Botox is one of the world’s more famous brand names. It’s more well known than most of the celebrities who swear by it. Because of all the adulation, many people think Botox has been around for decades. Actually, the FDA only approved Botox for the treatment of wrinkles in 2002. That’s when Botox started on its path to becoming the world’s most popular cosmetic procedure year in and year out.
But Botox was working in other areas of human health long before it took on crow’s feet. Since at Deschutes we have many Botox fans, here are some additional facts about Botox:
The origins or Botox
Most people know that Botox has some relationship with botulism. When it was first introduced for cosmetic uses, there were rumors of people getting botulism that were untrue.
Botox is derived from clostridium botulinum, the bacteria that can cause botulism. Surprisingly, these bacteria can be found in their inactive form all through the natural environment, including in cultivated soil and in forest soil, and in the sediment of lakes, streams, coastal and untreated waters.
Medicinal uses
Long before it was erasing wrinkles, Botox had many uses in the wider medical arena; it has been used medicinally for decades. After it was found that the botulinum toxin type A, when injected in very small amounts, could make muscles temporarily stop contracting it was tried in various capacities. It is now used for the following therapeutic applications:
- Strabismus (crossed eyes)
- Blepharospasm (involuntary eyelid spasms)
- Idiopathic rotational cervical dystonia (severe neck and shoulder muscle spasms)
- Hemifacial spasm
- Chronic migraine headaches
- Severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)
- Post-stroke upper limb spasticity
- Urinary incontinence
- Overactive bladder
It is also used “off-label” for:
- Achalasia (esophageal problems creating difficulty swallowing)
- Sialorrhea (hypersalivation)
- Allergic rhinitis
- Hepatopancreatic dysfunction
- Cerebral palsy
- Oromandibular dystonia (forceful contraction of the jaw, face, and/or tongue)
- Laryngeal dystonia (forceful contraction of the vocal cords)
More about Botox
Every year since its cosmetic introduction, Botox treatments have been the most popular cosmetic procedure worldwide.
Although Botox is by far the most popular brand, the botulinum toxin is also sold commercially under these other brand names: Vistabel, Dysport, Bocouture, Xeomin, and Myobloc.
Do you want to become a member of Botox’s fan club? Call us at Deschutes, [primary_phone], and set up your Botox session.
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