People normally have an aversion toward growing old. Many people are wary of the fact that they shall someday grow white hair and then lose it altogether while their faces become wrinkled and saggy. Wrinkling and sagging of the skin is attributed to gradual cellular atrophy that occurs in advanced age; the tissues become less elastic and gradually regenerate less quickly. The Botox treatment is becoming increasingly popular as a remedy to wrinkles, particularly frown lines and laugh lines.
This treatment involves the injection of a protein called botulinum toxin. This substance is potentially a neurotoxin, a toxin that affects the nerve cells, so this must be administered by someone with professional training. When injected properly with the right dose, the facial muscles relax, reducing wrinkles, making the face look softer and younger.
Botulinum toxin was first discovered as the cause of poisoning from bacteria called Clostridium botulinum that thrives in improperly treated meat products like sausages.
In 1980, the botulinum toxin was first used as treatment for strabismus (crossed eyes) and blepharospasm (uncontrollable blinking and twitching on the eyelids). By the next five years, the toxin was sold as drugs and widely used to treat these defects; side effects were mild and treatable. In 1989, the US Food and Drug Administration approved of the Botox Los Angeles doctors use for strabismus, blepharospasm, and hemifacial spasms on patients as young as thirteen.
In 1989, a plastic surgeon observed the substance’s effect on wrinkles on patients who have been given botulinum toxin injections. In 1992, a couple of Canadian physicians studied the effects of the substance on frown lines, especially those between the eyebrows. They all discovered that the lack of muscle movement inhibited the development of wrinkles and made wrinkles less visible for those who have them. However, Los Angeles Botox patients still had to wait for the treatment to be approved for cosmetic use.
It was not until 2002 that Botox Los Angeles patients need was given the go-signal to make its debut in the cosmetic treatment industry. Many patients consider it a good alternative to facelifts because it is noninvasive. More patients also prefer to keep their faces natural and relaxed with reduced wrinkles. This treatment successfully eliminated one common disadvantage patients suffer after a facelift.