What Happens to Botox in Your Body?
Botox is a popular anti-aging treatment. Originally used to treat lazy eyes and uncontrollable blinking, Botox is now a major part of the cosmetics industry. Less drastic and less expensive than a face lift, Botox can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and lines after one injection. However, there are risks to using Botox and scientists are still researching the effects it might have on the body. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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Botox is a toxin produced by bacteria called Clostridium botulinum. This is the same bacteria behind botulism, or food poisoning, although the dosage used in Botox injections is much smaller. As Medicine Net explains, the drug was originally used to cure involuntary facial movements, such as lazy eye or repetitive blinking. In 2002, the FDA also approved Botox for use on frown lines between the eyebrows, although it can be used on different parts of the face.
Significance
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As well as providing relief from involuntary muscular movements in the face, Botox has become a popular cosmetic treatment. The toxin is injected directly into facial muscles, meaning no surgery is needed. Not only is it less invasive than conventional surgical treatments, it is also less permanent. The effects of the drug wear off in around four months, after which patients can choose to either repeat the injection or not.
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Effects
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According to Medic 8, Botox works by blocking nerve transmission in specific muscles. This prevents the muscles from contracting and therefore, reduces the appearance of frown lines. The toxin's effect on muscles is only temporary, and the effects wear off within four months. Although doctors previously believed that the toxin remained at the site of the injection, New Scientist reports that research by Italy's Institute of Neuroscience on rats has shown that the toxin travelled from the injection site to the brain.
Considerations
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Botox is still approved by the FDA, but Medic 8 warns of possible side affects associated with using the drug. These include headaches, nausea, squinting or double vision, muscle weakness and facial pain. Botox also interacts with some antibiotics, so it is important to tell your doctor if you are taking any other medications. Repeated use of the toxin can cause permanent muscle thinning, which prolongs the effects of the treatment.
Expert Insight
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Matteo Caleo, of Italy's Institute of Neuroscience in Pisa, was quoted in New Scientist magazine in 2008 as saying that his research team suspected that it was common for the toxin spread to the brain. However, the effects of small amounts of Botox in the brain stem are not yet known, and Caleo advised that the findings were not necessarily negative. He said that some of the effects that Botox has on the brain stem might even be beneficial for some people.
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References
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