The uses of botox seem to be increasing all the time but despite all the hype over its use, there is still a great deal of ignorance about how it achieves the results it does. But to understand exactly what Botox is and what it does, we first have to look at just how this amazing miracle of modern science came to be.

Used originally for disorders of the brain, botox was first studied back in the early 1960’s and derived from the now famous poison Botulinum toxin. Then a few decades later in 1989, the Federal Drug Administration in America finally approved its use to treat disorders associated with vision; excessive, involuntary blinking and for people suffering with crossed eyes plus on occasion for wrinkles.

More research was carried out into other medical uses and in 2000 it was allowed to be used on patients that had serious contractions in their shoulders and neck, easing the pain and contractions; it as also given the ok to be used on another more unusual eye condition. In all the research that was going on with botox, doctors had found that it was effective at reducing frown lines around the eyebrow area and following this the FDA finally recognized the implications and agreed its commercial use in 2002.

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When Botox is injected into the muscles of the forehead, it blocks nerve impulses which results in the weakening of the muscles that cause frowning and eventually over a period of several months, given enough of these injections, the frown lines start to soften. The lines will to the casual observer, disappear but the same process can now be used on laughter lines around the eyes and forehead lines as well.

Botox injections themselves are actually a diluted form of botulism; the same botulism that can make us very ill but botox use in cosmetic surgery is a purified form the Botulinum toxin. Unfortunately, lines and creases are formed whenever we laugh or make any other facial gesture, caused by muscles contracting.

When we are young and our skin is more elastic, these lines do not show but as we age the constant sue of facial muscles leaves us with lines and whilst many manufacturers have tried to produce creams that can get rid of these wrinkles and creases, unsuccessfully, botox can, at least for a short period. After being injected into the effected area, it temporarily paralyzes these muscles so that you can’t make these expressions and that’s why people who have had Botox injections can look like mannequins.

Depending on the amount of treatments, a person who ahs botox treatment can look fairly normal but their facial gestures will be restricted so that the creases and lines do not show. Botox treatments are still costly though with some single injections costing in the low to high hundreds of dollars.

There is always some concern about new treatments and botox is no exception with many people worried about the long term effects of botox injections but even so this has not stopped its popularity.

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