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Botox has become a well used cosmetic enhancement over the last few years by ridding people of age line and wrinkles; the problem lies in the general misconception about the cosmetic effect it creates. To help with this, we need to step back a few decades to when this substance was first researched and used. The substance is derived from Botulinum toxin, discovered nearly five decades ago; it was used to treat patients with neurological problems.

It wasn’t until around 1989 that the Federal Drug Administration agreed to allow its use in medical procedures to help people with disorders of the eye; some of these included patients with excessive, involuntary blinking and for those suffering with crossed eyes plus, on occasion, wrinkles. More research was carried out into other medical uses and in 2000 it was allowed to be used on patients that had a cervical dystonia condition; this eases the pain from serious contractions in the shoulders and neck, but it was also given the ok to be used on another more unusual eye condition. In their research, doctors discovered that Botox softened the frown lines between the eyebrows; after further tests in 2002 the FDA allowed it to be used for the first cosmetic enhancement and the drug finally had a new field of use.

Now, botox is injected into a number of areas, one of which is the forehead to help lessen the effect of years of muscle use that causes a frown; when given sufficient injections given over a period of time, frown lines for example, will reduce in intensity. If this procedure is continued, in many instances the lines will soften so much they will seem to disappear; now the same procedure is used on other areas of the face where lines form, generally with age. The injections are a purified and watered down version of the sometimes fatal Botulinum poison; Botulinum toxin can be deadly and at the very least make us unwell but when it is used in cosmetic procedures it is safe.

Unfortunately, lines and creases form whenever we laugh (especially as we get older) or make any other facial gesture; they are caused by muscles contracting. After years of making these expressions the wear and tear on your face begins to be noticeable and the lines start to become permanent; many ‘skin age reduction cream’ manufacturers have tried to produce creams that reduce facial line but this is the only treatment that works, currently. Because botox paralyzes the facial muscles, normal movement, expressions and gestures are almost impossible to make; people who have regular treatment often look as though they are dummies because they cannot smile properly or make other facial gestures that we tend to rely on.

Whilst the face can still provide expressions, they are seriously reduced but this give the effect of someone looking much younger than they really are. Whilst popular this cosmetic treatment is still very expensive for what it is; this is why it has been coined as something only celebrities have performed because the least expensive injection can still cost upwards of 300 dollars to in excess of 1,000 dollars. There is always some concern about new treatments and botox is no exception with many people worried about the long term effects of injections, but even so this has not stopped its popularity.