Botox Injections

Wednesday May 10, 2006 ins: Facial Cosmetic Surgery Tag(s):

Not too many people are keen on going under a surgeon’s knife, whether they be for general surgery or cosmetic surgery purposes. There are even some who faint at the sight of an injection needle, a scalpel, or just seeing somebody being cut with something sharp.

That is probably why non-surgical cosmetic procedures are becoming more and more popular with those who want to improve their looks but are deathly afraid of surgery. Among the most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedures nowadays are Botox injections.

A growing number of people are now hooked on Botox simply because it does deliver on its promise of removing unwanted wrinkles, banishing unsightly neck bands, and clearing crow's-feet away. The procedure has become so mainstream that Botox parties, a social gathering where participants get their Botox fixes, are now popping up everywhere.

The funny things is, not too many people realize that Botox stands for botulinum toxin. Operative word: toxin. And Botox is not just any toxin, but a toxin produced by botulism, a form of food poisoning.

How then could something toxic become the basis for a wildly popular cosmetic procedure?

In the 1950s, researchers have discovered that they can decrease activity of overactive muscles with minute injections of botulinum toxin type A. As the toxin was packaged as Botox for treating eye muscle disorders such as misaligned eyes and blepharospasm (uncontrollable blinking), its cosmetic benefits were quickly realized when the frown lines between the eyebrows of patients appeared to soften after treatments.

Today, Botox applications are not limited to cosmetics. It is also found useful in treating various illnesses such as migraines, cervical dystonia, and excessive sweating, to name a few.

However, before hopping onto the bandwagon, it would be worthwhile to check out the possible side effects of Botox. Always keep in mind that Botox miracles notwithstanding, it is still basically a toxin, and therefore carries attendant risks.

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