What is Botox?

Botox is the number one cosmetic procedure in the United States, with 3.8 million treatments in 2005. Botox was introduced in the late 1980s by ophthalmologists for treating optic muscle disorders. It was approved by the FDA for cosmetic use in 2002, helping millions of patients get rid of nagging facial lines and wrinkles.

Today, the variety of Botox uses includes ocular muscle spasms, problems with eye coordination, severe armpit perspiration, and as an anti-wrinkle treatment for crow’s feet, frown lines, and to eliminate furrows in the forehead. It is being studied to treat a laundry list of other conditions, from knee and hip osteoarthritis and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) to migraine headache and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

How Does Botox Work?

Botox combats wrinkles that are created when nerve cells within the muscles beneath the skin release a chemical called acetylcholine. This chemical triggers a muscle contraction that creates wrinkles. The Botox product, medically known as Botulinum Toxin Type A, is an injectable compound that disrupts the release of acetylcholine, which essentially paralyzes the muscle and stops the contraction. Results are fully evident within one week after treatment and remain for a minimum of three months.

Botox typically reduces wrinkles by 80 percent. Patients are typically between the ages of 35 and 60. Results vary among individual cases, and the results are temporary. You will need to plan for additional injections, depending on your long-term treatment goals.

How is Botox Applied?

Botox injection is performed in the doctor’s office, usually without anesthesia. However, a numbing cream may be applied to the treatment area. Patients may experience some minimal discomfort from the needle injection. Depending on the extent of treatment, the procedure can take a few minutes up to 20 minutes. Generally, patients return home shortly after the treatment is complete.

The toxins in Botox fasten to the muscles’ nerve endings, which inhibits the release of the chemical acetylcholine. This will stop the muscle contractions that wrinkle the skin.

Botox Side Effects

The most common side effects of Botox include headache, nausea, flu-like symptoms and redness and pain at the injection points. Infrequently, patients may experience muscle weakness or drooping of the upper eyelid muscles. This side effect usually resolves itself within days, or in rare cases, months after the procedure.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) now requires black box labeling on Botox and similar products to warn of a rare, but potentially life-threatening complication if the toxin spreads beyond the injection site. A black box is the strongest warning that the FDA can place on a product. None of these complications occurred in people using Botox for cosmetic reasons and the FDA states that cosmetic use of botox appears to be safe.

Botox Alternatives

There are many Botox alternatives available. There are plenty of wrinkle serum and anti-aging creams that are extremely effective and clinically proven to reduce wrinkles.

"Top 3 Wrinkle Creams of 2011"

It was not easy but we have finally gathered the results of the top wrinkle creams of 2011. From gathering consumer votes and professional reviews we have found out what most people say are the best wrinkle creams of 2011. Surprisingly 2 of the 3 products were ones we have never heard of before but seemed to be very popular among consumers and professionals.