Botox is a FDA approved injectable that reduces muscle strength that causes wrinkles. Although FDA approval is for certain facial muscles, itТs often injected into areas that have other aesthetic concerns. Botox lasts about 3 month as per FDA labeling. Ancedotally, it can last longer, depending on the location of the muscle, how strong the muscle is, ans how often itТs given. Botox has been FDA approved since 2002.
| BOTOX VERSUS COMPETITORS | BOTOX™ | DYSPORT™ | XEOMIN™ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Allergan | Medicis | Merz | |
| Basic Ingredient-Botulinum Toxin A | + | + | + | |
| Reduces Wrinkles | + | + | + | |
| Injected by skilled professionals | + | + | + | |
| Need more units to get the same result | – | + | Unknown at this time | |
| FDA Approval | 2002 (1) | 2009 (2) | 2011 (3) | |
| Cost expense per unit | $ | $ | $ | |
| Period Needed to Take Effect | within 4 to 7 days, and last up to 4 months (1) |
within 5 to 7 days, and last 3 to 4 months (2) |
within 1 week, lasts up to 12 weeks (3) |
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More interesting facts:
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Admittedly subjective, non statistacally significant results are from patient opinions.
Botox is an FDA-approved injectable that can help reduce wrinkles. It is also used to treat excessive sweating, muscle contractions, and migraines.
When used as a cosmetic treatment, Botox can be used to lift and shape the brow, eliminate or soften forehead wrinkles and lines, crow’s feet, frown lines, dimpled chins, neck lines, drooping noses, fine lines around the lips, and bulging jaw muscles.
It is considered a very popular treatment, and many celebrities have undergone Botox treatments including Elizabeth Hurley, Kim Kardashian, Nicole Kidman, Cindy Crawford, Kim Cattrall and Kortney Thorne-Smith.
Botox actually has a long and interesting history. It actually was developed from the toxin that produced a bacterium that caused botulism. It developed throughout the years to treat different conditions, and then as a cosmetic procedure.
1897 – Emile van Ermengem discovered that bacterium produced the botulin toxin.
1928 –Hermann Sommer and P. Tessmer Snipe purified the toxin.
1950s – The botulinum toxin was discovered to lessen muscle spasms.
1960s-70s – Botulinum toxin was studied as a treatment for crossed eyes.
1988-89 – Allergan begins research for other medical uses and introduces Botox as an FDA-approved treatment for eyelid spasms and crossed eyes.
2000 – Botox receives FDA approval for cervical dystonia to reduce the severity of neck pain and abnormal head position.
2002 – FDA approves the cosmetic version of Botox for frown lines between the brows
2004 – Botox is approved for several underarm sweating that does not respond to topical medication.
Botox treatments increased in popularity since its approval. In fact, in 2002, the first year Botox was approved to decrease frown lines, 1.8 million Botox injections were given. In 2010, approximately 2.4 million injections were performed.
Botox treatments are fast and virtually pain-free. On a scale of 1 to 10, (with 1 being the lowest), Botox injections ranks a 3. On that same scale, a paper cut rates a 4. Most patients do not require anesthesia, however, the treatment area can be numbed using anesthetic cream or an ice pack.
Botox is administered through tiny injections of Botox into the treatment area, with the entire treatment taking about 10 minutes. The effects of the treatment can be seen within four to seven days and will last up to four months.
The number of injections required depends on the treatment area, gender, and aesthetic judgment as to how much facial expression the patient wishes to retain. The average number of injections for different treatment areas include:
Forehead Wrinkles – 10-20
Eyebrow Wrinkles – 2-5
Crow’s Feet – 5-10
Between the Eyebrows 5-20
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