Mom
always said you'd get infection if you ate swollen dented canned goods?
Isn't what she's getting injected into her wrinkles at the doctor's
office a toxin from the same bacteria?
Botulinum toxin, a protein made from a bacterium called Clostridium
botulinum, is probably best known for causing a potentially deadly
disease. Botulism is caused from eating contaminated food. The toxin
blocks impulse transmission at the junction between nerves and muscles,
resulting in paralysis. Doctors have now found ways to harness this
effect and transfer it toward beneficial treatments.
Local injections of botulinum toxin have been used effectively to
treat spastic and imbalanced muscle conditions such as strabismus,
essential blepharospasm, and hemifacial spasm, and are now FDA approved
for these treatments. Other conditions associated with muscle spasms
can be successfully treated with botulinum toxin, as well as conditions
such as writer's cramp and urinary sphincter conditions. Investigation
of treatments for a wide range of other conditions such as spasticity
due to brain and spinal cord lesions is currently underway.
The use of injectable botulinum toxin (Botox) has also been applied
to cosmetic treatment of facial wrinkles. Wrinkles can generally be
divided into two types. "Static" wrinkles are generally
fine, shallow wrinkles formed from age-related changes within the
skin. "Dynamic" wrinkles are those formed from the pull
of underlying facial muscles. "Crows feet" along the sides
of the eyes, the glabellar frown lines in the lower central forehead,
the horizontal forehead lines, and nasolabial folds are common types
of dynamic wrinkles. The glabellar frown lines are the most commonly
injected area, followed by the crow's feet and horizontal forehead
lines.
The injections are given in the doctor's office, sometimes with the
guidance of a muscle activity detecting system called electromyography
(EMG). Multiple small injections are usually given to the affected
area, usually the patient experiences mild pain. The dose given is
a minimal fraction of that encountered in a swollen can of soup. By
inactivating or reducing muscle function, the injections affect the
pull on the wrinkle, causing it to diminish. As with other problems
treated with Botox injections, the duration of the effect is approximately
four to six months, making repeated injections necessary to continue
the result.
Botox is a safe therapy when injected in appropriate doses by experienced
physicians. Side effects are usually mild, short term, and well tolerated
by patients. Minor swelling, bruising, headache, nausea, and temporary
numbness at the injection site can occur. Paralysis of muscles adjacent
to those intended for injection can also occur, causing problems such
as a drooping eyelid (ptosis) when injecting glabellar lines. This
problem resolves as the effect of the toxin wears off. The safety
of botulinum toxin therapy during pregnancy, breast feeding, and in
chronic use during childhood is still unknown.
Many people are now having their facial wrinkles injected with Botox,
and patient satisfaction is generally very high. Anyone interested
in having this procedure should see a plastic surgeon, experienced
in Botox injection therapy, to find out if the procedure is right
for him or her.
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