Why We Like Botox

Although the chemical compound that is used as the active ingredient had been used for a number of years, Botox first came on the market as an FDA approved therapeutic drug in 1989. However, it wasn’t until 2002 that a specific variant, botulinum toxin type A, was approved for use in non-invasive cosmetic surgery.

It’s fair to say that the first application, as a way to treat frown lines, was fairly popular from the outset, but thanks to its immense popularity with celebrities, it has become the injectable of choice for people who want to remain youthful-looking in the face of the inevitable aging process.

What does Botox Cosmetic actually do? In essence, it helps to reduce the appearance of frown lines, and can also be used to reduce excessive sweating and mitigate migraines, a more recent development. The effect can last months before the body naturally reduces, absorbs, removes and disposes of it.

How Does Botox Cosmetic Work?

One typical belief is that Botox Cosmetic simply paralyzes your face, removing any possibility for the face to express or rendering the face immobile. This can happen, if the drug is administered by an inadequately trained, inexperienced and unsupervised person. However, in the hands of a true professional, Botox Cosmetic can often be administered in such a way that there is some doubt as to whether it has been used at all.

In fact, the active ingredients just block certain messages from nerves to certain muscles, thereby allowing them to relax and removing that permanent frown that causes wrinkles. It takes minutes to perform the injections, causes a little localized bruising, and as long as the surgeon’s instructions are followed, will last for a few months.

The Future of Botox

It is expected that Botox Cosmetic will continue to be popular, since the alternatives are effectively facelift surgery. While this is nothing avoid, most people would prefer to explore non-surgical rejuvenation options, such as fillers, and injectableslike Botox first, especially if they are relatively young.

The use is also stretching to other areas of the face. For example, a quick scan of online forums dedicated to cosmetic surgery reveal patients expressing support for Botox in helping to reduce gummy smiles, slimming jawlines, and even facial spasms. This last was also one of the first uses of Botox as a blocking device to stop twitches just by preventing the nerves from triggering a spasm in the muscle.

As people become more sensitive to their appearance, and with the rise of photo sharing and social media, it is clear that there is a solid future for Botox. As an alternative to surgery, it provides a credible option for people who would like to stave off the effects of aging, stress and a busy lifestyle.