Botox is More than Meets the Eye
- Posted on: Sep 15 2020
And every month at Creative Image, we see lots of devoted Botox patients. Every four to six months, they return to our Brownwood offices to keep their crow’s feet, frown lines, and forehead lines in check.
But while you may be familiar with the wrinkle side of Botox, this neuromodulator has much more to it than that. Here are some additional facts about Botox.
The origins or Botox
Everyone knows that Botox is derived from the botulinum bacteria, which causes botulism in humans. The full name is clostridium botulinum. It can be found in its inactive form all through the natural environment, including in cultivated soil and in forest soil, and in the sediment of lakes, streams, coastal and untreated waters.
Medicinal uses
Long before it was beating up on wrinkles, Botox had a role in treating certain medical conditions. Actually, it has been used medicinally for decades. After it was found that the botulinum toxin type A, when injected in very small amounts, could make muscles temporarily stop contracting it was tried in various capacities. It is now used, and approved by the FDA, for the following therapeutic applications:
- Blepharospasm (involuntary eyelid spasms)
- Post-stroke upper limb spasticity
- Idiopathic rotational cervical dystonia (severe neck and shoulder muscle spasms)
- Overactive bladder
- Chronic migraine headaches
- Severe primary axillary hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating)
- Strabismus (crossed eyes)
- Urinary incontinence
- Hemifacial spasm
It is also used “off-label” for:
- Achalasia (esophageal problems creating difficulty swallowing)
- Cerebral palsy
- Sialorrhea (hypersalivation)
- Oromandibular dystonia (forceful contraction of the jaw, face, and/or tongue)
- Allergic rhinitis
- Hepatopancreatic dysfunction
- Laryngeal dystonia (forceful contraction of the vocal cords)
Numbers
More than six million Botox treatments are given each year, far and away the most of any cosmetic procedure of any type. Although Botox is by far the most popular brand, the botulinum toxin is also sold commercially under these other brand names: Dysport, Xeomin, Jeuveau, Vistabel, Bocouture, and Myobloc. At Creative Image Laser Solutions, we offer Botox and Dysport.
Is it time for you to do something about your crow’s feet or forehead wrinkles? Call Dr. Butka at Creative Image Laser Solutions, (325) 641-1927, to schedule your Botox or Dysport session.
Posted in: Botox
