Take a look at what we know about this popular aesthetic treatment
When used properly, Botox is extremely safe. Interestingly enough, however, it comes from botulinum toxin type A, a purified substance that originates from the infamous botulinum toxin, the very same bacteria that’s been dubbed the “most potent toxin known to mankind.”
First, a Look at where Botox comes from
Botox is short for Botulinum toxin type A. Botulinum toxin is a purified substance that originates from the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. So what is C. botulinum you may ask?
Well, according to the USDA, that stuff is pretty much everywhere. It’s in our soil and marine sediments, most commonly as spores. While the spores are generally inactive, things get pretty spicy if the spores start to grow into active bacteria and then produce… neurotoxins. As you may already know, neurotoxins are chemicals that affect our central nervous system and can impact nerves and nerve tissue, blocking the release of acetylcholine, which causes muscle paralysis. Woah!
In the presence of botulinum toxin, muscle cells can’t contract, and so become paralyzed. This muscle paralysis also results in a temporary decrease in wrinkles and frown lines – aka the magic behind botox and disport.
So how do we get from scary Clostridium botulinum to super safe Botox? The entire process is “proprietary information”, but essentially Botox is manufactured by growing the bacteria and then purifying it to remove any dangerous bacterial substances, leaving just the purified neurotoxin complex.
The Botox we use in everyday aesthetic injections is a sterile and lyophilized (freezed very quickly and then subjecting it to a vacuum which removes ice) form of botulinum toxin type A.
The FDA approved Botox in 1989 for the treatment of strabismus (a vision disorder), hemifacial spasms (involuntarily facial twitching), and blepharospasm (uncontrolled blinking).
Is Botox Safe?
Today Botox is used in almost every sub-specialty of medicine. In addition to aesthetic injections, Botulinum toxins are used frequently to treat many medical conditions including headaches, focal dystonias (involuntary muscle twitches), various spastic movement disorders, hypersalivation and hyperhidrosis.
The safety and effectiveness of Botox has been featured in more than 16 years of published research and described in 4700 articles in peer-reviewed scientific and medical journals. Many people claim it has become the most widely researched and studied treatment of its kind.
Other uses of Botox in medicine today:
Congenital pelvic tilt
Spasmodic dysphasia (the inability of the muscles of the larynx)
Achalasia (esophageal stricture)
Paralysis of the facial muscles
Failure of the cervix
Anti-cancer drug delivery
The FDA initially approved Botox in December 1989 to treat eye muscle disorders. It was approved in December 2000 to treat cervical dystonia (neurological disorder that causes severe neck and shoulder contractions). And then in April 2002 the FDA approved Botox for cosmetic treatments.
Speaking of the FDA, they just recently approved a Botox alternative called Daxxify that is getting attention. One treatment lasts in many patients for up to six months! More on that to come.
Potential Side Effects from Botox
Botox and Dysport injections are very safe when performed by an experienced and qualified healthcare provider. However, like any medical procedure, there are potential rare risks to consider.
Bruising, swelling, and infection at the injection site. This is rare.
Some people have reported drooping eyelid or brow.
In very rare cases, people may experience an allergic reaction.
Potential for addiction to the treatment. Some people become dependent on the treatment to maintain their appearance, and may continue to receive regular injections even if they are not necessary. We’ll have a friendly heart-to-heart with you if we every think that’s the case.
Finally, one article on Nature.com stressed the importance of doing a full patient assessment before administering botox. This is a wise recommendation given there could be rare complications in patients who are breastfeeding, or who have neuromuscular or neurological disorders. As for getting botox while you’re pregnant — the effects of botulinum toxins during pregnancy are largely unknown. Most doctors recommend against getting injected with Botox while pregnant, simply because there’s just not a lot of data to know one way or the other.
In Conclusion
Botox is a medical treatment and should always be used with some caution. If you are considering getting Botox, be sure to talk to a qualified healthcare provider (like our amazing Dr. Ali with Ayora) who can help you make an informed decision and ensure that you receive the best possible care.
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