What Is Botox
The most serious symptom of botulism is paralysis, which in some cases has proven to be fatal. The botulinum toxins (there are seven -- types are A through G) attach themselves to nerve endings. Once this happens, acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter responsible for triggering muscle contractions, cannot be released. A series of proteins, VAMP, syntaxin and SNAP-25, are essential for the release of acetylcholine. Certain botulinum toxins attack these proteins. Botulinum toxin A (Botox) affects the SNAP-25. Basically, the botulinum toxins block the signals that would normally tell your muscles to contract. Say, for example, it attacks the muscles in your chest -- this could have a profound impact on your breathing. When people die from botulism, this is often the cause -- the respiratory muscles are paralyzed so it’s impossible to breathe. At this point, you may be wondering why anyone would want to have a botulinum toxin injected into his or her body. The answer is simple: If an area of the body can't move, it can't wrinkle. Botulinum Toxin is derived from the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum. When injected into muscles, Botulinum Toxin has a local effect. It blocks transmission between the nerve endings and muscle fibres around the injection site to cause weakness of the nearby muscle. What is Botox used for? Botox is a non-surgical cosmetic treatment for moderate to severe frown lines. It is typically used in people aged 18 to 65.
Botox works by blocking nerve transmission to temporarily reduce the contractions of the facial muscles that cause frown lines. It has been proven to be a safe and effective treatment for wrinkles, and botox injections are becoming increasingly popular.
Who can have Botox treatment? Your doctor will decide if you can have cosmetic treatment with botox. Before starting treatment, tell your doctor if you have any disorders that affect your nerves and muscles, if you are breastfeeding, or if you are planning to become pregnant soon.
The Botox injection procedure Your doctor will administer several tiny injections of botox directly into the muscles of your face. Prior to injection, your doctor will determine where to administer the injections by examining your ability to move certain muscles in your brow area. The entire botox injection procedure takes approximately 10 minutes and does not require anaesthesia. Discomfort is usually minimal and brief.
After the injection You should notice an improvement in your frown lines within 3 to 7 days, the effects of which can last up to 4 months. However, results may vary. After a period of time, your frown lines will begin to reappear as the effects of botox wear off.
(c) Askabouthealth.com 2005 - What is botox |
Botox® is a trade name for botulinum toxin A. In this way, Botox® is related to botulism. Botulism is a form of food poisoning that occurs when someone eats something containing a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Botulinum toxin A is one of the neurotoxins produced by Clostridium botulinum. 