Most everyone knows what Botox does, but not many know what Botox really is. Botox is actually just the brand name of a medical grade toxin called botulinum toxin type A. This type of toxin comes from a particular bacterium found in improperly handled meat. It can be deadly, but if injected in the proper places and in small doses, it can relax the muscles for up to several months. Botox isn’t just used as a wrinkle removal treatment. It has also been used to treat medical conditions such as severe muscle spasms, lazy eye, and chronic migraines.
A Belgian scientist first discovered the bacterium that Botox is derived from in 1897. However, it was not until 1928 that the toxin could be purified. The first experiments for medical treatments were not done until the late 1960s Alan Scott, M.D., an ophthalmologist from San Francisco. He used botulinum toxin type A in 1980 to treat humans with crossed eyes as well as those with uncontrollable blinking. It was also discovered that Botox could treat excessive sweating, muscle stiffness and neck and back pain.
The effect of Botox treatment on wrinkles was first published in 1992. Two Canadian physicians did a study on treating frown lines with botulinum toxin type A. The FDA approved the use of the toxin in 2002 as a temporary treatment to improve the appearance of frown lines between the eyebrows. Since then, celebrities have used Botox as a way to improve their appearances without invasive surgery.
How Safe Is It?
When administered by a licensed and experienced provider, having these injections is quite safe. Like with any medical procedure, some side effects can occur. Most of these are temporary and only cause mild discomfort, but it they persist, you should call your doctor right away. Patients have reported bruising at the injection site, headaches, itching, nausea, redness, increased body sweat and temporary muscle weakness. Very rarely, patients can develop serious side effects such as an allergic reaction, flu-like symptoms, severe rash, shortness of breath, bruising around the eye, seizures or face and neck pain.
There is a small chance that the Botox treatment will spread to other areas of the body and cause symptoms similar to botulism (paralysis of the muscles). These signs can happen anytime from a few hours up to a few weeks after the injection. If you experience any of the following, call should always call your doctor immediately; trouble seeing, muscle weakness throughout the body, loss of bladder control, or difficulty breathing, speaking, or swallowing.
Restylane and Radiesse: The Next Botox
Botox may be great, but it only relaxes the muscles around the problem areas. To lessen the appearance of wrinkles, there are two newer products called Restylane and Radiesse. Both of these wrinkle removal treatments can be used on different areas of the face, such as around the mouth, the corners of the eyes, as well as the forehead. These products are referred to as dermal fillers because they are injected into the problem area to fill out the lines or wrinkles the patient wants to get rid of.
Restylane and Radiesse are made of substances that can be found naturally in the human body. Many consider them safer to inject than Botox, which is a refined toxin, and collagen, which can contain bovine collagen. Since they are naturally occurring, fewer people experience side effects and the risks are minimal. The most common effect reported is swelling and bruising around the injection site.
Restylane and Radiesse continue to grow in popularity as better alternatives to Botox treatments. In 2006, Restylane became one of the top five most popular noninvasive procedures in America. Restylane is used to plump areas that have lost fat and fill in lines and wrinkles. It can be used for smile lines, areas around the eyes, thin lips, and lip lines. The effects of Restylane last for six to twelve months before touch ups are needed.
Radiesse is becoming the preferred dermal filler because the effects last up to two years versus one year for Restylane. It has also been shown to promote new collagen growth, helping the patient regain a youthful appearance. Radiesse has been the focus of several studies and was found to be more effective than Restylane. The studies show that most patients prefer Radiesse, they were more satisfied with their experience when using Radiesse, and when compared to Restylane, overall it provided greater improvement to the treated areas.
