What is BOTOX® Cosmetic?

BOTOX® Cosmetic injections are a diluted form of botulism which is injected into facial muscles to paralyze or weaken the muscles that form wrinkles. Last year, the procedure was performed in the United States more than 1.6 million times, a 46 percent increase since 2000 and a 2,356 percent increase since 1997.
The History of BOTOX® Cosmetic Botulinum toxins were first researched in the late 1960s to treat neurological disorders. otox was first approved by the FDA in 1989 to treat eye muscle disorders (blepharospasm, uncontrollable blinking, and strabismus, crossed eyes). In 2000, it was approved to treat cervical dystonia (a disorder that causes severe neck and shoulder contractions). As an unusual side effect of the eye disorder treatment, doctors observed that BOTOX® Cosmetic softened the frown lines between the eyebrow.

How BOTOX® Cosmetic Works

FDA Approval In April 2002, the FDA was satisfied by its review of studies indicating that BOTOX® Cosmetic reduced the severity of frown lines for up to 120 days and approved the drug. It is under review for approval to treat brow furrow, migraine headache, chronic tension headache, upper limb spasticity, juvenile cerebral palsy, and hyperhidrosis.

BOTOX® Cosmetic is the most popular non-surgical cosmetic procedure performed. In the year 2003 there were 2,272,080 BOTOX® Cosmetic injections performed. What kind of wrinkles do BOTOX® Cosmetic injections treat? Wrinkles that are caused by muscle contraction, such as frown lines, crow's feet, forehead creases, and neck bands can be safely and successfully treated with BOTOX® Cosmetic.