Medical BOTOX Injections

What Is BOTOX ®?

BOTOX ® is a therapeutic agent derived from the bacterium, Clostridium Botulinum; Also known as Botulinum Toxin Type A.  The brand BOTOX ® is produced in controlled laboratory conditions and given in extremely small therapeutic doses originally for the treatment of blepharospasm (eye spasm) and strabismus (misalignment of the eye).  BOTOX ® Purified Neurotoxin Complex is a vacuum-dried form of purified botulinum toxin type A and is being investigated or several conditions associated with overactive muscle activity.

What Is BOTOX ® Used For?

Botox ® was originally intended for the treatment of blepharospasm (eye spasm) and strabismus (misalignment of the eye).  However, BOTOX ® was approved in 2002 for cosmetic applications to improve the look of fine lines and superficial wrinkles caused from every day facial expressions like smiling, frowning or squinting by prohibiting these movements.  If you find that the early signs of aging are becoming apparent or if your facial expressions are causing premature wrinkles to appear, then BOTOX ® may be for you.  BOTOX ® is also used in the prevention or smoothing of wrinkles as well, by prohibiting you from making the facial gestures that cause wrinkles.  BOTOX ® may not remove a static wrinkle completely, it only disallows you from furrowing your brow or squinting a certain part around your eye.  If your wrinkles are static then it may lessen them a bit.  However, if your wrinkles are superficial it can smooth it considerably so that it appears that they have been removed.

How Does BOTOX ® Work? 

Normally, your brain sends electrical messages to your muscles so that they can contract and move.  The electrical message is transmitted to the muscle by a substance called acetylcholine .  BOTOX ® works to block the release of acetylcholine and, as a result, the muscle does not receive the message to contract.  This means that the muscle spasms or movements that cause wrinkling, stop or are greatly reduced after using BOTOX ®.  Patients sometimes refer to the effects of the injection to their area of treatment as being paralyzed. 

Warning: Pregnant women must not receive injections of BOTOX ® due to possible crossing of the placenta.