April 21, 2022
Botox is a protein derived from Botulinum toxin, which is produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. This toxin is the same one that causes botulism.
Botox is a toxin, but when used correctly and in moderate dosages by experts, it can be beneficial. It has both cosmetic and medicinal applications.
Furthermore, the FDA has licensed it as a treatment for a variety of health conditions, including eyelid spasms, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), some bladder illnesses, and migraine.
Here are 8 Fun Facts about Botox that you may not know:
Fact 1:
Topmost treatment all across the world.
In 2020, around 6.2 million Botox injection procedures were performed all around the globe, as it remains on the top non-surgical cosmetic procedure list.
Fact 2:
Botox was discovered accidentally.
A toxin that was typically utilized by ophthalmologists in 1987 was unintentionally found to have aesthetic characteristics by Vancouver doctors Jean and Alastair Carruthers. The finding made by the pair altered the definition of beauty and later gave rise to a billion-dollar business.
Fact 3:
Botox can treats migraines.
In 2010, FDA approved medicines (such as Botox, Dysport, etc) that helped those who suffer from persistent migraines. According to experts, a single injection can entirely disarm a severe or chronic migraine.
Fact 4:
Botox for Men.
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Botox injections are the most popular cosmetic surgery among men, with over 473,354 treatments done in 2019 alone, a 403% increase since 2000.
Fact 5:
Fits busy schedules.
Botox doesn’t last more than 30 minutes. It has no side effects such as redness or swelling so you can resume your normal activities immediately. You can schedule an appointment at Esteem Medical Clinic during your lunch break or on your way home from school. Professionals suggest avoiding Botox before or after exercise since high blood pressure may tamper with your outcomes.
Fact 6:
Botox can treat depression.
The team discovered that people who received Botox injections, at six different sites, not just the forehead reported depression significantly less frequently than patients undergoing different treatments for the same conditions in the study, which was published on July 30, 2020, in Scientific Reports.
“Clinicians have noted for years that Botox given for cosmetic reasons appears to treat depression in their patients,” stated Ruben Abagyan, Ph.D., professor of pharmacy.
Fact 7:
Botox relaxes muscles, not paralyze it.
Botulinum toxin, when injected into a target muscle, blocks the release of acetylcholine, resulting in muscular relaxation and reduced stiffness.
Botox treatments, despite widespread assumption, no longer paralyze muscles when performed properly. The objective today is to relax the muscle, leaving the patient with smooth and natural-looking skin.
Fact 8:
Botox can be dangerous
Botox treatments administered by anybody other than a registered medical practitioner or a dermatologist are risky. Remember that Botox is a chemical, which is why it is essential to get treatments from someone who has expertise in delivering them to maximize the benefits.
Botox over the time
A doctor who took part in early Botox clinical studies stated there is no evidence that patients should limit the number of botox injections they get. He claims that he still sees some of the same patients who began receiving Botox injections 20 years ago and that they have had no adverse responses.
While some research implies that patients may build a tolerance to Botulinum toxin, one doctor claims to have witnessed the reverse effect. “You can grow resistant to Botox injections, where it’s no longer as effective as it once was,” he explained. “On the other side, these muscles that you’re injecting into might atrophy because they’re not used. As a result, the impact might occasionally improve with time.”
He predicted that 10% to 20% of his patients would require a higher dose or more frequent injections. According to him, less than 5% of patients would acquire total immunity to Botox. A Doctor stated that in these cases, he either prescribes another medicine (such as botulinum toxin type B) or suggests surgical surgery.