Contrary to what many people think, this toxin is derived from the bacterium Clostridium botulinumwhich can be found in natural environments such as soil, forests and even in some mammals and fish. Commercially it is known as Botox to the different preparations of Botulinum toxin, including:
- Botulinum toxin type A
- Obatulinum
- Botulinum toxin type A
- Abobotulinum
- Incobotulinum
- Prabotulinum
- Botulinum toxin type B
- Rimabotulinum
People often refer to all of these products as "Botox", even though this is a registered trademark by one company.
How does it work?
For any muscle to be able to contract, the nerves must release a chemical called acetylcholine. This substance attaches to receptors on muscle cells and causes contraction.
In this way, the toxin commonly known as botox targets the nervous system, and signals the nerve that contracts the muscle to produce temporary muscle paralysis.
In other words, Botox injections prevent the release of acetylcholine and thus stop muscle contraction.
Medicinal uses
Although they are not usually well known, there are some medicinal uses for Botox injections. Considering that this type of treatment prevents muscles from contracting, some of the applications include:
- Eyelid spasms
- Cervical dystonia (spasms in the neck)
- Strabismus
- Heavy underarm sweating
- Migraine prevention (4 to 15 hours, or many days per month)
- Spasms in the arms
Cosmetic uses
The main use of botulinum toxin injections in the cosmetic world is to reduce the appearance of facial wrinkles. Its effects can last up to a year and this is why it is the most common procedure worldwide with over 7 million treatments in 2016.
The areas in which it is most commonly used are:
- between the eyebrows
- at the corners of the eyes (wrinkles known as crow's feet)
- the forehead
- the corner of the lips
- on the chin.
After the injections, a waiting time of 24 to 72 hours is necessary for the toxin to start working. And, in some cases, it may take up to 5 days for results to be seen.
Risks
Like any medication, Botulinum Toxin injections may present side effects. Some of the symptoms that a patient may present after the injection include:
- Swelling or bruising at the injection site.
- Headache or flu-like symptoms.
- Drooping of the eyelid or lifting of the eyebrows.
- Crooked smile or drooling.
- Dry eyes or excessive tearing.
Usually, specialists do not recommend the use of Botulinum Toxin when the patient is pregnant or breastfeeding. Likewise, this type of injection should not be used in people allergic to cow's milk protein.
