Botox, A Deadly Serum?

Botox is one of the many known terms popularly connected with dermatology, cosmetic surgery, and plastic surgery. Botox is used to remarkably but temporarily reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles. It is most commonly used to remove frown lines (those lines between the eyebrows), and can also greatly minimize forehead lines and crow's feet.
Muscles that surrounds the eyes tighten multiple times during the day. The tightening of these muscles eventually leaves creases or wrinkles on the skin which makes the skin look older than usual. The only known way to relax these muscles is by using a special protein called Botulinum toxin or commonly known as "Botox". It is said by some ontario dermatologists that by injecting a relatively small dosage of Botox directly on wrinkles or creases, the muscles are allowed to relax thus minimizing the appearances of wrinkles and ultimately making a person look younger.

But what is a Botox? What is it really made of?
From the name itself, Botulinum toxin, one can deduce that it is a potentially harmful substance. This is due to the fact that it is a neurotoxic protein produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum - a microorganism known for its lethal toxicity. Despite this, when used in minute doses, especially in some parts of the world, the toxin can be used to treat muscle spasms. Though Botulinum toxin can be lethal, some ontario dermatologists have claimed that the terms Botox (Cosmetic), Vistabel, Dysport, Myobloc, Neurobloc and Xeomin are trade names and are not used generically to describe the neurotoxins produced by Clostridium botulinum. Botox Cosmetic and Vistabel are available and are used for cosmetic treatment.
Botulinum toxin's relaxing property was first discovered when researchers tried to inject minute quantities of botulinum toxin type A into an overactive muscle. It decreased muscle activity by blocking the release of acetylcholine at the neuromuscular junction, thereby rendering the muscle unable to contract for a period of 3 to 4 months.
Cosmetically desirable effects of Botox were first discovered by Vancouver-based cosmetic surgeons Drs. Alastair and Jean Carruthers. The discovery occurred when the husband-and-wife team observed the softening of patients' frown lines following treatment for eye muscle disorders, leading to clinical trials and subsequent FDA approval for cosmetic use in April 2002.
According to ontario dermatologists, as of 2007, Botox injection is the most common cosmetic operation, with 4.6 million procedures in the United States, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Qualifications for Botox injectors vary by county, state and country. Botox Cosmetic providers include dermatologists, plastic surgeons, cosmetic physicians, nurses practitioners, nurses, physician assistants, and medical spas.