While many people think of BOTOX® therapy as an exciting new treatment for wrinkles, it has actually been used for several years to treat certain medical conditions. In fact, its use as a cosmetic treatment was only discovered when people using it to treat facial muscle spasms noticed an improvement in their wrinkles.

What is BOTOX®?

BOTOX® is a purified form of botulinum toxin type A, a chemical toxin that is produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Although this is the same toxin that causes botulism - a type of infection that can result in life-threatening muscle paralysis - BOTOX® is safe to use as an injectable medicine because it is used in such small quantities and injected directly into specific sites.

How does it work?

BOTOX® therapy works by blocking the release of a neurotransmitter (a chemical messenger) known as acetylcholine from nerve cells. Acetylcholine normally transmits nerve impulses to muscle cells. Without acetylcholine, the affected nerve is unable to send a signal to the muscle it supplies, resulting in a weakened or paralysed muscle. The effect of BOTOX® injection is restricted to the area being treated, and because the nerve fibres usually regenerate after a couple of months, the effect is only temporary.

What is it used for?

BOTOX® therapy is used to treat medical conditions such as:

• blepharospasm (twitching or spasm of the eyelid);
• cervical dystonia, or spasmodic torticollis (a type of muscle spasm in the neck);
• facial or other localised muscle spasms;
• muscle spasticity due to cerebral palsy; and
• strabismus (a condition where the eyes are not properly aligned).

BOTOX® therapy can also be injected into the skin to block the action of the nerves that control your sweat glands. It can be used in this way to treat excessive localised sweating (hyperhidrosis), especially severe underarm sweating.

How is BOTOX® injection used to treat wrinkles?

BOTOX® injection can be used to weaken or immobilise some of the facial muscles that pull on your skin and cause wrinkles. So, about two to seven days after being injected with BOTOX®, the lines and wrinkles that are normally caused by certain facial expressions start to disappear. Because treatment with BOTOX® injection targets specific, individual muscles, the ability to form most facial expressions should not be affected.

How long does the effect last?

The improvement in the appearance of your wrinkles usually lasts for three to six months, and repeated injections are required to maintain the effect. With continued use, the effects may start to last longer.

Is BOTOX® therapy safe?

BOTOX® injection is a relatively safe treatment when administered by a medical professional who is trained in its use. As with all treatments, there are some side effects associated with BOTOX® therapy, but most of these are mild and temporary. Pain, tenderness and bruising may be associated with the injection, and some people have reported a slight headache after treatment.

There is only a small risk of significant side effects from BOTOX® treatment. In fact, the most common significant side effect - a drooping eyelid, which usually only lasts a few days, but can last longer - was reported in only 3.2% of people in one study.

It’s important to remember that that all medical procedures carry risks as well as benefits, and you need to discuss these with your doctor.

Original material provided by myDr. Edited by everybody, August 2005.