Introduction

• Originally used as a treatment for strabismus in the late 1980s, Botox applications have risen to become the most widely performed cosmetic procedure in the United States. In fact, Botox treatments have turned into a multi-billion dollar-a-year industry with exponentially increasing profits and treatments done each year.
  
  

What is Botox?

• Botox is actually a botulinum toxin that is used to paralyze the facial muscles that cause wrinkles. During the procedure, a needle is placed into the muscles that cause lines around the eyes and mouth, and Botox is injected into the tissue. The Botox toxin then paralyzes the muscle so that it no longer contracts, which relieves the looks of lines on the face.
  
  

How it's Made

• Botox is made from botulinum toxin. Botulinum toxin is normally known for its ability to cause a type of food poisoning called botulism that can be contracted from improper handling of meat products. However, in Botox, the botulinum toxin is diluted to a safe level for injection into humans. To be created, the bacteria clostridium botulinum must be allowed to develop and spore, and this causes the neurotoxin responsible for the paralysis of the muscles. Once the spores form, they emit the botulinum toxin which can then be collected. The botulinum toxin is then so diluted that little of the actual toxin itself is injected into the body.
  
  

Results

• The results of the process is a purified liquid substance that can still act as a neurotoxin on the muscles, but not enough to cause the patient to contract botulism. However, too much Botox can cause the eyelids to droop or the mouth to become uneven. These results usually wear off within 2 months.