Botox® Cosmetic
Botox® Cosmetic targets dynamic wrinkles, which are wrinkles that form due to the repeated movement of the facial muscles. Dynamic wrinkles include forehead lines, frown lines, and crow’s feet.
Botox® is the most well-known brand of botulinum toxin type A. It is made by the bacterium clostridium botulinum. Botox® is a neurotoxin, which means it works by preventing the nerve signaling process that causes the muscles to contract. This causes the facial muscles to relax and smooths the overlying skin, making wrinkles less noticeable.
How Safe Is Botox?
Questions concerning the safety of Botox® arise because it is made from botulinum toxin, which is the same toxin that causes botulism (a type of food poisoning). The good news is, Botox® is a purified form of botulinum toxin and is administered in safe, small doses.
When Botox® is injected into the facial muscles it is used in minimal amounts, and there is a low risk of complications.
Botox® underwent numerous clinical tests before gaining approval for cosmetic use and is one of the most extensively researched treatments of its kind. Over 500 peer-reviewed articles have been published in scientific and medical journals confirming the safety and efficacy of Botox®.
Before Botox® received approval by the FDA in 2002 for smoothing fine lines and wrinkles, it was used safely in ophthalmology to treat conditions such as crossed eyes and eyelid twitching.