Botox

-The use of Botox for cosmetic purposes was discovered in 1990, after doctors found that the same treatment used for treating eye muscle spasms could prevent wrinkles. By disabling the muscles in the forehead and eyebrows, doctors found that Botox could both eliminate the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and prevent new ones.

Source: Discovery Health, 2009.

-Botox is one of America’s most popular cosmetic procedures, with almost 800,000 performed procedures in 2000 according to the American Society of Plastic surgeons.

Source: Discovery Health, 2009.

-By 2007, the number of Botox procedures performed in the United States jumped to 4.6 million, 300,000 of which were performed on men.

Source: Seth Kugel, New York Times October 15^th 2008

Because men’s facial muscles are generally stronger, higher doses of botox are usually needed to eliminate wrinkles for men.

Source: Kugel, New York Times October 15^th 2008

-The Botox injection is made from a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.

Source: United States National Institute of Health, 2009.

-Botox is used to treat all of the following: Temporary removal of facial wrinkles, severe underarm sweating, cervical dystonia (neck and shoulder contractions from a neurological disorder), blepharospasm (uncontrollable blinking) and strabismus (misaligned eyes)

Source: United States National Institute of Health, 2009.

-In April 2002, Botox gained FDA approval for treatment of moderate-to-severe frown lines between the eyebrows - called glabellar lines.

Source: The Cleveland Clinic, Department of Dermatology, 2007.

Botox blocks signals from the nerves to the muscles. The injected muscle can no longer contract, which causes the wrinkles to relax and soften.

Source: The Cleveland Clinic, Department of Dermatology, 2007