The Benefits of Botox

Posted on 03. May, 2009 by Valerie in Non-Surgical Procedures

By now it is extremely likely that you have at least heard of Botox injections.  All the rage among many starlets and even leading men as well as a significant number of housewives. Botox is a neurotoxin that is a byproduct of botulism, or food poisoning.

While this may surprise or even scare you, Botox actually has a number of medical uses that make it a highly effective form of treatment.  In addition to temporarily eliminating wrinkles, here are a few of the fascinating applications of Botox, or botulinum toxin A.

Botox is used to treat a wide array of spasms.  From spasms of the eyelid to spasms of the cervix, the main effect of botulism toxins is paralysis.  While systemic paralysis is potentially fatal, locally injected botulinum that is placed only in a particular muscle is remarkably safe and can temporarily paralyze muscles, resulting in up to eight months without spasms.  For patients suffering from a variety of diseases this can be remarkably beneficial.  It is through the study of this effect that the cosmetic applications of Botox were inadvertently discovered.

Today, many people use Botox to rid themselves of fine lines, wrinkles, and crow’s feet.  By injecting the toxin into the muscles of the face, contractions are no longer possible due to muscle paralysis, creating a smoother and more youthful appearance.  The injections are approved for people up to aged 65.

Other uses for Botox include the treatment of everything from excessive sweating to writer’s cramp.  It is also being studied as a possible treatment for spasms of the larynx.  What is already known, however, is that in addition to being considered by many to be a wonder and an excellent alternative to surgery, Botox injections are actually a remarkably beneficial medical treatment with a number of practical applications.

Tags: Botox, Injections, wrinkles