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BOTOX®
Description,Method of Action and Uses:
What is Botox? BOTOX® treatments, or BOTOX® injection treatments are injections made by a small needle into very specific facial muscles. BOTOX®, short for "Botulism Toxin", often referred to by the product names BOTOX® Cosmetic or Myobloc® is a biologic agent actually derived from a bacteria called Clostridium Botulinim. This bacteria produces a toxin that usually is undesirable when ingested and distributed throughout the whole body causing paralysis, (botulism). When scientists discovered that this toxin can be isolated and injected in very small amounts into select muscles, they found it can be extremely safe and only stays where they inject it! Botox is a muscle-relaxing agent that works at motor nerve endings (nerves that lead to muscles). This causes very select and specific paralysis to only the muscles that it is injected into. When BOTOX® -- botulinum toxin A -- is injected into the muscles surrounding the eyes, for instance, those muscles can not "scrunch up" for a period of time. They are paralyzed. So the wrinkles in that area, often referred to as "crow's-feet, or "frown lines" temporarily go away.
What are all of the uses of Botox? BOTOX® injection treatments were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for cosmetic use in April 2002. (It has been approved for the treatment of several medical conditions since 1989.) Work with Botox began in the late 1960s to treat neurological disorders. Today, Botox is used for the treatment of frown lines, forehead furrows, "crow’s feet," lines and wrinkles of the lower face, and even nasal muscles (to decrease nostril flaring). BOTOX® injection treatments are successfully used to treat blepharospasm and strabismus, and BOTOX® treatments are also proven useful in treating cervical dystonia -- these are all conditions that in some way involve spasms, involuntary muscle contractions. Within a few hours to a couple of days after the botulinum toxin is injected into the affected muscle(s), the spasms or contractions are reduced or eliminated altogether. The effects of BOTOX® treatments are not permanent, reportedly lasting anywhere from three to eight months. By injecting the toxin directly into a certain muscle or muscle group, the risk of the BOTOX® injection treatments spreading to other areas of the body is greatly diminished.
Techniques of Administration:
How is Botox given? The patient is asked to contract the muscles in the area being treated so the surgeon can determine the proper location for injection. In most cases, Botox is injected directly into the muscle with a tiny needle. Injecting Botox is a simple, 10-minute, non-surgical process. A few tiny injections, and within days there can be a noticeable improvement in the moderate to severe frown lines between the brows that can last up to 4 months. Your doctor will administer several tiny injections directly into the muscles that cause those moderate to severe frown lines between the brows. Your doctor will determine where to administer the injections by examining your ability to move certain muscles in your brow area. The location, size, and use of the muscles that create a furrowed brow vary markedly among individuals. No anesthesia is required, although your doctor may choose to numb the area with a cold pack or anesthetic cream prior to injecting. Discomfort is usually minimal and brief. Most patients compare the sensation to a pin prick. You may resume normal activity immediately. You may see a marked improvement between your brows within days. Improvement may continue for as long as a month, and could last up to 4 months.
Possible Side Effects:
What kind of side effects can you get from Botox?Typically the amount of BOTOX® and side effects and BOTOX® danger remains low. Any BOTOX® side effects can typically only last 6 months at a maximum, because BOTOX® treatments are temporary. People with neuromuscular disorders should consult with their physician carefully before having a BOTOX® injection treatment, as cardiovascular problems may arise. Likewise, those with cardiovascular disease should also pay special attention. It is a natural response to assume there is some BOTOX® injection danger with a prosuct derived from a toxin, but it is in fact very safe, and has been is use for some time. It is always prudent to refview the BOTOX® injection side effects and procedure so that any BOTOX® injection danger is know and understood. Some patients have been known to experience the side effects of BOTOX® of bruisng at the site of the injection. The most common BOTOX® side effects following the use of BOTOX® Cosmetic for glabellar lines are headache (13.3%), respiratory infection (3.5%), temporary eyelid droop (3.2%), nausea (3.0%), and flu syndrome (2.0%). Blepharoptosis is consistent with the pharmacologic action of BOTOX® Cosmetic and may be technique related. In rare occurences BOTOX® cosmetic can spread into neighboring muscles and cause temporary paralysis. In less that 1% of patients, this can cause drooping of the eyelid. Less frequently side effects of BOTOX® occurring (<3%) adverse reactions included pain in the face, erythema at the injection site, and muscle weakness. These events are thought to be associated with the injection and occurred within the first week.
Cost and Pricing:
How much should you pay for Botox? Many people ask us what exactly is the BOTOX® price. Your surgeons price for BOTOX® will be about $400 dollars. Your BOTOX® price should be about $500-$2000 for each area injected. Expect to pay this BOTOX® cost every four to six months to maintain your result. Allergan Inc., the company that makes BOTOX®, has issued statements that the supply will be more than adequate to meet expected needs. "We can produce enough product, and we don't foresee any kind of problems with production that would interrupt supply," said Christine Cassiano, a company spokeswoman. In addition, unlike many vaccines and other pharmaceuticals currently in short supply, BOTOX® is both central to the manufacturer's growth strategy and a moneymaker that the company is unlikely to do anything to jeopardize. It is also fairly easy to make, and a little goes a long way. The Botox price is not expected to increase. Pharmaceutical industry experts also expect that Allergan's profit strategy is more likely to focus on expanding the market than increasing the Botox price. "They will really make more money if they grow the market," Dr. Webster said. "And they want repeat customers."
Who should administer:
Can anyone administer Botox? Administering Botox is a farely simple non-invasive procedure and many different professionals administer Botox. It is extremely important to know a few details about who is about to inject you with a potentially paralytic agent. The questions that need to be answered are: what field of medicine do they practice?; how much experience do they have?; how many people have they administered botox to?; how much general medical experience do they have? Traditionally plastic surgeons and dermatologists dominated the field of aesthetics and botox administration , but increasingly other physicians and health professionals in various fields are focusing their practices on aesthetics. It is generally agreed that those with the most experience, credentials, and satisfied patients are those that you should have administer your botox.

Where to find research:
Where do you find the statistics and studies that prove facts about botox? You can find several research articles all about Botox - ranging from studies on side effects, uses, administration, to pharmacology of Botox - all here on the AestheticNetwork.com! Click here for free research articles!