The Ethics of Botox
What is Botox?
Botox is short for Botulinum Type A Toxin, a protein complex produced by a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. Botox injection is one of the newest and among the most popular cosmetic procedures for wrinkles. Botox works magically to smooth out facial lines by preventing the muscles that cause frown lines from contracting. Only a tiny amount of this toxin is used in Botox injection for beautification purposes. According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), more than 1.6 million people received injection in 2001, which is a 46 percent increased from the previous year.[2]
A little about the history of Botulinum A toxin
This toxin
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This was observed throughout the medical studies for these eye muscles disorder.[5]
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Botox being studied to treat: Botox approved to treat:
- Excessive sweating - Cross-eyes
- Spasticity after a stroke - Uncontrollable blinking
- Back spasms - Uncontrollable blinking
- Headaches between eyebrows
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Source: Allergan Inc. Source: Allergan Inc.
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List of medical uses approved by the FDA for Botox.[6]
In 2000, botox injection treatments were also approved for treating cervical dystonia, a neurological movement disorder associated with sever neck and shoulder contractions. Finally in April 2002, The FDA granted approval to BOTOX® COSMETIC, the brand used by Allergan Inc. for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar or frown lines in adult men and women ages 18 and up to 65. The approval specifically applies to the vertical lines between the eyebrows. Now Allergan is the one of the main producer and distributor of botox for aesthetic uses world wide.[7]
How does Botox make wrinkles invisible?
Once injected into the muscles of the targeted facial area, the botox gets right to work. In about 3 to 7 days
Botox consists of injections of botulin toxin, a poison that paralyzes the muscles. Some side effects include eye drooping, headaches, reduced blinking, and nausea that could last up to a couple of months. The injection can also cause side effects including facial pain, swelling, redness, and bruising (Flynn). By paralyzing different facial muscles, Botox may temporarily leave a smoother, wrinkle-free appearance, leaving the patient more confident in their own skin. Botox has short-term side effects that include bruising, allergic reactions, or paralysis of the wrong muscle group. A research study found that Botox might dampen or interfere with the ability to experience emotion in certain situations as well. When the muscle becomes paralyzed, the patient is incapable of moving/flexing those certain muscles in their face causes them to show less emotion physically (Ranoux). This can lead to long-term effects like depression if one keeps up the injections in those facial areas to take away the wrinkles. While this is an extreme case of Botox, there are many incidents that include this kind of reaction and some even concluding with
Through my research I found that Botox, the trade name for Botulinum Toxin type A, is a "neuromuscular junction blocking agent produced by the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum" ("Botulinum Toxin"). In other words, Botox is derived from the same poisonous bacterium which causes botulism - a deadly food poisoning. The Botox works "by blocking the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which results in muscle weakness. It does not alter the muscle or the nerve, but prevents the relay of information between the two" ("Botulinum Toxin"). Therefore, Botox is beneficial in the treatment of wrinkles and frown lines because it causes specific muscles to relax, which in turn lessens the lines of facial expressions. Because Botox relaxes specific muscles, it is also used to treat a variety of medical conditions dealing with muscle spasms.
Tired of that deep line in between your eyebrows? How about those bothersome crow’s feet that make you look older than you’d like? Fortunately, Botox, short for Botulinum toxin, can help with that. Forehead furrows—the horizontal lines that can show up in your forehead—can also disappear with the help of a few injections. Botox can also do more than just make wrinkles disappear; it has been shown to reduce the symptoms of a variety of different medical conditions, including migraines, muscle contractures, lazy eye, cervical dystonia, hyperhidrosis, and bladder dysfunction.
