This article is about Botulinum toxin. The author wishes to clarify at the beginning that he has no monetary disclosures in any respect to make for or in opposition to using any specific trade name under which it is bought i.e.Botox, Dysport, Neuronox, etc. Although Botulinum toxin A is the pharmacological name of the substance, since BOTOX is to Botulinum toxin A what XEROX is to photocopying, for the sake of simplicity, the trade name BOTOXhas been used interchangeably for Botulinum toxin – A.
Botulinum toxin is a substance that has been identified for over a century and used for medical functions for greater than 50 years. It was primarily used for strabismus (otherwise referred to as a squinting eye), blepharospasm (lack of ability to open the eyes), and cervical dystonia (wry neck). In 2002, its use was authorized for enhancing and reducing frown lines within the space between the eyes on the forehead (glabella) and has been used efficiently in more than half a million people since that time. Presently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has permitted botulinum toxin A for blepharospasm, strabismus, cervical dystonia, and the aesthetic enhancement of glabellar (forehead) rhytides (frown lines).
Presently, botulinum toxin is mostly used in the treatment of hyper functional lines. Earlier, hyper functional lines have been the cause of a lot of consternation for the people affected by them. These lines usually made patients wrongly come across as angry, anxious, fearful, or fatigued. Prior to now, plastic surgeons solely had surgical choices in their armamentarium, along with excision or implantation of fat, collagen, or silicone. These procedures usually offered minimal enhancement and exposed patients to the dangers related to surgery. Injections of botulinum toxin A present a chance to handle these hyper functional lines with minimal morbidity. The three commonest areas for injection are the glabella, peri-orbital crow’s feet, and brow areas.
Hyperfunctional lines and wrinkles are the consequence of the contraction of the underlying facial musculature. The facial musculature is complicated and is accountable for facial expressions. The repeated contraction of these muscle groups over many years nonetheless produces many facial lines, face wrinkles and furrows.