What is Botox?

Botox is something that you might have heard about, especially if you keep up with common celebrity trends. Of course, it’s not something that is strictly reserved for celebrities or glamor models, and there are plenty of reasons why you might want it yourself. But how much do you really know about Botox? Here’s everything you need to know

What is Botox

Botox is a neurotoxin that works by paralyzing the muscles. It does this so that your body will no longer be able to form facial wrinkles since the muscles are immovable and will not sag as you age. Wrinkles are a greater problem as you get older, so Botox is mostly for those looking to find a suitable anti-aging procedure that is going to help them feel happy and comfortable in their skin.

How does it work?

So, how exactly does Botox work?

To answer that, we first have to look at the procedure in general. Your doctor will inject you with Botox (specifically, they’ll inject the problematic areas where your wrinkles are the most obvious). Typical areas of injection include areas around the face such as the forehead, the crow’s feet, and the area between your eyes (also known as the “elevens”).

Your body sends signals between your nerves and muscles, which the Botox injection aims to block. Once blocked, your muscles are effectively paralyzed, which means that the injected muscle can no longer contract in the same way. This leads to your wrinkles relaxing and softening (and losing their appearance once the procedure has finished).

It’s not just wrinkles that Botox helps, either. You might benefit from them if you have any of the following:

• Underarm sweating (hyperhidrosis)
• Cervical dystonia
• Uncontrollable blinking
• Eyes that look in different directions
• Chronic migraines
• Overactive bladder

How was it made?

We have to go back in time a little bit to find out how Botox was made. It dates back to the early 1900s, where Clostridium botulinum was first discovered by a Belgian scientist known as Emile Pierre van Ermengem. He wanted to come up with something that would help aid the botulism outbreak in Belgium.

Of course, this product was incredibly dangerous to work with, and it wasn’t much use to van Ermengem at the time. It wasn’t until the 1920s, when scientists at the University of California in San Francisco tried to isolate the botulinum toxin (which became the Botox that we know today).

History of botox

It took 20 years before the toxin we mentioned above was finally isolated in a suitable form—Dr. Edward Schantz was the pioneer behind this extraction.

However, it’s now 1920, and we still aren’t much closer to using Botox in modern medicine. That’s because it wasn’t until the 1970s that scientists began to use the botulinum toxin to treat crossed eyes. It was originally tested on monkeys, and during the research process, doctors and researchers noted that it did a great deal of work to reduce the wrinkles in the glabella of the monkeys (skin between the eyebrows and above the nose).

Summary

That’s about all there is to it with Botox. You’ve now come to learn a bit more about its history, which we think is a remarkable thing to know! Consult your doctor if you think it’s something you’re willing to try! It might be just what you need!

So, if you want to try out Botox, then why not book an appointment with Glow Aesthetic Center in Encino, CA today.

At Glow Aesthetic Center, we strive to provide the best possible treatment. Call (818) 905-8815 or fill out the form on our Contact or Book an Appointment pages to schedule a consultation. You’re just one quick call away from perfect looking skin!