Today, Botox is not only used for beauty but is also used to treat a variety of problems, such as migraines, neck pain, excessive sweating, body odor, morbid obesity, carpal tunnel syndrome, stroke paralysis, incontinence and clubfoot in infants to name just a few. It has become a life savor for many people with debilitating disease or disorders. Using Botox as a medical treatment has recently hit close to home when my Mom was diagnosed two years ago with a rare vocal disorder called spasmodic dysphonia. The origin of this disorder was originally thought to be psychoneurotic, but in recent years it has become classified as a movement disorder of the larynx. Spasmodic dysphonia involves uncontrollable “spasms" of the muscles in the vocal cords that cause interruptions in speech which affect the quality of a person’s voice. In the more common type, adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD), vocal cords prematurely tighten when speaking which causes a squeaky high pitch voice. In the type of dysphonia my mom has, abductor spasmodic dysphonia (ABSD), when she talks, her vocal cords don’t close when they are supposed to which results in a breathy, whispery voice. Her voice seemed to get worse over time, it was less able to understand what she was
There is studies that show that Botox injections may improve facial-wound healing, and they can help minimize scars (University at Buffalo, 2006). Botox is generally known in help to reduce wrinkles. A study was done on 31 patients who had wounds to the forehead or were having elective surgery to remove skin cancers of the forehead (University at Buffalo, 2006). The researchers used Botox and saline to see which would give the best results of healing the wound (University at Buffalo, 2006). Results showed that the median scores for wounds injected with botulinum toxin were 8.9, compared to median scores of 7.1 for those injected with saline (University at Buffalo, 2006). Therefore, this study shows how Botox is a highly reliable source in helping with muscular conditions.
Botulinium toxin injections. Botulinium toxin is a substance produced by bacteria that causes muscle paralysis. Injecting this toxin into the muscles around the eye may control blepharospasm for up to three months. Injections are done with a tiny needle. They can be repeated as needed.
Botox is another procedure offered at New England Laser Lipo. It involves using an injection that has a protein that helps reduce wrinkes and fine lines around the eyes, forehead and nose. The results of Botox will typically last three to four months. Additionally, dermal fillers are offered at New England Laser Lipo. Dermal
The LD-50 of BoNT is 1.3–2.1 ng/kg intravenously or intramuscularly and 10–13 ng/kg when inhaled. Unlike tetanus, botulism causes flaccid paralysis in the entire body. If left untreated, it can cause paralysis of respiratory muscles, arms, legs, and trunk. Despite its toxicity, botulinum toxin is frequently used to treat human neurological diseases. These toxins have three domains, the light chain (LC), the heavy chain translocation (HCT), and the heavy chain receptor binding domain (HCR). The HCR is the C-terminus of the protein which binds to the gangliosides of neuronal cells. I was working with the botulinum serotype-A C-terminus (HCR/A). Rabbits were infected with HCR/A. Their blood was collected for the antibodies to the HCR. The antibody for HCR/A also detects HCR/T but at a lesser
Have you considered using Botox but worry about unintended results? It is true there are people walking around with the consequences of a bad Botox procedure. In fact, you may have seen examples in popular culture. Several years ago, entertainment news was all the buzz over Megan Fox And Kate Gosselin and their poor outcomes. This is a common and legitimate concern that ever cosmetic professional must address. However, an educated consumer is the best patient. With this in mind, today's article will address the question, "Will Botox make me look like I've had work done?"
This document will answer many questions about Botulism Toxin. Some of the questions addressed will include; What exactly is botulism? What is the germ Clostridium botulinum? How frequent does botulism occur? What are the symptoms of botulism? How do we diagnose botulism? How do we treat botulism? What are complications from botulism? How does one prevent botulism? What are public health agencies doing to prevent and control botulism? I will also discuss other uses of Botulinum Toxin in the medical field as well as in the cosmetic field.
Dysport is an FDA approved injectable that is very effective in significantly reducing facial lines and wrinkles. Moreover, this treatment will help in getting rid of crow's feet, deep creases, worry lines among many others, and will make you look refreshed and relaxed. Besides, Dysport functions in a similar manner as Botox, by blocking the nerve signals. Add to that, with Dysport, you can see results within couple of days, and sometimes as quickly as less than one day.
Dysport is the second major frown line reduction injection to improve moderate to severe facial frown lines. The formulation works to limit the patient’s frown lines around the eyebrows, forehead and eyes.
Her face is actually “frozen” due to the amounts of times she has received these procedures. What is Botox? Many people know that Botox is an injection used to treat muscular conditions
There are as well hybrid varieties of fillers that are made by combining artificial fillers with bovine collagen. This kind of treatment is used to treat deep scars and wrinkles. The products mixed with collagen are only a medium for injecting; they later degrade leaving a permanent
A facelift or rhytidectomy, is a surgical procedure that improves visible signs of aging in the face and neck, such as: sagging in the middle of the face, deep crease below the lower eyelids, deep creases along the nose extending to the corner of the mouth, fat that has fallen, and loose skin and excess fatty deposits under the chin and jaw or more commonly known as a double chin.