BOTOX®: past, present and future
Women have taken drastic measures to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Primarily these attempts consisted of expensive creams and gadgets ordered from television infomercials delivered discreetly right to their front door. Discovering these miracle cures were quackery, women tossed them into the trash and secretly scolded themselves for falling victim to the war against wrinkles, not to mention being out the cash. Unscrupulous companies sold everything from cotton facial contraptions worn at night to shoddy instruments that claimed to reduce the appearance of lines by shocking them with an electrical current. In frustration, some women resorted to placing a piece of tape between their brows to stop frowning altogether.
The emergence of BOTOX® onto the cosmetic scene has generated new hope and a new attitude in the defense against aging. No longer are women falling prey to bogus offers of youth. Now they are banding together, attending BOTOX® parties, and enjoying hors d’oeuvres while investigating the demonstrable benefits of BOTOX® and deriving the results of relatively pain free reduction and removal of wrinkles.
The old adage that youth is wasted on the young is being dispelled by the popularity of BOTOX® treatments among patients in their twenties. As we age, the skin’s elasticity decreases and loses its supple texture. Realizing that at an older age lines can be softened but not completely eradicated, twenty-something’s are opting to stop wrinkles before they can start. Beginning BOTOX® treatments early stops the muscles from contracting, leaving the skin nearly impervious to the damage caused by years of living life to the fullest. While BOTOX® treatments have been deemed harmless, certain behaviors like smoking and sunbathing, that initially create wrinkles and lines, are dangerous in and of themselves.
Introduced over thirty years ago, botulinum toxin A or BOTOX® was first administered by injection into the muscles surrounding the eye to patients suffering from crossed eyes. The derivative of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum produces a protein that interferes with muscle spasms by blocking nerve impulses and temporarily relaxing the muscle. Early successful clinical trials resulted in BOTOX® gaining FDA approval for treatment and/or relief of neck pain caused by cervical dystonia, involuntary facial muscle spasms, and eye misalignment (strabismus).
In the early 90’s, ophthalmologist Jean Carruthers, M.D. observed that her patients being treated for ocular disorders with BOTOX® experienced a dramatic decrease in wrinkles. After experimenting on herself and her husband, a dermatologist, she was convinced BOTOX® was effective in reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Three years and 30 willing satisfied participants later, BOTOX® became a serious therapeutic option… In April 2002, BOTOX® gained FDA approval as a cosmetic treatment.
In 1991, Allergan purchased the exclusive rights to BOTOX®. Allergan invested years and millions of dollars into research and development before submitting BOTOX® to the FDA for approval, and it has paid off. The implications of BOTOX® usage are expanding into many medical areas with potentially promising benefits. Unlike many drugs that produce specialized effects on one or a few disorders, BOTOX® is being used in clinical trials addressing more than ninety distinct conditions (most notable are Parkinson’s disease, stroke, and cerebral palsy) that previously had no course of treatment. More recently in July 2004, the FDA approved BOTOX® for use in the treatment of hyperhidrosis (Excessive sweating).
FDA approval opened the door to exploring the possibilities with BOTOX®, as doctors are allowed to use FDA-approved drugs for purposes other than the one prescribed. With the green light to use BOTOX® off-label, doctors across the country were submitting protocols to hospital boards for approval, treating patients, and recording reactions. Some patients reported symptom relief as minimal, others experienced phenomenal results, while others reported a significant enough change to warrant continued usage. As a pain management tool for migraine headaches and back pain, BOTOX® has been reported to have a more powerful effect than traditional painkillers that can adversely affect the liver. As with any drug therapy, results vary according to the patient’s physiology and type of condition being treated. The perfect drug is as elusive as the unicorn, but BOTOX® holds the potential to be a quick, noninvasive medical procedure with little recovery time.
As BOTOX® gains increasing popularity and a stronghold in the market, clinical trials are increasing to assess the numerous benefits and uses. Protocols are being cultivated and executed for cosmetic purposes as well as treating more serious diseases. From these trials, ideal dosages and reports of remarkable results are being presented at medical forums and conventions worldwide. BOTOX® continues to yield very promising results.
Questions regarding BOTOX®?
If you're considering BOTOX® facial rejuvenation treatment or other injectable filler procedures, LipoSculpture & Laser Center of Dallas offers several options including BOTOX®, Radiesse™, Restylane® and Fat transfer procedures. Contact the LipoSculpture & Laser Center of Dallas by calling (972) 661-5476 for a private consultation to determine the right injectable filler procedure for you based on your individual circumstances.
LipoSculpture & Laser Center offers two convenient Metroplex area locations serving patients living in Dallas, The Colony, Frisco, Plano, Farmers Branch, Carrollton, Irving, Coppell, Addison, Allen and Richardson.