Botox – Beyond Anti Aging Agent

Botox takes cosmetics and anti aging to a whole new level

Most of us have heard of Botox and kind of know its application. The television and the Internet are both advertising this product. All types of ads are found everywhere screaming Botox. But what is it and what does it do? It is the latest innovation in the cosmetics and medical field. It has been with us since the 1980s, and has various uses, from facial applications or rejuvenation to serious medical conditions such as migraines.

Botox derives from the Botulinum Toxin. The Botolinum Toxin type A is a powerful neurotoxin from the bacteria called Clostridium Botulinum. This bacterium is a food contaminant which causes a disease called botulism. Botulism may even cause death due to paralysis of the respiratory system.

Scientifically speaking, the Botulinum Toxin blocks nerve endings. This blockade inhibits the release of the neurotransmitter called acetylcholine which causes muscle contraction. So when its secretion is inhibited the muscles are relaxed. Muscle relaxation is the feature which the development of Botox mainly relies on and which aroused the interest of the cosmetics industry in the first place.

Botox Cosmetic

Whenever you hear the term Botox, it is mainly the work of the cosmetics industry which advertises it heavily. Botox is known more for its cosmetics applications than its medical use. According to statistics, it is consistently found every year in the top of the non-surgical cosmetics procedures.

The first documentation on the Botulinum Toxin as a cosmetics product was done in 1989 by a Californian plastic surgeon, Dr. Richard Clark. Several studies then followed, and after years of research, the United States Food and Drugs Administration have eventually approved its use. It became a major breakthrough for the cosmetics industry.

Botox is mainly used to treat wrinkles caused by aging. Officially, in cosmetics it was approved for treating glabellar lines (frown lines found in between eyebrows). But other cosmetic applications include the treatment of crow’s feet, frown lines and furrows on the face.

Many people patronize it over other cosmetic procedures. This is because it is less painful and more “natural” since there isn’t much modification or alteration done to the face as opposed to plastic surgery. Effects vary from one person to another but a single treatment can last up to eight months.

Botox For Migraines

One of the latest studiess about Botulinum Toxin was related to its use in the treatment of chronic migraines. Ultimately in October 2010, Botox was approved to be used for the reduction of migraine attacks.

Migraine is an episodic medical condition characterized by severe headache. It is described as a severe throbbing pain in the head or neck which worsens upon exertion. The throbbing pain usually lasts for about 6 to 48 hours. Migraine is usually accompanied by symptoms such as sensitivity to light, sound or odors, nausea and vomiting. Most people with chronic migraine experience an attack like that 14 times a month greatly disabling their normal functioning and affecting their lives.

With the approval of Botox, these patients are given hope for a better life. There is currently little treatment options for migraine patients and all treatments serve for decreasing the pain. None of treatments has any preventive action. But Botox can be used as a prophylactic agent. Its effectiveness was proven by several case studies. It is now administered as an injection in the head or neck every three months. The most common adverse effects experienced by patients were neck pain and minor headache. Overall, the benefits of treatment outweigh its adverse effects.

Botox Cost

However, most people would use this drug for cosmetic purposes. A typical unit will cost about $20. That is for a single unit only. But a typical treatment area, for example a glabellar line, may require as much as 20 units, adding up to as much as $400. That is a not cheap but most cosmetic procedure cost even more. And imagine that this is not a one-time procedure. Every 6-8 months Botox needs to be re-injected in order to maintain the good looks.

Ever heard of a Botox party? Most people using this kind of cosmetic procedure are into Botox parties. These parties are like social gatherings where a group of about ten people will meet in a certain place, socializing while they receive the treatment one by one from an invited practitioner (though most of the times they themselves apply it without the supervision of a health professional). These parties, of course, carry additional costs for patients.

Some people would use it for their medical needs. Since multiple areas require multiple units, its cost is way higher as compared to other migraine medications. But considering its long term effect (about 3 months) and its prophylactic nature, it can be said that Botox therapy for migraine is very cost effective.

Botox Injections

Medication based on Botulinum Toxin is applied using a syringe and needle. It has a wide variety of uses apart from cosmetics and migraines. Because of its ability to relax muscle by virtue of paralysis, it has been found to be useful in several other disorders that involve muscle contraction.

It is used for the treatment of:

cervical Dystonia (neurologic movement disorder where there is repeated muscle contration),
certain eye disorders like Blepharospasms (excessive blinking) and Strabismus
Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating of the underarms)
Urinary incontinence caused by neurologic disorders

Regardless of purpose, whether cosmetic or medical, Botox injections should only be administered by a health professional. And that is because when it is applied in the wrong place, serious effects of the toxin, primarily paralysis, may be experienced. It may even be fatal when it passes into the blood, reaching vital organs, specially the respiratory system. Respiratory failure due to paralysis is the most common cause of death with unintended poisoning with the Botulinum Toxin.

Dysport vs Botox

Botox, or its generic name onabotulinumtoxinA, was first marketed by a company called Allergan Inc., which has given it its famous brand name. Allergan Inc., based in the USA, released the drug in 2002. It reached about two billion dollars in sales in just two years. It was made available in 100units vials.

For the next years, Botox has dominated the market because of the lack of competition. But this has was about to change. Its first competing brand has been released in 2009, under the name of Dysport. Dysport is produced by Medicis and Ipsen, a company based in Ireland. Medicis is the company division responsible for its cosmetics use while Ipsen is responsible for its medical indication (cervical dystonia). It’s made available in 100, 300 and 500 units vials.

Though the drugs are marketed under different brand names and are available in different units, the most striking difference between Dysport and Botox is the cost. Naturally, for a new drug to compete with a standard already traditional drug, its price was lowered for market entry. Putting aside its price, Dysport and Botox are essentially the same. Both are based on the Botulinum toxin, they have similar indications, mode of administration and side effects.

In conclusion, Botox is a drug derived from a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. It acts by blocking the nerve endings resulting into muscle relaxation. It has found its uses in the cosmetics (wrinkles) and medical fields (muscle contraction disorders and migraines). It is only administered in shots and it involves a high risk of paralysis unless the procedure is done by a qualified health specialist. It is actually known as the most powerful neurotoxin ever discovered.

Essentially, Botox is the same with Dysport, its competitor brand.