botox is the most commonly performed cosmetic operation in America, with over four and a half million people getting the treatment in 2007.
Does Botox Work?
Botox does work to lessen the appearance of wrinkles, but this effect is temporary and has a host of risks attached, including paralysis of the wrong muscles and changes in facial expressions. So is Botox a fountain of youth or just poison injected into your face? Like so many things in life, the answer isn’t black and white, and while this answer many not satisfy some readers, both are true to a certain extent.
What Is BotoxUsed For?
Cosmetically, Botox is only FDA approved for use in smoothing out wrinkles in the forehead between the eyebrows, reducing crow’s feet, forehead lines and frown lines. Additionally, Botox is used to treat various medical conditions, including:
Achalasia – an esophageal disorder characterized by difficulty swallowing
Blepharospasm – involuntary blinking
Cervical Dystonia – a neurological disorder that causes the muscles around the neck and shoulder to contract uncontrollably
Hyperhidrosis – abnormal underarm sweating
Strabismus – crossed eyes